The Effects Of Alcohol On A Pilot - 2322 Words

CONTENTS Introduction to Pilots’ Health and Flying Safely 1 The Effects of Alcohol on a Pilot 2 Sleep Deprivation, Fatigue and Performance Degradation 4 Dangers of Self-Medication 6 Flying with a Common Cold 9 Conclusions regarding Flying with these Health Issues 12 Bibliography 13 HEALTH AND FLYING Introduction to Pilots’ Health and Flying Safely This report explains issues regarding pilots’ health, their effects on flying safely, and measures to avoid catastrophes and jeopardising the life of the pilot, their crew and the passengers. Flying and health go together and a pilot needs to be fully fit to fly. Hence, before undertaking any form training to become a commercial pilot, one has to†¦show more content†¦The Effects of Alcohol on a Pilot People drink to unwind and relax, and alcohol alters the mood by reducing inhibitions. All drinkers have experienced alcohol’s short-term health effects, a hangover or poor sleep, but alcohol has long-term effects, often discovered when it’s too late. A pilot who has had a drink shouldn’t fly under the influence of alcohol; everyone knows that alcohol and flying shouldn’t mix. A small quantity of alcohol in the blood can impair performance drastically, while relieving anxiety, so that person thinks he/she is performing brilliantly. Alcohol produces adverse effects relating to the brain, eyes, and inner ear, which are all mission-critical organs for pilots. Effects to the brain include impaired reaction time, judgement, reasoning, and memory; vital senses for a pilot to perform safely and to the best of his ability. Alcohol reduces the brain’s ability to make use of oxygen, magnifying these effects with simultaneous exposure to altitude, which has a decreased partial pressure of oxygen. Visual symptoms include eye muscle imbalance, which leads to difficulty focusing and double vision; dangerous for pilots carrying hundreds of passengers, or alone in a light aircraft. Alcohol affects the inner ear, sometimes resulting in dizziness and increased hearing perception - dangerous for a pilot in a plane. Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) 91.17 states that no