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Medication

We are living in an age where we have a great deal of choice in both prescription and over-the-counter medications to deal with a variety of ailments. Suffice to say that if you are taking any medications you must consult a physician knowledgeable with regards to piloting aircraft, to consider the possible effects of these on your flying abilities and judgement.

Alcohol is a factor in many accidents. Alcohol is a depressant and has adverse effects in small doses.  As elimination of alcohol from the body is fairly constant and not increased up by tactics such as drinking coffee, there may be aftereffects, which may be just as dangerous as the acute effects and for a longer period of time.  Even when the blood alcohol levels are within safe limits for activities on the ground, they are not safe levels for flying.  The primary reason for this is that while the alcohol has been eliminated from this part of the body, it can persist in other areas, such as the balancing organs of your ear, and normal function.  The old notion that one drink acts like two drinks at altitude for pilots, is not quite true.  If your balance mechanisms are impaired by drinking, as soon you moves into the three-dimensional space of flight, the impairment is evident, and more noticeable for pilots, and it may persist longer than the other effects of drinking.

The law requires 8 hours between drinking and flying, however a 12-24 hours period is better. Other drugs can be just as dangerous.