Taking OTC Medication
A simple, everyday treatment on the ground could become fatal when combined with flight.
aviation duties. However, if you are sick enough to require over-the-counter (OTC) medication to feel good enough to fly, DONOT FLY.
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sumer. Read medicine labels, including ALL active ingredi- ents. Discuss your OTC medications with your doctor to determine if they could affect your ability to think clearly or safely perform highly complex tasks. 14 CFR 61.53 prohibits pilots from operating aircraft while using impairing medica- tions. If taking any medication with warnings for drowsiness, lightheadedness, or operating machinery, DONOT FLY.
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tions provided in the FAA’s Medications and Flying Brochure (
bit.ly/faa_medsbrochure). After taking a new drug for the first time, wait to fly until at least 48 hours have elapsed with no side effects. After taking impairing medications, do not fly until at least five maximal dosing intervals have passed. For example, you must wait 30 hours after taking an impairing medication with a four- to six-hour dosing schedule (5 × 6 = 30).
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DON’T fly until it’s time. After using any medication with impairing side effects, follow the recommenda-
DO take ownership for using OTC medications responsibly. Become an educated health-care con-
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pilots and maintenance technicians who will be the rotorcraft workforce of the future. As part of the meeting, attendees high-
lighted several examples of partnerships and collaborations within our industry. One example is a mul- timedia campaign, Choose Aerospace, developed by the Aviation Technical Education Council (ATEC). The campaign will promote aviation maintenance to young people, employing techniques such as video
DO complete the IMSAFE checklist before every flight. Use the IMSAFE personal readiness checklist
(
bit.ly/ImSafeChecklist) to ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to perform all flight duties without adverse effects from Illness, Medication, Stress, Alcohol, Fatigue, Emotion (and Eating) before and during every flight. Make an honest and continuous assessment of your fitness part of your rou- tine flight preparations. Remember, if you are using impair- ing medications, your judgment of how well you are functioning may be impaired as well.
DON’T become an accident statistic. Improper use of sedating OTC medications remains a factor in 10 to 13%
of aircraft accidents. Avoid becoming a statistic: accept when your underlying medical condition or associated treatments render you unfit to fly. Choose to stay with Mother Earth and live to fly another day.
DO get prompt medical care. Resist the temptation to ignore injuries or illnesses that can adversely affect your
testimonials, social media, and mobile games and apps. More than 10 industry partners have already signed on as partners in the cam- paign, including several airlines, the
Aviation Institute of Maintenance, and other aviation maintenance organizations. ATEC is seeking additional partners; learn
more at
chooseaerospace.org. Some operators and flight schools have created career progression programs that take the mystery out of building a career as a helicopter pilot. These programs provide pilots with stable employment, mentorship and support, and a clear path for their advancement from low-time pilot to a 2,000-hour pilot with turbine experience who will be in demand by all industry sectors. Aviation Futures, which was started by Colorado Heli-Ops, Sundance
➤ SPRING 2019 ROTOR 17
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