Are you fit to fly?

What does it mean to be fit to fly? Does it simply mean that you’re not sick and not on faculty-altering medication? Or does it mean that you are in peak physical condition for running a marathon? Actually, the concept of being fit to fly encapsulates more than either of the above statements does. Flight fitness can be separated into physical, mental and physiological well-being. While each of these can be described separately, they complement each other when considering overall fitness. Let’s examine each in turn.

Physical fitness typically invokes images of body builders, joggers, and athletes in general. For a pilot, however, we’re concerned with the ability to withstand the various forces that will be acting on him or her at any given time. Gravity is an obvious force that is normally at work on the pilot at all times, but the real importance of maintaining good physical fitness is far from obvious. In order to maintain the fine motor skills required to pilot an aircraft, good muscle tone, flexibility, and coordination are essential. Anyone who has not done any real kind of exercise in recent years will most likely notice a marked decline in all three of these. A simple method of getting back into shape can start with walking or some other low impact sport that interests you.

Mental well-being includes two areas of concern. One is the general health of mental faculties. In general, any decline in mental well-being may affect the pilot’s ability to correctly and efficiently direct physical motion in the cockpit. What types of things will cause a breakdown of mental well-being? A breakdown can occur because of distraction, emotions, attitude, etc. The other area of concern deals with the physiological health of the brain. If the brain is deprived of the ingredients that make it function normally, the pilot is once again at risk for errors in judgement and physical response. Remember that the brain directs all internal and external functions, and any impairment experienced in carrying out its commands is about as dangerous as a computer with a nasty virus. In order to maintain peak mental well-being, it is important to be well nourished and not be under any psychological distress. The problem is that it is difficult to pinpoint causes of this distress. However, if you’ve experienced any extremely stressful events in the last 48 hours, you may want to reconsider stepping into the cockpit.

Physiological aspects of fitness are more commonly addressed in aviation literature. This is the realm of circulation, respiration, digestion, and the processes these systems must carry out during flight. We hear about hypoxia and hyperventilation, aviator’s bends, carbon monoxide poisoning, inner ear problems, and sinus problems, to name a few. The bottom line is this: for these bodily systems to meet the demands of the environment we fly in, everything must be in reasonably sound condition. There must be adequate oxygen at a pressure that is suitable to sustain normal respiration. Circulation must be uninterrupted, or critical organs such as the eyes and brain will not receive adequate oxygen in order to work correctly. Digestive processes must be normal, or we are likely to experience discomfort while flying. It should be apparent that any breakdown in respiration will also have a ripple effect on the other systems. Review aeromedical factors so that you are aware of the symptoms that may preclude flight duties.

So, what does all this mean to you, the general aviation pilot? It means that if you neglect your body or ignore the signals it gives you of impending problems, you may run into trouble. There are usually good reasons why you don’t feel up to par on certain days. Think about what you did during the previous week. Bodily neglect can be cumulative, and it may take a few days to see the effect. Now, if by chance you notice that you’re not completely ‘fit’ on a given day, please reconsider your plans if they include flying an aircraft. Many accidents have occurred because pilots failed to heed their body’s warning signs, and continued on with their flying plans.

Remember that we don’t fly at ground level. What you feel on the ground will normally be exacerbated by any increase in altitude. So please listen to your body, stay fit, and don’t be afraid to ground yourself when necessary.

Donald Anders Talleur is an Assistant Chief Flight Instructor at the University of Illinois Institute of Aviation. He holds a joint appointment with the Pilot Training and Aviation Research Laboratory Departments. Talleur has been flying since 1984, and in addition to flight instructing since 1990, he has worked on numerous research contracts for the FAA, Air Force, Navy, NASA, and U.S. Army. He has authored or co-authored over 40 aviation-related papers and articles, and is also working on an M.S. degree in Engineering Psychology at the University of Illinois.