Physiological Issues in UAS
Feature Photo: FDA approved label. Adapted from "What Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications can I take and still be safe to fly?," by FAA, 2019, FAA. Copyright 2019 by FAA
Significant Risks of Over the Counter Medication
Physiological issues in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) cover multiple areas to include stress, lack of sleep, sickness, and physical discomfort. Many Over the Counter (OTC) medications were created to help alleviate any discomfort. Unfortunately, some of these medications can have side effects that can make it difficult for operators to use their systems safely.
Medications that pose the most significant risk to UAS operators are any medications that have a label that states, “May cause drowsiness,” or “be careful when driving a motor vehicle or operating machinery.” (FAA, 2019) I believe this has the most significant risk to UAS operators because the act of flying an unmanned aircraft is not as stimulating as flying a manned aircraft. The operator is normally on the ground, and I believe they can become complacent insidiously while not realizing they may be feeling the effects of the medication they have taken. This is dangerous because the operator may not know they are feeling the effects of the medication; however, it may be actively affecting their decisions and performance.
According to the FAA (n.d.), one of the most common impairing medications are antihistamines. These medications have a sedating effect that is inside OTC medication such as Benadryl (FAA, n.d.). This medication is a sedative and can cause the users to feel drowsiness and slow response time to normal activities. “According to an NTSB study, sedating antihistamines are the most commonly detected medication in fatal accidents” (FAA, n.d.).
Stress and Fatigue and Mitigation Strategies
When conducting UAS operations, operators should utilize a risk management program or technique to ensure they are safe to fly. This type of system can be used before each flight to ensure the operator is meeting all of the legal, physical, and mental requirements to safely perform their task. These types of preflight checks can help ensure pilots are in a correct state of mind and well-rested in performing their flights.
Fatigue and stress can be detrimental to UAS operations. According to Salazar (2007), pilots can develop fatigue from a variety of causes. Fatigued pilots can show problems such as sleepiness, difficulty concentrating, apathy, increased reaction time, and task fixation (Salazar, 2007). These types of conditions can cause the pilot to make the wrong decisions or even fly when it is unsafe. If a pilot is slow at making decisions or makes the wrong decisions due to apathy or having difficulty concentrating, they can cause accidents or injury, someone due to their inability to operate their system safely. Stress can cause additional problems for operators. Stress can cause fatigue, which can cause the symptoms listed above. If the pilot is not feeling well, it is a good idea to self identify that and make a decision to delay or cancel their flight to ensure they are physically and mentally prepared to operate their UAS.
References
FAA. (n.d.). Pilots and Medication. Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/news/safety_briefing/2018/media/SE_Topic_18-10.pdf
FAA. (2019). What Over-the-Counter (OTC) medications can I take and still be safe to fly? Retrieved from https://www.faa.gov/licenses_certificates/medical_certification/media/OTCMedicationsforPilots.pdf
Salazar, G. J. (2007). Fatigue in aviation (No. OK-07-193). United States. Federal Aviation Administration.