Physiological Effects and Aeronautical Decision Making
You are a Part 107 pilot scheduled to fly a morning mission to inspect a bridge for cracks. The mission requires precise hovering at 50 feet above the bridge deck, which is 100 feet above a river. You woke up with a headache and took a over-the-counter cold medication that contains a antihistamine, which can cause drowsiness. You also had two beers the night before, but you feel fine. The mission is in Class G airspace, and you have a visual observer. The weather is clear with light winds. You are 30 minutes into the flight when you start feeling drowsy and have difficulty concentrating. Your mouth is dry, and you feel slightly dizzy. The sUAS is currently 20 feet above the bridge deck, and you need to maintain position for another 10 minutes to complete the inspection.
1. What physiological factors are affecting your performance, and what should you do immediately?
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Physiological factors: The antihistamine in the cold medication can cause drowsiness, dry mouth, and dizziness-all of which impair judgment and reaction time. The two beers the night before may still have residual effects, even if you feel fine, as alcohol can impair performance for hours. Symptoms: drowsiness, difficulty concentrating, dry mouth, dizziness. Immediate action: You must prioritize safety. According to Part 107, you cannot operate if you are physically or mentally unfit (107.17). You should immediately hand over control to the visual observer if they are a certificated remote pilot, or safely land the sUAS as soon as possible. Do not continue the mission. Once landed, do not fly for the rest of the day and seek medical advice if symptoms persist.
2. How does this scenario illustrate the importance of the IMSAFE checklist and aeronautical decision making?
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IMSAFE: Illness (headache, cold), Medication (antihistamine), Stress (mission pressure), Alcohol (two beers), Fatigue (drowsiness), Emotion (complacency). The pilot failed to adequately assess these factors before flight. Aeronautical decision making: The pilot should have used the DECIDE model: Detect symptoms, Estimate impact (impairment), Choose to cancel or delay, Implement, Evaluate. By continuing the flight, the pilot violated the principle of 'fly safe, fly smart.' The pilot should have postponed the mission and not flown until free of symptoms and medication effects. This scenario highlights the need for honest self-assessment and the willingness to cancel a flight when unfit.