I'm sorry, as a new employ I am not going to call in sick unless I am on my deth bed. You getting sick is more than worth it considering the alternative is me getting a black mark on my record or even worse getting fired while still on my probationary period. Blame management, not me.

 

Travel Clorox wipes. Target sells them for .99 a pack. I buy a bunch and wipe down everything I touch before I start the day in the plane. Not every time though, gotta let the immune system do it’s job from time to time.

 

Welcome to the regionals.

Dehydration and fatigue impair your immune system, so hydrate. If you stay up all night drinking and then go fly, double whammy.

But you don't get sick from getting sneezed on, you get it from touching things and then touching your face. You can wipe all the surfaces you want, but the best defense is washing your hands constantly (gel works too), and you need to learn to be totally OCD about NOT touching your face when you're at work. If you really must, wash your hands thoroughly with soap and hot water first. Good habit, it helps in hotel rooms (the guy who checked out a few hours ago was smearing his bug-infested snot all over everything), and other public spaces even when you're not working.

Oh, and get the flu shot. If you're one of those people who doesn't get the flu very often, it will be REALLY bad when you do get it about once a decade. Inevitable in aviation.

 

Lots of people don't understand how colds spread. Each common cold virus is different and everyone has a different immune system. There is a good chance that your immune system can combat another person's cold. But the biggest factor is the fact that most people are contagious BEFORE they develop symptoms.

That doesn't mean that you should go to work sick, it just means there are better things to spend time complaining about since you are just as likely to catch a cold from the thousands of people who interact with at the airport than you are from that captain who sneezed in the flight deck.

 

Welcome to the airlines, new employ. Signing on the dotted line that you're fit for duty when you're not quite on your deth bed, but just short of it, is cool though?

 

Where do you work that's going to fire you for calling in sick?

 

Yesterday on the last day of my trip, I woke up feeling normal, I started sniffling and sneezing around leg 2, then by the deadhead home I could tell I was definitely sick. Today I’m bed-ridden with the flu.

 

Lighten up. If you're worried about probation, go to the doctor and get a note. Email it to your CP so he knows you're not slacking.

I kicked an FO off my airplane once, he was about to blow chunks but couldn't "afford" the time off. Last straw was when has asked the FA for a barf bag prior to push, "just in case". Don't put your CA in that position.

 

I’d say you’re ready for that assistant chief pilot promotion. Good good.

 

By the way, please keep us posted on your frequent medical conditions as this seems to be your #1 use of APC. BUT, don't stay home when it affect other people. Get us sick and then ask us for advice on how to keep your medical. Great M.O.