Making a decision to call it!
 

Hi guys,

I would really appreciate some advice. I have had a cold over the weekend (thankfully days off) and now I am left with just a blocked nose. Went to work yesterday and had some problems with my ears, but nothing too dramatic. Considering wether to call in sick today because I really don't want to get a perforation

I know this sounds daft but it completely goes against my character to call in sick. I once attended sixth form for two weeks with glandular fever because I didn't want to miss school and only stopped when I was diagnosed and the school wouldn't let me come back! To not work today for what is essentially the aftermath of a cold goes completely against the grain, and because I've never had the problem before I don't know when to call it.

Anyone any advice?

Making a decision to call it!
 

Are you fit to fly or are you not fit to fly?

I feel fit in myself but if my ear perforated that would cause some problems, I guess this is the age old problem.

Thanks for putting it so plainly, probably helped me make my decision.

RHS, I remember having trouble making this decision early on in my career. I soon realised that being in a metal tube for hours at high cabin altitude and with dry air really exaggerates any symptoms you may have. Its easy to make the mistake of waking up one morning thinking you feel better and then going to work only to realise you're not quite right. Its one thing feeling ok while sitting on the sofa at home but another making a stressful approach at the end of a long day at work. Therefore I now wait until I feel completely better before I go back to work, or I wait until I feel fine sat at home and then wait a day or two more. Nothing worse than flying with someone who complains they have a cold or who have trouble equalising their ear pressure.

If its just your ears that are blocked, pinch your nose and swallow. Your ears will pressurise. Now, can you clear them easily in one go by yawning? If no, don't fly.

I'm making a few of assumptions:
a) You are "aircrew."
b) You live in England
c) You feel guilty about "calling in sick."

If all three are correct, you could contact your GP and ask for an "amended duties" medical certificate.

He may write something along the lines of "fit to work but to avoid air travel," or something similar.

This could satisfy all corners- you're willing to work, your nasty GP has said that you can't fly, and your firm's absence figures keep tip top.

It's up to your employer to find you wor during this period, they may well send you home if nothing suits :-) At least you've done your bit.

Don't fly until you're clear off symptoms. I did it once and I've regretted it for the last 15 years.

Hi guys,

Yes all your assumptions are correct, fairly new aircrew in England. Felt terrible calling in sick, because let's face it a cold isn't really something in any other job I would even consider calling in sick for. However Mungos post really made me realise I was looking for reasons to not call in sick and there weren't very many.

Went to see the doc and she advised against flying as my ear drum was inflamed and drawn in. My employer is very understanding and considerate so hopefully my ears will clean themselves up for work come Friday!

In the meantime, as today I shall continue with the vitamin C tablets and steam!

Really appreciate all your advise. I could have told myself I wasn't fit to fly, but at this stage I'm still bright eyed, bushy tailed and desperate to go flying, even when I am below par!

I advise against pinching the nose and blowing or if you do take it VERY gently.

I did the valsalvar maneoeuvre coming off a cold years ago and perforated an eardrum on the ground and then had 2 months off flying.

On the odd occasion where my ears have not cleared I now let nature takes it's course and only resort to swallowing.

It's simple - if you're not fit do not fly!

Also look at it from the other blokes point of view. If you are still getting over a cold and are having trouble clearing your sinuses you will be distracted and not giving your full attention to the job at hand. A cockpit is not the place to be if you are not 100%.

Wise words from my FI....... aircraft are cruel machines, if you're 99%, they'll find the 1% that's letting you down.

Any Details?

Nearly recovered from a cold and went flying. Unable to clear right ear on the second sector then something in my head went crack and I bled profusely from my nose. Like an idiot I didn't go to see the Doc and just went straight home.

Never been the same since and I tend to suffer from pressure changes more than I used to, in fact I can tell if I'm going to get a cold before I feel any symptoms as my sinuses seem a bit more sensitive.

I now never go flying until I'm completely clear, that's what standbys are for, init.

DO NOT FLY.

There, I've said it. DO NOT FLY with your current condition as described. Call in and say I can't fly due to illness, but I will come in and scrub the floors if you like.

There, you get to kiss up to management and still protect YOUR MEDICAL CERTIFICATION. WILL your airline pay you forever if you can't fly due to losing your hearing?

I didn't think so.

OH and for those who are up in the air with a BLOCK. In your flight bag keep a bottle of AFRIN Nasal Mist. Squirt it in your nose until you can feel it going down the throat. I MEAN LOTS OF IT>.

This MIGHT get you DOWN if you are trapped aloft with blocked eustacian tubes.

HOWEVER, you may only do this once and get away with it, unlike spandex masher who bled.

Using the valsava technique (pinching nose and blow) may help, but it may also spread infection deeper, and cause other problems.

IF you are home, take a nice steamy shower, it may help open you up.

BUT IT TAKES TIME AND YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN.

Your spitfire squadron will not be upset with you.

If there's any doubt, then there is no doubt. You get no thanks for turning up to work when you're not 100% fit and most importantly you can make yourself worse.

The other way of looking at it is don't infect your colleague! They will not thank you if you pass on a virus or other contagious affliction!

Conversely, and having flown for one particularly vicious little British airline in the past where there were never any standbys; a fellow pilot would not thank you were he called in to fly on a day off because you had telephoned in sick.

Cheetah,
If a fellow pilot flies on his day off that's his problem, he shouldn't have answered
the phone. And if there are no standbys that's the company's problem. You should only worry about your health. If you fly with a cold and get an eardrum perforated you'll regret it for the rest of your life. Besides, you'll feel like a fool.

All that you say is true which is why a man sometimes needs a standby mobile telephone.