Journal of Airline Operations and Aviation Management

This research focuses on the dynamics of the optic nerve sheath during high-altitude shifts and extreme high G-loads that take place in supersonic flight operations. It emphasizes the first fully coordinated multi-physics simulation of the phenomenon and its validation with physiology during flight. Using Doppler reconstructions of avionics data, ICP models and deformation meshes created from telemetry, we investigated the response of the cranio-orbital system to extreme flows through aerodynamics. Output data validated with telemetry G-suits on G flights demonstrate alignment in the CSF venous flow micro-oscillation, deformation pattern during turbulence and flow instability, and ICP waveforms during turbulence. Advanced simulations pinpointed expanding ONS and rapid ICP waveforms. Risks produced real-time models that predicted ONS expansion, providing new insights on the high-altitude neuro-ocular stress response in aviation. These results advocate for protective measures to mitigate neuro-ocular stresses in pilots during supersonic flight operations.