PPBT

Positive Pressure Breathing Trainer

Positive Pressure Breathing (PPB) also referred to as Positive Pressure Breathing for G (PBG) increases the G-tolerance of high performance aircraft pilots and thus helps to prevent G-induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC)

Needs

G-LOC is one of the most significant threats to life, aircraft and mission

A simplified explanation for the occurrence of G-force induced Loss of Consciousness (G-LOC) are rapidly increasing and sustained +Gz loads, acting on the human body, hindering the heart to maintain the blood circulation to the head. The result is an insufficient oxygen supply of the brain, maintenance of venous return to the heart and the maintenance of blood pressure and blood flow to the brain.
Consequences of G-LOC are that many aircrew who experience G-LOC fail to report it and the G-LOC accident statistics rely on pilot reporting and may under-represent the problem. G-LOC causes severe damages and loss of lives and leads to annual Air Force material losses of several hundred million Euros.
As +Gz level increases from +1 to +5 Gz the eye-level blood pressure is significantly lower than the heart blood pressure. Due to the eye-to-heart distance, the eye-level blood pressure decreases to a value resulting in G-LOC, if no intervention is made.
Such interventions are wearing an anti-G-suit, Positive Pressure Breathing and Anti-G Straining Manoeuvres

Solution

The PPBT is a system for the training of Positive Pressure Breathing technique and other applications. Primary component of the system is AMST’s Software-Controlled Anti-G Valve (SCAGV), which realistically replicates the standard Anti-G Controller (AGC) of high performance aircraft. The SCAGV supplies pressure to the trainee’s anti-G suit and the mask. Possible applications of the PPBT are:

Practice Positive Pressure Breathing techniques for G-LOC training
Pre-breathe Oxygen before training in a hypobaric chamber
Familiarise pilots with the use of the anti-G suit and the mask in conditions close to reality
Practice communication when wearing mask and helmet
Do tests of air-supplied personal equipment

Benefits

Safe training in a controlled environment
Adaptable to the characteristics of different aircraft and different equipment
GUI that is easy to operate
Simultaneous training of multiple trainees
Modern and ergonomic design
Based on AMST's Software-Controlled Anti-G Valve, which is proven equipment also used in AMST's Human Centrifuges

Features

Designed for easy operation

Trainee Station

There can be up to 4 trainee stations with adjustable trainee seats. The station’s side panels house the pressure control equipment and PLC systems. On the side panels, you find controls for check, pressure release, push-to-talk and volume as well as the connectors for microphone, headset and hoses.

Software-Controlled Anti-G Valve

The Software-Controlled Anti-G Valve has an interface to the pilots equipment. The system provides pressure lines for mask, trousers, and spare (vest) which are supplied with pressurised air. The mask can also be supplied with Oxygen.

Safety System

The pressure schedule editor only accepts limited input values to prevent unintended pressure definitions. Independent safety hardware such as pressure switches and relays prevents pressure overshoots caused by faults in regulator or software. The PLC monitors the system states and initiates a pressure stop in case of malfunctions.

Control Station

The instructor conducts the training, supervises trainees and the PPB equipment from the control station. Part of the control station is a GUI to prepare, execute and analyse trainings. Important data such as pressure curves are shown on a technical display. There are indicators for the automatic mask tightness check and a printer to print training reports.

Graphical User Interface

Via the GUI, the instructor can easily create pressure profiles to generate different pressures vs. time G-load. The GUI also provides operator and trainee management as well as reports that include graphs of the various technical signals.

Communication System

The communication system allows communication between all trainees, between the instructor and individual trainees as well as between the instructor and a group of trainees.

References

PPBT – Middle East 2014

AMST delivered 4 Positive Pressure Breathing Trainers to a customer in the Middle East in 2014.