Page 7 - Jan22T

have a substantial negative impact on performance and are hardest to identify when a pilot is performing routine activities. One reason symptoms go unnoticed is that with practice and routine, the brain adjusts to mild to moderate cognitive impairment. However, if there is an unexpected situation or an emergency, it may become evident.
Many of us are fortunate to have a flying spouse or aircraft partner who often occupies the right seat. As unpleasant as this topic is, you should agree to discuss any signs that might indicate a degraded cognitive function. Likewise, be willing to speak up when you’re not feeling on top of your game or sense you might be getting a tad behind the airplane.
Fatigue, stress, dehydration and sickness impact our performance in the left seat regardless of age. But the bad news is that these factors are acerbated with age. Self- assessing sleep quantity and quality, nutrition, fluid intake and stress levels should be a routine part of the pre-flight – things we gave little thought about in our 20s. Setting personal minimums for sleep and health will help you make better decisions of whether to put off a flight or take along another pilot, especially if there is challenging weather. And I can’t write a column such as this without mentioning the importance of exercise, diet, maintaining a healthy weight, moderating alcohol use, and getting a yearly physical.
I know I’m more susceptible to hypoxia than my spouse and even when the cabin altitude is at 7,000 feet, as I’ve aged, I find myself less sharp at the end of a 4-hour flight. My mitigation strategy is to have portable oxygen available and use it at the top of the descent point and before reaching the IAP on the approach. It’s even in my personalized ForeFlight checklist.
A member wrote recently on the MMOPA forum: “If you ever get that small voice in your head telling you it’s time, it is preferable to do so and live to talk about it than to end up an NTSB report. If you see another making errors and you know they can do better, encourage them to rethink. That may be harder than you think. One reliable sign of an alcoholic is the denial that they are an alcoholic. One issue with another pointing out your deficiencies is the denial of such. Let’s be careful out there and be sensitive to the small inner voice that is saying ‘it’s time’ to move to the right seat.”
Yes, it sucks getting old. As pilots, we like to be winners, and giving up the left seat is akin to white-flag-waving surrender. And although I plan to be flying for many more trips around the sun, I also have a pact with my spouse that when it’s time – it’s time. Until then, let’s kick the tires and light the fires. We’ve got some flying to do!
Factory Direct
Select
Dianne White is the executive director of MMOPA and editor of MMOPA Magazine. For a total of 14 years, she was editor of Twin & Turbine and has worked in the business aviation industry for nearly 30 years. She also serves on the board of directors for Angel Flight Central. An active multi-engine, instrument-rated pilot, Dianne lives in the Kansas City area and can be reached at editor@diannewhite.com.
January 2022 / TWIN & TURBINE • 5