Human Factors, Fitness
Human factors is a combination of aviation medicine, psychology, engineering and ergonomics. It encompasses all of these factors trying to understand the man/machine interface in the aircraft. It has its roots in aviation accident investigations resolving these where no clear technical cause could be found when aircraft became more and more reliable over the years.
An airplane should be fit to fly, but what about the pilot? When using alcohol or drugs the pilot must evaluate if the substances have any influence on the ability to fly safely.
Fitness to Fly, II
Any nervous system depressant could be fatal when flying as a pilot. We all should be very aware that this is a combination that is bound to cause accidents, it does that in normal road traffic and aviation is no different there.
Alcohol
This substance gets into the brain very easily, mainly because alcohol is fat-soluble and the brain contains a large amount of it. It can be detected even after 14 hours of consuming a normal standard drink (which has about 10 - 15 mg of alcohol).
The effects of alcohol on a human ability to make decisions, good judgments and balance are well known. And these effects have proven disastrous in normal road traffic and aviation.
Obviously, alcohol and flying do not go together.
Rule makers have decided that at least 10 hours (some say even 12) should pass after the last drink and starting to fly. Needless to say that if the person is flat out drunk he or she will not be able to fly safely 10 hours later. Wait at least 24 hours before even thinking of flying.
There is no place in aviation for the alcoholic pilot. It is as simple as that. If the pilot is diagnosed as such the pilot may not fly again until it is clear that drinking will never be a problem again. Counseling may be part of the process of recovery from a drinking problem.
Drugs
Mood and mind influencing drugs as LSD, speed, marijuana, cocaine, heroine or others have radical effects on the brain possibly damaging it. Its use is therefore prohibited for pilots. No exception there.
The drugs mentioned above can not be classified as safe. However, mild drugs as pain killers, paracetamol or aspirin can be used as long as there is no side effect for the pilot. Nasal sprays (hay fever) can be used as these do normally not enter the blood stream.
Some sleeping pills can be used by pilots, these are usually the short acting types and have little side effects. Mainly used by pilots crossing time zones. Do consult an AME if you think you need them.
Drugs not suitable for pilots are stimuli for the nervous system as anti-depressants, anti-anxiety (Valium) and or strong pain killers.
Antibiotics are used to fight a bacterial infection. These could have side effects possibly worse than the illness itself, consult an AME before taking any.
It is wise to always consult an AME if you think you have a condition that would need drugs to counter it. It is far better to be safe than sorry.
Smoking
While not directly related to a danger in aviation, smoking can cause problems later on in life by increasing the change on a possible life treathening disease. Lung cancer, asthma, strokes or heart problems are all related to smoking.
Not smoking contributes to a healthy long life.
Finally
There is a short mnemonic for the pilot to use to assess if they are fit to fly: The I'm safe checklist. Do take note of that.
