Content
Heliprops Safety Program
Understanding the Relationship between Stress & Performance
Part 2A
Any threat we perceive to our well being, either consciously or unconsciously, evokes a stress response in the nervous system. That threat could be an emergency, weather, personal problems, time constraints, etc. The nervous system’s response to stress is an evolutionary design whose purpose it is not only to help us cope with the stress, but to make sure we survive whatever happens during the encounter.
When we think of the word “stress” mental-emotional strain usually comes to mind. Anxiety, fear, emergency situations, fatigue, overload, repetitious tasks, dissatisfaction, and frustration also qualify as stress. The common identifier that qualifies all of the above as stress is the ability to activate the body’s stress response. It doesn’t matter if the stress is mental-emotional, physiological, or environmental. The body responds one response to stress; only the intensity of the response varies depending on how threatening the perception.
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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) now offers fatigue management tools applicable to helicopter pilots and maintainers online at www.mxfatigue.com. The FAA website and YouTube also host a new cautionary video – Grounded.
The History of Helicopter Safety