Pilot Injuries
 

Taking a Human Factors in Flight course with Embry Riddle (SFTY320) One of teh questions we have this week is "what do you think is the number one commercial pilot injury" Doing a quick Google search makes it seem like crashing is the leading cause. Does any one have any supported data that might have a different answer? or is this really the case?

In air ambulance service, it is back injuries loading the patient.

I would have thought back problems just because of the work environment. Of course most seats are probably more comfortable than what I am use too.

USMCFLYR

Myself, and 3 of my friends have sustained back injuries just from the ever increasingly heavy flight cases alone. Mine only lasted a month for downtime. Two of my friends were gone about 6 months.

When I went to the workman's to get released back to work and she asked what I did, she said "I see A LOT of airline pilots come in here. Not only back, but shoulder as well".

Back Injuries, followed by shoulder injuries.

I've never seen an ergonomic flight deck pubs bag storage design, maybe they exist somewhere, but not on Boeings. Flight bags are 30-40 lbs. and the repetitive stress from heaving flight bags into out of the storage takes it's toll over a career of carrying those darn things.

My first guess would be carry heavy flight bags/suitcases, as others have stated

Second would be, specific to the 74 freighter, falling down or having the upper deck stairs collapse.

Third would be climbing the jet bridge or airstairs ladder.

Mine was 46 the last time I weighed it.

Agreed. The jetbridge steps are never the same height as normal steps, and catching a heel on the airstairs is pretty common.

In the Saab, I have left a ton of scalp DNA on the fire handles. At least once in a four day trip, I manage to ding my head.

Chipped tooth from a beer bottle.

Shoulder injuries from slinging flight bags in and out of the cockpit. I would guess back problems would follow shortly after...