This November 1976 CIA Foreign Intelligence Information Report describes Soviet Aeroflot's approach to keeping flight crews healthy and alert. The report covers crew fatigue prevention methods, medical testing equipment, and research into unusual visual phenomena that pilots report during night flights.
How did Aeroflot combat crew fatigue?
Aeroflot used three main strategies. First, they emphasized physical conditioning, providing exercise facilities at major airports supervised by a well-known athlete. The idea was that physically fit crew members would be less prone to fatigue and recover faster after tiring flights. Second, they tested each crew member before flying to ensure physical fitness and mental alertness. These tests were conducted by a medical team headed by a doctor, usually a woman. A crew member could not fly if they failed the examination. Third, Aeroflot operated prophylactoriums (rest facilities) at major airports. These were 3 to 4 story buildings set apart from the main airport buildings but easily accessible on foot. They were well landscaped and designed to provide total rest and relaxation for crew members passing through.
What testing equipment did the Soviets develop?
A chemist at the Civil Aviation Institute of Leningrad showed a prototype pilot biological psychomotor testing device that measured blood pressure, pulse rate, cardiovascular function, and motor ability. The equipment was automatic and testing was completed in approximately three minutes. The report notes that these tests were being automated and would take only 1 to 3 minutes once the prototype equipment became operational.
What did the report say about pilots seeing flashes of light?
Dr. [fnu] Georgiyevich Akoyev, a noted radiation biologist, explained that cosmic ray particles called phosphenes were causing Aeroflot pilots to "see" flashes of light during night flying. The report classified this under its subject line as "UFO Phenomena" but presented it as a scientific explanation for the visual experiences.
Full Document Text
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Approved for
Domestic CoJkcrion Division
Foreign I nrdlig.cnn: I nformario,1 R c.:pon
01•£CTOIAlf Of
OP( u. IIONS
COUNTRY USSR OC0 REPOU NO. 00- B-321 /33474-76
SU6J£CT Combating Fa tigue in Crewmembers/ DATE OIS!ll . lo November l.976
Aeroflot Work Cyc les/Use of Drugs/
Bi ologica l Eff ects of Ai r c r n fc Noise/ NO. PAGES 4
Radi a t 1•o n Researc h/UFO Phenomena,1
Prototype Pilot Biological Psychomotor REFERENC ES
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THIS IS UNEVALUATED INFORMATION
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SOURCE
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SUMMARY: Aeroflot of-f icials are actively involved in aerospace
medical research. They are concerned with the medical aspects
of physical conditioning which impinge upon crewcember perfor•m•
ance and have perfected several devices which test pilot bio
logical functioning and motor response ability. Or Inal
Ge"orgiyevich Akoyev, a noted radiation biologist explainr,d cosmic
ray particles (phosphenes) which are causing Aeroflot pilots to
"see" flashes ·of light during night flying. Or [fnu ] Akutin,
cvhern:ti:ist at the Civil Aviation Institute of Leningrad showed
~ __ prototype pilot biological psychomotor testing equip
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_ n~t~ w~ i-c~ m
- e~asu r es blood pressure, pulse rate, cardiovascular
function and 1110tor ability. The equipment is automatic and test
ing is _completed in approximately three minutes.
l, The Soviets deal with crelllllember fatigue in several ways. First, :hey
emphasize and ' prOlllote physical conditioning. • If a creWl!lember 1s phy$ i cally
fit, he wil l be less prone to fatigue and will recover sooner after
tiring flights, Aeroflot provides exercise facilities at all major alr• •
pores, and these facU.ities are supervised by a well known a.thlete. The
second thing they do is to thoroughly test each cre,,,oeober prior to flir,~~
to insu~e his physi~al fitn~s• and 111ental al,ertness. At the present ti-.ttf.,
these tests are cond~ted by a medical team headed by a doctor, usualiy a
woun. A crewmetnber 1a not alloved to fly if he fails the examina·tfon. : •
These teats are nov being automated aad will take only l-3 minutes whim the
prototype equipment becomes operational. Finally, there is a third Approach
Aeroflot 1s using--a prophylactoriWll. Each 111.ljor airport has one, a 3 to
4 story building set off from the 11141n airport buil~1ngs, . but easily acces- !
sible by foot. These facilities are well landscaped and are designed to provik.
total rest and relaxation for trans1e~t crewaembera." They have a lat'te kitcher,
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--- PAGE 2 --- View the official fileFrequently Asked Questions
What were the three main ways Aeroflot addressed crew fatigue?
Aeroflot emphasized physical conditioning with exercise facilities at major airports. They tested each crew member before flying to ensure fitness and alertness, with a medical team headed by a doctor conducting the exams. They also operated prophylactoriums (rest buildings) at major airports designed to provide total rest and relaxation for crew members.
How did the prototype testing equipment work?
The prototype pilot biological psychomotor testing equipment, shown by a chemist at the Civil Aviation Institute of Leningrad, measured blood pressure, pulse rate, cardiovascular function, and motor ability. The equipment was automatic and completed testing in approximately three minutes. When fully operational, these automated tests would take only 1 to 3 minutes.
What explanation was given for pilots seeing flashes of light?
Dr. [fnu] Georgiyevich Akoyev, a noted radiation biologist, explained that cosmic ray particles called phosphenes were causing Aeroflot pilots to "see" flashes of light during night flying.
What was the purpose of Aeroflot's prophylactoriums?
Prophylactoriums were 3 to 4 story buildings set apart from main airport buildings but easily accessible on foot. They were well landscaped and designed to provide total rest and relaxation for transient crew members. Each major airport had one.
Congressional Context
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