At the ready

Flight helmets sit ready in the hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. Flight helmets began as a leather head piece that covered the pilots head with removable googles to protect pilot’s eyes from the elements. Since World War II, additional elements and modifications, like an oxygen mask, visor, communication equipment and the hardening of the helmet, were completed to increase the helmets versatility and to meet the evolving demands of military pilots. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Steven R. Doty/Released)

Checking for leaks

Airman 1st Class Ceara Vanloh, 47th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace physiology technician, checks her mask for a proper seal in the hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. Vanloh’s desire to have a job that would be hands-on and deal directly with the Air Force mission was important to her and inspired her to pursue a career as an aerospace physiology technician. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Steven R. Doty/Released)

Waiting game

Second Lt. Aaron Seyfried, 47th Student Squadron student pilot, awaits a seal check in the hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. Undergraduate Pilot Training students are exposed to low-pressure altitude flights to experience the onset of hypoxia, or a lack of oxygen to the blood and brain, as part of the physiology training required of all military aviators. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Steven R. Doty/Released)

Chamber checks

47th Student Squadron Class 15-09 student pilots await a seal check in the hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. Students are trained in a pressure-demand system where oxygen in the mask is above ambient pressure permitting breathing above 40,000 feet. Regulators furnish the mask with 100 percent oxygen under pressure to force the oxygen into the lungs, rather than depending on the low pressure produced when the wearer of the mask inhales to pull in the oxygen. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Steven R. Doty/Released)

Prepare the flight

47th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace physiology technicians, from left; Airman 1st Class Tracy Gathings, chamber operator; Airman 1st Class Brittany McBee, chamber lecturer; and 2nd Lt. Anthony Cosentino, chamber session recorder, prepare class 15-09 students for a chamber flight at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. All aerospace physiology technicians play a crucial role in optimizing aircrew performance and reducing human errors through mission and aircraft focused training. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ariel D. Delgado/Released)

Can you hear me?

Student pilots, 47th Student Squadron Class 15-09, complete a communications check in the hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. New aircrew will undergo a familiarization profile, where the chamber mimics the air pressure at 10,000 ft. and students are asked to yawn. It then mimics the air pressure during descent and the students must perform the valsalva maneuver to "clear" the ears and sinuses when ambient pressure changes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ariel D. Delgado/Released)

Thumbs up!

Airman 1st Class Brittany McBee, 47th Medical Operations Squadron aerospace physiology technician, performs an operation check on life support equipment in the hypobaric chamber at the Aerospace Physiology Unit on Laughlin Air Force Base, Texas, April 30, 2014. The Aerospace Physiology Unit uses the hypobaric chamber to train military, Department of Defense civilians and contractors on the effects of hypoxia, how to recognize their personal symptoms of hypoxia and make the necessary corrections to reverse the symptoms of the condition. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Ariel D. Delgado/Released)

Snapshot of Laughlin: Feeling the pressure?

Published May 1, 2014
By Staff Sgt. Steven R. Doty
47th Flying Training Wing Public Affairs

LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas -- It's no secret that Laughlin graduates the world's best pilots. However, before we can deploy mission-ready Airmen, they must learn to combat a more subtle, but no less dangerous threat: hypoxia.

With the help of the skilled Airmen of the 47th Medical Operations Squadron Aerospace Physiology Unit, Aerospace Physiology technicians will teach student pilots the skills needed to handle in-flight emergencies and conduct training for emergency equipment such as oxygen masks, pressure suits and ejection seats preparing them for the challenges that await them in the sky.