title: Effects of pyridostigmine bromide on in-flight aircrew performance.
abstract: The effects of a chemical defense pretreatment drug, pyridostigmine bromide (PB), on in-flight aircrew performance were assessed using the Total In-Flight Simulator (TIFS) aircraft. TIFS was used to supply appropriate control dynamics, handling characteristics, and cockpit instrumentation for a tactical transport airdrop simulation. Twenty-one C-130 pilots flew two familiarization and four data flights. During two data flights PB was given to both members of the aircrew using the dosage regimen of 30 mg/8 h prescribed by the U.S. Air Force surgeon general. The drug was administered using a double-blind technique. The results indicated that (1) aircrews successfully completed their assigned mission, (2) airdrop inaccuracies and navigation errors in time and distance were not specifically related to PB, (3) performance and crew coordination were not affected by PB, (4) PB and pilot/copilot not discriminate beyond chance between PB and placebo conditions.
authors.affiliation: Calspan Advanced Technology Center, Buffalo, NY 14225.
authors.forename: V J
authors.initials: VJ
authors.lastname: Gawron
authors.forename: S G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Schiflett
authors.forename: J C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Slater
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Ball
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D006801:Humans; D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012016:Reference Values; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
chemical_list: D011729:Pyridostigmine Bromide