Defying gravity: Air Force pilots' rigorous training

Korea Times reporter Jun Ji-hye, left, and other reporters covering the Defense Ministry check their oxygen masks during training in a hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Medical Center in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Feb. 10. / Courtesy of Air Force

By Jun Ji-hye

CHEONGJU, North Chungcheong Province ― Aerobatics ― aerial maneuvers executed in fighter jets ― look effortless. However, the pilots who fly these aircraft undergo intense training to help ensure they can endure the elements and tough conditions.

The Air Force’s F-15K can fly at a maximum speed of Mach 2.3, or about 2,800 kilometers an hour. At such speed, pilots are affected by gravitational forces (G-forces) nine times greater than their weight. Without constant training, they can suffer G-force induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC) when blood is drained from the brain.

This is just one of the difficulties that pilots must endure.

Last week, reporters covering the Ministry of National Defense visited the Aerospace Medical Center of the Air Force Academy in Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, to experience some of the training that pilots and pilots-in-training go through.

The reporters underwent four forms of training ― high-G training (G-test), spatial disorientation (SD) instructor training, hypobaric chamber training and safe eject training.

Korea Times reporter Jun Ji-hye endures 6Gs during G-force training at the Aerospace Medical Center in Cheongju, Feb. 10. / Courtesy of Air Force

They were most concerned about the G-test because they feared losing consciousness.

F-15K pilots are required to endure a 9G spin for 15 seconds in a human centrifuge.

The reporters’ goal was to stay up for 20 seconds in a 6G spin. In daily life, people are affected by 1G G-force.

During the training, which tests reactions and tolerance to acceleration above that experienced from the Earth’s gravity, the reporters first experienced a respiration method aimed at increasing chest pressure to restrict the downward flow of blood.

Then, they were instructed to tense their legs and abdominal muscles. The so-called “Hick maneuver” aims to pump blood back into the brain as the G-forces try to drain it.

While in a pilot seat of an F-15K, reporters were asked to operate a joystick to increase the G-force according to the trainer’s instructions.

Five of the 12 reporters blacked out in less than 10 seconds in their first attempts. Three of the five managed to pass the test in their second, third and fourth attempts, respectively.

Air Force fighter jets including F-15Ks and KF-16s during a large-scale drill in this Feb. 14, 2013 file photo. / Yonhap

The writer of this article was one of the fortunate ones who passed the first attempt. Although she avoided a G-LOC, she temporarily lost her vision, which felt like going into a very dark tunnel. As she tried to remain conscious, the trainer’s voice turned into an echo ― symptoms that the increased G-force is hindering the blood flow to the eyes, ears and brain. Her hands and legs were still shaking when she stepped out of the centrifuge.

The next was SD training that helps pilots acquire the knowledge and skills to handle the visual and vestibular illusions that they may encounter in flight. This can cause them to misinterpret aircraft altitude, air speed and direction.

Under such conditions, a pilot’s perception of direction disagrees with the reality. The pilot can also face a strong dizzying sensation (vertigo) if he or she moves their head too much during instrument flight.

In July 2007, two pilots died in an accident off the coast of Taean, South Chungcheong Province, after mistaking the sea for the sky.

During training which lasted for approximately five minutes, the reporters experienced various illusions including vertigo. Plastic bags were on hand in case they wanted to vomit.

The third stage of training was conducted in a hypobaric chamber or altitude chamber, which simulates the effects of high altitude on pilots, especially hypoxia (low oxygen) and hypobaria (low ambient air pressure).

As the altitude climbed, the reporters’ eardrums became painful. The trainers kept instructing them to swallow their saliva.

When the altitude reached 25,000 feet, the reporters were asked to remove their oxygen masks to experience hypoxia, during which they were not able to write letters properly for more than three minutes. Some were not able to give the right answers to multiplication questions. They also experienced indistinct consciousness, dizziness and headache

As continuous low-oxygen conditions can cause loss of consciousness, an instructor quickly put an oxygen mask on this reporter, who was unable to write properly for three minutes.

The final exercise was safe-eject training, which prepares pilots for emergency situations.

Pilots face these extreme situations while flying. The worst case scenario is when these problems happen all at once while the pilots are attempting to strike enemies or evade attacks.

Maj. Lee Sung-eun, an instructor pilot of KF-16 said, “The most difficult thing is that pilots need to do too many things correctly and quickly at once in various extreme conditions. That is why consistent training and management is essential.”

Lt. Col. Ha Hyun-wook, head of the training department of the Aerospace Medical Center noted: “Pilots need to go through this training every three years. If they fail the tests, they are not allowed to fly.”

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye.