Pregnant Pilots and Flight Safety

[Sean Simpson]

Hello one and all. Top of the day to you.. .. .At the request of the head honcho in Dunnunda & Godzone, I am transferring a post I made on that forum to this one. The thread was started by someone who did not agree to pregnant pilots flying, female obviously.. .. .The author of the thread copped quite an ear bashing, or more accurately an eye bashing, mainly due I believe to the fact that his point appeared to be more that pilots with child were taking jobs that could be made available to others, rather than the more obvious possible medical and safety implications.. .. .The original thread can be found <a href="http://www.pprune.org/ubb/NonCGI/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=12;t=009004" target="_blank">HERE</a> . .. .Here's my post on the subject, please feel free to add your opinions, experiences etc.. .. . </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica"> . .My - aren't there some touchy ones around here.. .. .While not condoning the reasoning behind whatisnames post - ie: taking someone elses job, it does raise a reasonable question that should be answered by more than just PC rhetoric and smarmy hate posts.. .. .Just what are the medical ramifications of being pregnant ? Please don't respond with smart or nasty invective if you don't have anything productive to say. It is a reasonable question.. .. .I have personally known several women who have had smooth pregnancies then for one reason or another they have lost the baby at varying times, which in all cases was sudden and traumatic, and not something anyone would want to happen whilst in command of a flight.. .. .There are plenty of scenarios that could create problems for a pregnant pilot in flight, and impact on the safety of the flight and any pax.. .. .Please note that I know a few female pilots and have nothing but the utmost respect for them and their ability.. .. .The fact is that pregnancy, as natural as it is, is also quite traumatic on the body and it's normal (ie: non pregnant) systems and functions.. .. .The fact is pregnancy can also go suddenly horribly wrong at any time during the term.. .. .Facts are facts folks, as much as the PC police would have us believe otherwise. . . </font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica">Not trying to stir a hornets nest here or offend anyone, however I believe the issue is valid and worthy of discussion.. .. .Also of interest would be major airlines policies on such matters.

[Bird Strike]

I personally would not fly as a pilot (although all I've got is a PPL) if I ever become pregnant (yes I am female), for the following reasons:-. .. .1) Possibility of miscarriage during flight, which would become a flight safety hazard as well as a risk to my own health by possibly being unable to get a suitable medical help as quickly as I would have otherwise been able to.. .2) The effects of radiation on the unborn is not well researched and I do not like to take the risk.. .3) The stress of the current security, including being frisked, can't be very good for the health of myself or the unborn <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="biggrin.gif" /> (I'm laughing but I mean it). .4) It has been reported that pregnancy affects brain-power and I may feel that my brain is not functioning as well as it should. .5) The risk of DVT seems to increase with pregnancy and therefore the possible link between DVT and flying bothers me. .. .As a result, I do not feel too keen on flying even as a passenger if I become pregnant.. .. .But this is merely how I feel. I'm probably paranoid.. .. .One thing I can say is that I have frinds (not just one, but quite a few) who had 'totally normal and smooth' pregnancy and suddenly miscarried. So even if AME and obstetrician thought that the pregnancy was going well, it doesn't mean that there is no risk of things going wrong.. .. .But I guess at the end of the day, if the regulations permits it, and if the pregnant pilot chooses to carry on, she is not doing anything wrong. I choose not to go into the rights of the unborn and stuff like that! Too complicated for my brain.. . . . <small>[ 03 March 2002, 14:01: Message edited by: Bird Strike ]</small>

[Specaircrew]

British military female pilots are grounded while they're pregnant, do airlines allow it then?

[ORAC]

JAR-FCL 3.195 Gynaecology and obstetrics. .. .(c) Pregnancy entails unfitness. If obstetric evaluation indicates a completely normal pregnancy, the applicant may be assessed as fit until the end of the 26th week of gestation, in accordance with paragraph 1 Appendix 8 to Subpart B. Licence privileges may be resumed upon satisfactory confirmation of full recovery following confinement or termination of pregnancy.. .01.12.00 1-84 Amendment 1. .. .JAR-FCL 3 Subpart A. .JAR-FCL 3.035 (continued). .Requirement for medical certificate. In order to apply for or to exercise the privileges of a licence, the applicant or the holder shall hold a medical certificate issued in accordance with the provisions of JAR-FCL Part 3 (Medical) and appropriate to the privileges of the licence.. .. .[(d) Operational Multicrew Limitation (OML- Class 1 only).. .(1) The limitation “valid only as or with qualified co-pilot” is to be applied when the holder of a CPL or an ATPL does not fully meet the class 1 medical certificate requirements but is considered to be within the accepted risk of incapacitation (see JAR-FCL 3 (Medical), IEM FCL A, B and C). This limitation is applied by the Authority in the context of a multi-pilot environment. A “valid only as or with qualified Co-pilot” limitation can only be issued or removed by the Authority. The other pilot shall be qualified on the type, not be over the age of 60, and not be subject to an OML.. .. .(e) Operational Safety Pilot Limitation (OSL - Class 2 only). A safety pilot is a pilot who is qualified to act as PIC on the class type of aeroplane and carried on board the aeroplane, which is fitted with dual controls, for the purpose of taking over control should the PIC holding this specific medical certificate restriction become incapacitated (see [EM FCL 3.035). An OSL can only be issued or removed by the Authority.]. .IArndt.1, 01.12.00]. .(2). .JAR-FCL 3.040 Decrease in medical fitness. .[(a) Holders of medical certificates shall not exercise the privileges of their licences, related ratings or authorisations at any time when they are aware of any decrease in their medical fitness which might render them unable to safely exercise those privileges.. .. . [(d) Holders of medical certificates who are aware of . .[( 1)] any significant personal injury involving incapacity to function as a member of a flight crew; or. . [(2)] any illness involving incapacity to function as a member of a flight crew throughout a period of 2 1 days or more;. . or. .[(3)] being pregnant,. .. .shall inform the Authority in writing of such injury or pregnancy, and as soon as the period of 21 days has elapsed in the case of illness. The medical certificate shall be deemed to be suspended upon the occurrence of such injury or the elapse of such period of illness or the confirmation of the pregnancy, and:. .. .[(5)] in the case of pregnancy, the suspension may be lifted by the Authority for such period and subject to such conditions as it thinks fit (see JAR-FCL 3.195(c) and 3.3 15(c)) and shall cease upon the holder being medically examined under arrangements made by the Authority after the pregnancy has ended and being pronounced fit to resume her functions as a member of the flight crew.. .[Amdt. 1, 01.12.00l. .01.12.00 1 4-6 Amendment 1. .. .Appendix 8 to Subparts B and C. .Gynaecology and obstetrics. .(See JAR-FCL 3.195 and 3.315). .1 The AMS may approve certification of pregnant aircrew during the first 26 weeks of gestation following review of the obstetric evaluation. The AMS shall provide written advice to the applicant and the supervising physician regarding potentially significant complications of pregnancy (see Manual). Class 1 certificate holders shall be restricted to multi-pilot operations (Class 1 ‘OML’).