Masks Up Front
 

As the pandemic worsens again I've been rethinking what I do at work. Until now I've worn masks until the cockpit door was closed and then removed during flight. Put it on again upon arrival.

Every pro pilot has 2x/yr FAA medicals forever looming over their heads.

Yearly EKGs + the numerous reports of how Covid can damage your heart & lungs (& other organs) even if you aren’t hospitalized plus the science suggesting that 3 of the biggest dangers are:

1. close proximity (check),
2. time together (check) and
3. poor air circulation (sometimes yes/sometimes no)

Im thinking of trying to wear a mask inflight as well. If the kid at ChickFilA can do a whole shift wearing a mask, I should be able to do the same.

I hate even having a cold but even if I was one of the lucky asymptomatic ones I’d hate to give it to my wife ...or anyone else.

So does anyone have any suggestions for types of masks or manufacturers that are comfortable enough to wear for a 12-14 hour day, don't hinder communication and are easy to get off in the event the O2 needs to be quick donned?

Thanks in advance for your (hopefully respectful) thoughts.


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For self protection, you have to wear an N95, or better yet, N99 or N100 mask.

And never touch any surface touched by any other person without sanitizing your hands.

And never touch the mask unless you throw it away, sanitize your hands, and replace it with a new one.

And never eat food touched by another person unless you can verify that they, sanitized their hands, are wearing a mask that they never touched, aren't infected and sneezed/breathed on your food, or touched a contaminated surface and then your food without first sanitizing their hands.

And never touch a door handle without sanitizing your hands.

And never touch a surface in the airport or your aircraft without sanitizing your hands, making sure to not accidently touch your face.

Are you starting to get the problem? Masks are only a solution in specific situations.

You’re welcome to fly with a mask if you want. Don’t expect me to wear one.

Do it, Zap! Better yet, show up wearing this...

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...949ec32f02.jpg

Only on PHX trips.


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Good points. It is pretty much impossible to 'live' without encountering hostile microorganisms. Fortunately, the body has evolved some fairly sophisticated and effective countermeasures.

It has never been a bad idea to wash your hands before touching your face.

Also, it has never been a bad idea to pay for disability insurance (critical that it be specific to pilots). Get a little arrhythmia due to post COVID-19 complications (which incidentally are statistically always avoided with proper prophylaxis, but that is another argument), retire and enjoy tax free income until you can collect social security.

For the last time: disability insurance seems expensive when you don't need it; so do most insurance products. If you are a professional pilot making a reasonably higher salary than you can make doing whatever else you might be qualified to do and you don't have disability insurance, you are likely one deferred medical from bankruptcy.

I respectfully put forth the notion that placing oneself in that position with knowledge aforethought is utterly moronic. Begin with the premise that you are going to lose your medical long before you turn 65 and plan accordingly. If you manage to keep it, the delta between your salary minus what you paid in disability insurance and the disability payout will still be positive (if it turns negative at a certain age then drop the insurance). Yes, if you roll the dice, don't carry insurance and make it all the way, you will have a little bit more money. But if that is your choice (a statistically foolish one) and you roll 'snake eyes,' don't come whining. You knew it could happen but didn't plan for it. I won't feel sorry for you.

I am not trying to be mean or pedantic. This is very serious business. You don't have to be in this profession long to meet someone who lost a medical. Don't be an idiot; plan for it.

/rant off

Easy...took my union negotiated 6 month leave at 50 hours a month. I’ll let the scientists on here go back and forth about refusing to wear a mask; I’ll take my time off, be back in April when hopefully vaccines are going out to those smart enough to get one.

I regularly transport actively ill COVID patients in a rolling boo-boo box. I wear an N95. They wear a surgical mask. Haven’t caught the boomer remover yet. Take from that what you will.

For someone in a job where risk mitigation is key, you don’t seem to have a great grasp of it.