CASA ATPL AHUF Exam Study Guide 2025 – Civil
Aviation Safety Authority Air Transport Pilot
Licence Aviation Human Factors.
BMI formula
weight (kg) / height (m^2)
Most common cause of pilot incapacitation
Food and drink poisoning
Most comfortable temperature range and relative humidity range
21-27 degrees C at 40-60% relative humidity
Definition of heat stress type 1 and remedy
Operating above 32 degs C best remedied by drinking water.
Definition of heat stress type 2
Too much sun through sunbathing, inadequate protection or liquid intake
Definition of heat stress type 3
Temperatures below 10 degs C. Body loses more body heat than it can produce resulting in
hypothermia (cognitive impairment, apathy, unconsciousness and ultimately death)
Early sensation of dehydration
Dry nasal passage and prickly eyes
Hours of non-flying required after a blood donation
24 hours
Define (otic) Barotrauma
Stretching of ear drum due to uneven air pressures between middle ear and ambient. (NO! Any
pain caused due to pressure differential)
Effect of (otic) barotrauma
Pressure vertigo of ear/balance mechanism causing dizziness
What does the Valsave manoeuvre do?
,Forces air via Eustascian Tube into middle ear to increase pressure equal to ambient
What are sinuses?
Cavities in the skull that are lined with a mucus membrane that can swell to block venting.
Aggravated by pressure differential during descent.
Litres of body fluids lost during a hot day
5
Effect of eating green vegetables prior to flight
Expansion/release of gases in digestive system due to low ambient pressure
Alcohol consumed with food increases rate of alcohol absorption or rate of alcohol removal?
Only increase alcohol absorption. Rate of alcohol removal cannot be changed.
Percentage of alcohol break down in liver compared to other mechanism (including respiration,
expiration and urine).
90% in liver. 10% through respiration, expiration and urine.
Standard drink units of alcohol metabolised per hour in an adult male.
1 standard drink.
Number of hours alcohol is present in brain after consumption.
24 hours.
Recommended maximum number of standard drinks 24 hours prior to flight.
1-2 standard drinks.
Maximum recommended standard drinks consumed a week for a male and female.
21-28 standard drinks for a male and 14-21 standard drinks for a female.
Definition of "analgesic" medication.
Painkiller
Definition of "antihistamine" medication.
Clears up congestion.
Definition of "ephedrine" medication.
Nasal sprays.
,Definition of hyperventilation.
Excessive breathing causing removal of too much carbon dioxide from blood.
Fraction of standard atmospheric pressure at 18000ft?
Half.
Air expands in cavities and vents into the nasal regions during a climb or descent?
Climb.
When 30m (100ft) below water, how many times the standard atmospheric pressure is
experienced?
Twice.
Typical foods to avoid when flying due to bloating.
Beer, cabbage and beans.
What gas is present in the blood under high pressure in scuba? Ascending quickly will release
pressure and the gas will come out of solution like soft drink leading to first symptoms felt in
joints and muscles. Then bubbling in brain and spinal cord will result in tingling sensation.
Nitrogen.
The 'Bends' or decompression sickness is the result of air rupturing lungs as it expands and
absorbs directly into blood. Oxygen contaminated blood causes unconsciousness or death. At
what altitude can the 'Bends' affect you soon after a scuba dive?
8000ft.
How much rest required after a dive that requires no stops?
4 hours.
How much rest required after a less than four-hour dive that requires decompression stops?
12 hours.
How much rest required after more than a four-hour dive that requires decompression stops?
40 hours.
The part of the ear that is cartilage structured into a 25mm canal?
Outer ear.
Which part of the ear starts with the airtight seal of the eardrum?
, Middle ear.
The ear drum vibrates. 3 bones amplify these vibrations and conduct directly to the cochlear.
What are the layman's terms of these bones?
Hammer, anvil and stirrup.
What is the name of the organ that converts mechanical signals to electrical signals in the inner
ear?
Cochlear.
Which part of the ear is vented to the atmosphere via the Eustacian tube?
Middle ear.
To which organ are the semi-circular canals mounted?
Cochlear.
Which organ is filled with fluid called endolymph and contains tiny hair-like cells that resonate
to different vibrational frequencies.
Cochlear.
Excessive noise will damage which organ through damage of its hair-like cells submerged in
endolymph?
Cochlear.
The cupula is a hair-like cell that washes around and responds to acceleration and sends signals
to the brain. The cupula is part of which organ?
Semi-circular canal.
Linear acceleration is detected by the saccule (vertical) and utricle (horizontal). Collectively, this
organ is also mounted on the cochlear and is called?
Otolith organ.
What is the lowest decibel that can be detected by a child?
1 dB.
What scale is the decibel system?
Base ten logarithmic.
A comfortable noise level is below which decibel?
Aviation Safety Authority Air Transport Pilot
Licence Aviation Human Factors.
BMI formula
weight (kg) / height (m^2)
Most common cause of pilot incapacitation
Food and drink poisoning
Most comfortable temperature range and relative humidity range
21-27 degrees C at 40-60% relative humidity
Definition of heat stress type 1 and remedy
Operating above 32 degs C best remedied by drinking water.
Definition of heat stress type 2
Too much sun through sunbathing, inadequate protection or liquid intake
Definition of heat stress type 3
Temperatures below 10 degs C. Body loses more body heat than it can produce resulting in
hypothermia (cognitive impairment, apathy, unconsciousness and ultimately death)
Early sensation of dehydration
Dry nasal passage and prickly eyes
Hours of non-flying required after a blood donation
24 hours
Define (otic) Barotrauma
Stretching of ear drum due to uneven air pressures between middle ear and ambient. (NO! Any
pain caused due to pressure differential)
Effect of (otic) barotrauma
Pressure vertigo of ear/balance mechanism causing dizziness
What does the Valsave manoeuvre do?
,Forces air via Eustascian Tube into middle ear to increase pressure equal to ambient
What are sinuses?
Cavities in the skull that are lined with a mucus membrane that can swell to block venting.
Aggravated by pressure differential during descent.
Litres of body fluids lost during a hot day
5
Effect of eating green vegetables prior to flight
Expansion/release of gases in digestive system due to low ambient pressure
Alcohol consumed with food increases rate of alcohol absorption or rate of alcohol removal?
Only increase alcohol absorption. Rate of alcohol removal cannot be changed.
Percentage of alcohol break down in liver compared to other mechanism (including respiration,
expiration and urine).
90% in liver. 10% through respiration, expiration and urine.
Standard drink units of alcohol metabolised per hour in an adult male.
1 standard drink.
Number of hours alcohol is present in brain after consumption.
24 hours.
Recommended maximum number of standard drinks 24 hours prior to flight.
1-2 standard drinks.
Maximum recommended standard drinks consumed a week for a male and female.
21-28 standard drinks for a male and 14-21 standard drinks for a female.
Definition of "analgesic" medication.
Painkiller
Definition of "antihistamine" medication.
Clears up congestion.
Definition of "ephedrine" medication.
Nasal sprays.
,Definition of hyperventilation.
Excessive breathing causing removal of too much carbon dioxide from blood.
Fraction of standard atmospheric pressure at 18000ft?
Half.
Air expands in cavities and vents into the nasal regions during a climb or descent?
Climb.
When 30m (100ft) below water, how many times the standard atmospheric pressure is
experienced?
Twice.
Typical foods to avoid when flying due to bloating.
Beer, cabbage and beans.
What gas is present in the blood under high pressure in scuba? Ascending quickly will release
pressure and the gas will come out of solution like soft drink leading to first symptoms felt in
joints and muscles. Then bubbling in brain and spinal cord will result in tingling sensation.
Nitrogen.
The 'Bends' or decompression sickness is the result of air rupturing lungs as it expands and
absorbs directly into blood. Oxygen contaminated blood causes unconsciousness or death. At
what altitude can the 'Bends' affect you soon after a scuba dive?
8000ft.
How much rest required after a dive that requires no stops?
4 hours.
How much rest required after a less than four-hour dive that requires decompression stops?
12 hours.
How much rest required after more than a four-hour dive that requires decompression stops?
40 hours.
The part of the ear that is cartilage structured into a 25mm canal?
Outer ear.
Which part of the ear starts with the airtight seal of the eardrum?
, Middle ear.
The ear drum vibrates. 3 bones amplify these vibrations and conduct directly to the cochlear.
What are the layman's terms of these bones?
Hammer, anvil and stirrup.
What is the name of the organ that converts mechanical signals to electrical signals in the inner
ear?
Cochlear.
Which part of the ear is vented to the atmosphere via the Eustacian tube?
Middle ear.
To which organ are the semi-circular canals mounted?
Cochlear.
Which organ is filled with fluid called endolymph and contains tiny hair-like cells that resonate
to different vibrational frequencies.
Cochlear.
Excessive noise will damage which organ through damage of its hair-like cells submerged in
endolymph?
Cochlear.
The cupula is a hair-like cell that washes around and responds to acceleration and sends signals
to the brain. The cupula is part of which organ?
Semi-circular canal.
Linear acceleration is detected by the saccule (vertical) and utricle (horizontal). Collectively, this
organ is also mounted on the cochlear and is called?
Otolith organ.
What is the lowest decibel that can be detected by a child?
1 dB.
What scale is the decibel system?
Base ten logarithmic.
A comfortable noise level is below which decibel?
