Keywords
sports
human performance
Air Force
military personnel
How to Cite
Abstract
Introduction: The sports-based physical training program has been one of the strategies used to keep troops in conditions of readiness within the military aviation environment.
Objective: To evaluate the association between the practice of different sports modalities and physical fitness and operational performance in flight in cadets of the Brazilian Air Force (BAF).
Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. As a sample, 2nd year (112) and 4th year (93) aviator cadets were selected in 2024. The exposure variables analyzed were age, gender, standard Military Physical Fitness Test (MPFT) score, and the sports modalities that occurred in the regular practice of the BAF Aviation Officer Training Course (AOTC) (athletics, basketball, fencing, soccer, judo, swimming, orienteering, military pentathlon, water polo, shooting, triathlon, volleyball). To evaluate the results, descriptive analyses and tests of comparisons of means were performed.
Results: Sports associated with aerobic practice had better MPFT scores, both for the 2nd and 4th grades. The practice of military pentathlon was associated with the best physical fitness results. There was no association between the modality practiced with better flight performance values, neither for the 2nd nor for the 4th year. The subjects with the best physical fitness scores also obtained better in-flight performance scores.
Conclusion: High physical fitness, and not the specific sport, is the factor that is significantly associated with better performance results in flight.
References
Santtila M, Pihlainen K, Viskari J, Kyröläinen H. Optimal Physical Training During Military Basic Training Period. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015;29(Supplement 11): S154–S157. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001035.
Nindl BC, Billing DC, Drain JR, Beckner ME, Greeves J, Groeller H, et al. Perspectives on resilience for military readiness and preparedness: Report of an international military physiology roundtable. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. 2018;21(11): 1116–1124. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.05.005.
Martin K, Périard J, Rattray B, Pyne DB. Physiological Factors Which Influence Cognitive Performance in Military Personnel. Human Factors: The Journal of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. 2020;62(1): 93–123. https://doi.org/10.1177/0018720819841757.
Brasil, Ministério da Defesa, Força Aérea Brasileira. Saiba como é a formação do aviador da Força Aérea Brasileira. Força Aérea Brasileira. Agência Força Aérea; https://www.fab.mil.br/noticias/mostra/31128 [Accessed 16th March 2026].
Friedl KE, Knapik JJ, Häkkinen K, Baumgartner N, Groeller H, Taylor NAS, et al. Perspectives on Aerobic and Strength Influences on Military Physical Readiness: Report of an International Military Physiology Roundtable. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research. 2015;29(Supplement 11): S10–S23. https://doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000001025.
Pascoa MA, Langer RD, Borges JH, Cirolini WX, Guerra-Júnior G, Gonçalves EM. Influence of the Type of Physical Training on the Physical Fitness of Army Cadets. Military Medicine. 2025;190(1–2): e273–e279. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usae363.
Martinescu-Bădălan F. Comparative Study on the Implementation of Combat Sports – Martial Arts – in the Physical Training of Military Students. Land Forces Academy Review. 2020;25(1): 22–30. https://doi.org/10.2478/raft-2020-0004.
Klymovych V, Oderov A, Romanchuk S, Korchagin M, Zolochevskyi V, Fedak S, et al. Correlation of Physical Fitness and Professional Military Training of Servicemen. Sport Mont. 18(2): 79–82.
Vaara JP, Groeller H, Drain J, Kyröläinen H, Pihlainen K, Ojanen T, et al. Physical training considerations for optimizing performance in essential military tasks. European Journal of Sport Science. 2022;22(1): 43–57. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2021.1930193.
Stocker H, Leo P. Predicting military specific performance from common fitness tests. Journal of Physical Education and Sport. 2020;20: 2454–2459. https://doi.org/10.7752/jpes.2020.05336.
Ilbasmis S. Effects of Aerobic Capacity on Cognitive Functions During Hypoxia. The International Journal of Aerospace Psychology. 2024;34(3): 176–185. https://doi.org/10.1080/24721840.2023.2281419.
Zwilling CE, Strang A, Anderson E, Jurcsisn J, Johnson E, Das T, et al. Enhanced physical and cognitive performance in active duty Airmen: evidence from a randomized multimodal physical fitness and nutritional intervention. Scientific Reports. 2020;10(1): 17826. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-74140-7.
Kraemer WJ, Vescovi JD, Volek JS, Nindl BC, Newton RU, Patton JF, et al. Effects of Concurrent Resistance and Aerobic Training on Load-Bearing Performance and the Army Physical Fitness Test. Military Medicine. 2004;169(12): 994–999. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED.169.12.994.
Steinman Y, Van Den Oord MHAH, Frings-Dresen MHW, Sluiter JK. Flight Performance Aspects During Military Helicopter Flights. Aerospace Medicine and Human Performance. 2019;90(4): 389–395. https://doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.5226.2019.
BRASIL. Comando da Aeronáutica. Gabinete da Aeronáutica. Portaria n° 2.102/GC3, de 18 de dezembro de 2018. Aprova a reedição do Plano Estratégico Militar da Aeronáutica 2018 - 2027 (PCA 11-47). Boletim do Comando da Aeronáutica. Rio de Janeiro, n. 222, f. 14766 dezembro 2018 [Accessed 16th March 2026].
BRASIL. Conselho Nacional de Saúde. Resolução n. 466, de 12 de dezembro de 2012. Aprova as diretrizes e normas regulamentadoras de pesquisas envolvendo seres humanos. Diário Oficial da União, Brasília, 13 jun. 2013. Seção 1, p. 59. https://bvsms.saude.gov.br/bvs/saudelegis/cns/2013/res0466_12_12_2012.html [Accessed 16th March 2026].
Gleeson M, Bishop NC, Stensel DJ, Lindley MR, Mastana SS, Nimmo MA. The anti-inflammatory effects of exercise: mechanisms and implications for the prevention and treatment of disease. Nature Reviews Immunology. 2011;11(9): 607–615. https://doi.org/10.1038/nri3041.
Fiel Peres F. Effect sizes for nonparametric tests. Biochemia Medica. 36(1): 010101. https://doi.org/10.11613/BM.2026.010101.
Shimojo G, Joseph B, Shah R, Consolim-Colombo FM, De Angelis K, Ulloa L. Exercise activates vagal induction of dopamine and attenuates systemic inflammation. Brain, Behavior, and Immunity. 2019;75: 181–191. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2018.10.005.
BRASIL. Comando da Aeronáutica. Comando-Geral do Pessoal. Portaria COMGEP n° 32/3SC, de 18 de maio de 2020. Aprova a 1ª modificação do teste de avaliação do condicionamento físico no Comando da Aeronáutica (NSCA 54-3). Boletim do Comando da Aeronáutica. Rio de Janeiro, n. 87, f. 5931 maio 2020.
Smith C, Doma K, Heilbronn B, Leicht A. Effect of Exercise Training Programs on Physical Fitness Domains in Military Personnel: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Military Medicine. 2022;187(9–10): 1065–1073. https://doi.org/10.1093/milmed/usac040.
Ribas PR, Ribeiro LCS. Aptidão Física e o Controle do Comportamento Psicofisiológico de Pilotos de Helicópteros do Exército Brasileiro pelo Biofeedback. Revista de Educação Física / Journal of Physical Education. 2003;72(127): 41–47.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Copyright (c) 2026 Journal of Physical Education