Unfortunately I was pleaded through out November with multiple illnesses. All were picked up in the middle to end of my 4 day trips. Since then I have started taken extra persuasions other than vitamins and washing my hands. I now use the Handy Wipes that are available inside the airplane and wipe down everything, EVERYTHING, that I may touch throughout the flight. Every time I switch airplanes I usually go through 2-3 wipes as well as one after each walk around, and more if my CA has just recovered from something.

Is this excessive? Well I haven't been sick since. I'm sure that calling out a reserve pilot and paying him his/her per diem plus what ever he/she works over their guarantee far exceeds the wipes I use. I hate calling in sick but if I am sick I won't fly. There is just too much at risk.

 

Good question, I had a rough winter my first year at the airlines, but I've stayed pretty healthy since then by educating myself (my college roomie's an MD) and being proactive.

Two things are needed to make you sick: Exposure and weakened immune defenses. A small exposure will likely not make you sick if your immune system is up to speed. A massive exposure or a strong virus can make you sick regardless.

First, reduce exposure. Most of our exposue comes from the filthy, diseased pigs in the back. Aerosol (airborne) bugs are NOT the real problem, it's actually infected snot residue on things that people touch.

-AVOID touching anything that the PAX touch (hand rails, door nobs, etc).

-Wash your hands with soap constantly, especially after touching pax-contaminated objects. Alcohol wipes can help, but with both soap/water and alcohol you have to give your hands a good scrubbing, not just a quick once-over.

-Avoid touching your nose and mouth with your hands while at work. You don't really need to, do you? This becomes second-nature with a little practice.

-Some guys wipe down they controls with alcohol wipes when they swap into an airplane. It is good etiquette to inform the oncoming crew if you are sick so they can do the wipe down.

Your immune system can do a pretty good job if you are healthy and well rested. These things all affect your immune system:

- Get the Flu shot as early as possible. If you don't you will lose a week every single winter.

- STAY HYDRATED! If you get dehydrated you will get sick in this business. The airplane atmosphere will dry you out, and so will 8 tequila shots at the hotel bar...

- Diet and execrise help. If you can't eat right on the road, vitamins will help.

- Being well rested helps, if the schedule allows.

Exercise, drinking, and flying all tire you out and deydrate you. If I do all three in one day, I will get sick, guaranteed.

The main illness we deal with is colds (you did get the flu shot, right?) Cold remedies that have zinc in them are proven to minimize the effects and duration of a cold. I carry a bag of cold-eze cough drops; as soon as I start to feel it coming on, I start popping them like candy...this will get rid of a cold in 24 hours for me (but read the directions). YMMV

Note: Pilots have an unusual problem. If you do get sick, you will contaminate your toothbrush. When you start to get better, it will try to re-infect you but your immune system will still be primed to fight it off for a few days (after which your toothbrush will be cleaned by normal use). Pilots however have two toothbrushes...one at home and one in the rollaboard. If you are sick at home you will contaminate that toothbrush. If you then go on a trip, your immune system will let it's defenses down as you get better. But when you get home, your home toothbrush can still be contaminated and give you a mild repaet of last week's cold...I used to wonder whhy I got sick every time I came home.

 

Sorry to hear that, in the US it's ILLEGAL for a pilot to act as a crewmember when they don't meet the medical standards set forth in FAR Part 67.

 

I take the opposite Approach.

I never use the wipes. I never use hand Sanitizer.
I do wash my hands after the bathroom as a courtesy to others.
I keep in shape, and eat well. (This I think is the most important part)

I never get sick. The constant exposure to germs keeps my immune system in shape, and able to ward off infection.

 

This is actually valid science, but the trick is getting the exposure right...enough to arm your immune system, but not enough to overwhelm it.

Some people rarely or never get sick. My wife is one of those, she's been sick maybe once in ten years.

 

beer, lots and lots of beer. Just like alcohol wipes, it disinfects. I drink 3 a night and haven't called in sick in the last 4 years.

 

DO NOT USE THE HOTEL AC/HEATER!!!!!!!! Every time I turn the one in my room on I get sick...They never clean the dust out of those things.

 

Here's what you do:

Alcohol swab the cockpit if you can
Wash your hands every chance you get
Take vitamins to boost immunity
If you feel a cold coming on, take Zicam. Works for me
And by all means, unless you are projectile vomiting or have the constant squirts, be a man, suck it up and don't whine. Calling in sick is a guaranteed carpet dance in the chief pilots office.

Just my $.02

 

Not sure where you work but it must suck. You can always argue the "medical standards" of part 67 and argue that you are unfit to act as a required crew member. Go get a friggin doctor's note if you have to. There is no excuse to fly when you are oozing mucus all over yourself and the guy next to you. Assuming you have a union, they will go to bat for you every time.

 

Where do you work, Mesa? I've never been confronted by my chief for calling in sick. Not even after I called in sick in the middle of a 4 day, had 3 days off and called in for my next 4 day; all ligament sick calls.