It seems a long time ago when we were living our dreams to achieve our goals in life: a career in aviation and an inherent stability, emotional and financial, that comes with a job, until COVID-19 hit us all. It continues to plague our lives. As for achieving our goals in life, when faced with …
Category: Pilots health
COVID-19 – Stranded Pilots
COVID-19 pandemic has forced the closure of national and state borders, in turn bringing the commercial flights to a near halt. This has resulted in a countless number of pilots being grounded. Many airlines under severe financial constraints have either laid off or sent their staff on unpaid leave. This has resulted in each affected …
Pilot Incapacitation: Extent of the Problem.
The study by Evans et.al. highlighted a linear trend in incapacitation rates from the pilots in 20s to those in their 60s, with those in 60s accounting for 15% of incapacitation [4]. Both cardio- and cerebro-vascular conditions being responsible for 50% (18/36) of incapacitation events, including 2 of the 4 sudden deaths, endorse the present …
Pilot Incapacitation: What is?
Common medical causes of in-flight incapacitation amongst airline pilots in U.K were cardiovascular (heart attacks, rhythm disturbances) and neurological (epileptic seizures) [10]. Another study in U.S. identified several causes of in-flight incapacitation. This included loss of consciousness; causes related to the gut viz., gallbladder stones, gastroenteritis or discomfort due to expansion of trapped intestinal gases; …
Pilot Incapacitation: Debate on Assessment, 1% Rule etc.
Reuters reported on 15 February 2012 that the captain of a Czech Airlines plane collapsed and died in flight from Warsaw to Prague. The plane carrying 46 passengers made a safe landing with the co-pilot on controls [1]. In another case, a Qatar Airways captain passed away in October 2010 on a flight from Manila, …