Low pressure chamber

The Aeromedical Institute has a low pressure chamber which is used for both pilot training and research. The chamber can also be used for testing materials and instruments.

Hypoxia is a great danger for both military and civilian aviation. The symptoms that vary greatly from individual to individual and the ensuing loss of power of judgement combined with a significant increase of incorrect decisions constitute a great hazard in themselves. In military aviation system deficiencies often arise when cabin pressure drops or if the pilot's oxygen system leaks. This is the result of the great stress military aviation material is subjected to or due to being exposed to live fire during warfare. Averages of two confirmed cases of hypoxia occur in the Swiss Air Force every year.
Even in civilian aviation accidents have occurred, some of which were spectacular, that can be traced back to pilot hypoxia. Respective examples are the accident of the Lear Jet in the USA in 1999 with the golf player Payne Stewart, of a Super King Air in Australia in 1999 or of a Piper Turbo Arrow IV in Switzerland on 21 August 1998 .

In addition to the effects of hypoxia, the effect of explosive decompression , as it may occur in aircraft with pressurised cabins can be demonstrated in the chamber live. TUC

In the low pressure chamber participants are able to get to know their performance limits in a safe environment under medical supervision. During training, participants learn how to recognize hypoxia, subjectively, how much time they have to recognize and resolve a problem in cabin pressure (time of useful consciousness ) and what procedures should be followed in such a case.