The decision of whether or not he is fit to fly requires careful thought by any pilot. In general, and illness raising doubts as to a pilot’s fitness should probably be enough reason to cancel a flight. It is always better to play safe.
Flying and the Common Cold
Although in many walks of life people can go to work with a cold, a pilot should not do so. The lethargy, difficulty in concentration, and general feeling of being unwell can easily be enough to seriously impair performance when piloting an aircraft. Also, congestion of the sinuses or middle ear spaces can cause serious problems when getting airborne. Severe pain can result from a condition called Barotrauma, and it can be incapacitating. For this reason, even student pilots and those who have booked a trial lesson would be well advised not to fly.
Pilots and Medication
Being on any medication with drugs, whether prescribed or self-purchased, is almost certainly a reason not to fly. The condition itself could affect performance, but so can even over-the-counter drugs, for no medication is free of side effects. Even mild painkillers such as ibuprofen have been known to affect co-ordination. Drugs such as anti-histamines, often taken for hay fever, can cause drowsiness, and even mild sleepiness is dangerous when piloting an aircraft. Drugs taken for mild gastroenteritis can cause blurring of vision in some instances. In general, it is much safer not to fly if taking any medication at all.
Flying and Alcohol
Drinking alcohol and piloting an aircraft do not go together. The general rule is a gap of eight hours from ‘bottle to throttle’, but many people do not feel that this is enough, and say a full day is probably more appropriate. If a pilot plans to drink he or she should not fly, and vice versa.
Are You Fit to Fly: An Aviation Acronym
The acronym “I’m safe” is a good rule of thumb for deciding whether or not to fly:
- I Illness – Is the pilot well enough to fly?
- M Medication - Sure there are no side effects?
- S Stress – Calm, rational, and not under pressure to fly?
- A Alcohol – Less than 25% of the UK driving limit, or preferably none at all?
- F Fatigue – Well slept and alert?
- E Eating – Blood sugar correct?
Generally, if in doubt a pilot should not fly, or should seek informed medical opinion before getting airborne. It is always better to be safe than sorry.
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