Flight Safety Foundation Human Factors & Aviation Medicine 2002

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November–December 2002

Migraines, Other Severe Headaches Hinder Pilot Performance 8 pages. [PDF 83K]

Even mild headaches can distract pilots from their flight duties; more severe headaches can be temporarily disabling. Many civil aviation authorities say that pilots who experience migraines are not fit to fly; some allow flight with restrictions.

September–October 2002

Acupuncture Helps in Treating Medical Problems 6 pages. [PDF 220K]

Civil aviation medical specialists in the West say that the medical procedure, developed in China more than 2,500 years ago, has been administered to many people, including pilots, to relieve pain without the side effects that accompany some medications.

July–August 2002

For Pilots, Sunglasses Are Essential in Vision Protection 8 pages. [PDF 56K]

Sunglasses are available with lenses and frames manufactured from a variety of materials. Correctly choosing and wearing sunglasses can reduce the effects of exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet radiation, which is associated with a number of eye ailments, and can reduce brightness and glare, which impair vision.

May–June 2002

Aviation Medical Examinations May Not Be Adequate to Ensure All-around Good Health 8 pages. [PDF 54K]

Although some civil aviation authority requirements for medical examinations are so thorough that they provide almost all the medical attention that an individual requires, visits to private physicians often are necessary for pilots to obtain the additional medical attention required for good health.

March–April 2002

JAA Adopts Requirements for Assessing Aircrew Exposure to Cosmic Radiation 4 pages. [PDF 38K]

The European Joint Aviation Authorities in 2001 established requirements for operators to educate crewmembers of health risks, to adjust work schedules of those exposed to high levels of radiation and to measure or to sample radiation during flights above 49,000 feet. The exposure limit recommended by JAA is about eight times lower than that recommended in the United States.

January–February 2002

Anthrax Threats Present Unique Challenges for Airline Crewmembers 6 pages. [PDF 45K]

Bioterrorist attacks in the United States in 2001 prompted hoaxes involving aircraft worldwide. Authorities say that pilots and flight attendants should know how to respond if suspicious substances are found in their aircraft.