The thesis presents the theoretical generalization and a new solution to the topical problem related to developing the criteria for the psychophysiological expert examination of the flight crew members depending on the aircraft type, which proves important for increasing the combat efficiency of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The dependence of the workload of the pilots depending on the aircraft type is shown. The author reveals the significant effects of the complex of factors of labour intensity on the helicopter pilots as compared to the pilots of fighter, reconnaissance, assault and bomber aviation which were formed at the expense of the greater flight loads of helicopter pilots during combat air operations. It has been established that the availability of the considerable diversity in the perceptions of the pilots under the effects of separate working environment factors (“the shift system of work”, “the monotony of work” etc.) stipulates the importance of carrying out their thorough selection and monitoring of the psychophysiological qualities for the timely identification of the individuals with disadaptation symptoms, which can considerably prevent decreasing the combat efficiency of the flight units. The author also reveals the existence of the development heterochrony of professionally important qualities in the pilots operating various aircraft types in the process of their military service which is manifested in the indices of the balance of nervous processes, the orientation in space, attention and short-term memory in pilots. In helicopter pilots it is manifested in the form of the tendency towards the change in the balance of nervous processes, the reliability of activities and other psychophysiological parameters. It has been established that a permanent training in the course of flight and other service tasks proves to be a significant mechanism of improving professionally important psychophysiological qualities of pilots (concentration of attention, orientation in space, balance of nervous processes, number of erroneous decisions taken). As a rule, these qualities do not deteriorate with age, but, on the contrary, tend to improve in specific cases.
The author singles out a complex of psychophysiological characters which are sensitive to the change in the health state of the pilots, and shows the availability of sharp distinctions on the level of manifestation of professionally important qualities in “healthy-sick” polar groups. It has also been established that most part of these characters does not depend on the age of pilots. The research reveals the latent integral psychophysiological characters “freshness-exhaustion”, “activation”, and “tolerance-adynamia”which reflect the availability of psychophysiological deviance in pilots under the deterioration of their health. The author has developed the solution rules which make it possible to determine the availability of initial preclinical disturbances of the state of health in pilots. The application of these rules in the practice of the flight medical expert examination will contribute to the early diagnostication of disturbances in the functional state of servicemen with the aim of taking timely measures for preserving their health. The thesis reveals the peculiarities of the distribution of pilots operating various aircraft types in accordance with the parameters of their activity efficiency. The above serves as the basis for identifying the incongruent (as to their composition) complexes of the informative psychophysiological qualities and determines the limiting boundaries of fluctuations which are used for assessing the professional suitability of pilots operating various aircraft types. The solution rules for prognosticating the efficiency of the work of pilots with various levels of suitability for their professional activities have been developed.
The author has also developed the two-phase information technology which takes into account both the potential early negative changes in the pilots’ psychophysiological characters accompanied by their health deterioration and the criteria for the professional suitability of pilots for operating various aircraft types. The recommendations related to organizing the clinical route and the procedure of the psychophysiological expert examination have been developed.
The research proves that informing the doctor about the level of the pilot professional suitability and the potential shifts in his psychophysiological functions will make it possible to improve the techniques of his health recovery. The timely application of adequate prophylactic, treatment, diagnostic, training and rehabilitation measures which are based on using this information will contribute to preserving the pilot’s performance, increasing his professional longevity and enhancing the combat efficiency of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
