INFLUENCE OF NICOTINE ON SIMULATOR FLIGHT PERFORMANCE IN NON SMOKERS

In a placebo-controlled study, we investigated the influence of nicoti ne on late-day aviation performance in 15 non-smoking subjects. In a w ithin-subjects design, subjects were tested on 2 days, each lasting 8 h and consisting of three 75-min simulator flights (late-afternoon pra ctice, evening test, night test). Prior to each test, subjects receive d either nicotine polacrilex 2 mg or placebo gum. As expected, overall performance was significantly better after nicotine, compared to plac ebo (P < 0.01). Post-hoc analysis of individual flight tasks showed th at nicotine improved scores on approach to landing, a task which appea rs to require sustained attention. We conclude that nicotine may impro ve late-day flight performance in non-smoking aviators.