Carrying sick people

[Pace]

Would I take someone flying on a local trip as a 'last wish' kind of thing? Definitely

172 Driver in some ways there is an element of truth to the fact that it is probably "safer" flying an ill patient on a longer flight than a short one?

The longer flight probably means a larger multi engine aircraft with the sick person accompanied by a friend or whatever in the back and away from the cockpit invironment.

Contrast that to the hour local sightseeing flight in a single engine aircraft.
Maybe the sick person is in the front in a cramped situation.
Someone having a serious seizure could have large implications to that flight?

Yet those sort of good will type of flights in light aircraft with low time pilots probably happen far more frequently than can be imagined.
While the pilots probably dont realise the risks involved.

Maybe AMEandPPL could advise as an AME what conditions are accpeptable and what medical conditions should be avoided not only to safeguard the sick person but the aircraft itself.

I have never seen any guidelines from the CAA. I am in this instance talking about good will PPL pleasure flights rather than longdistance Medivac style movements.

Pace

[IO540]

As BP says, it's obviously OK to do short flights with terminally ill people. I am sure that after all these years some lawyer has had a look into it...

Also, if I am terminally ill, and get discharged from hospital to die at home, I could take up snowboarding or skydiving, for all that anybody cares - so long as I can physically do it obviously. Is the pilot of the dropping plane going to get done if I die while airborne?

The difference is that he may or may not know I was ill, whereas the OP here presumably does know.

So, the only problem I see is the practical one - can the passenger make the journey?

There are plenty of "normal" people I would not do that trip with

[AMEandPPL]

nor have I . . . . . . . . !

what conditions are acceptable, and what medical conditions should be avoided, not only to safeguard the sick person but the aircraft itself.

I have never seen any guidelines from the CAA

I don't think there are any "guidelines" from the CAA on this particular subject. My general feeling about this is that any Commander of any aircraft must exercise Common Sense and Good Airmanship. Adherence to those two will avoid or resolve most of the likely pitfalls.

I would hesitate to be drawn on which medical conditions are acceptable and which should be avoided. From a physiological point of view a quick local jolly in a C172 is really no more likely to be harmful than a ride in a car in the Scottish Highlands ( ie similar altitude AMSL !).

My greatest worry, which has been referred to previously, would be that the PIC's total control of the aircraft was, in any way, impaired. Slumping over the RHS control yoke in death is a very extreme example.
The PIC's movements may be limited if the person in the RHS is extremely obese - I have personal experience of that one ! Mental capacity to obey instructions, and NOT touch anything, could also be very important. You can just see it, can't you . . . . . "What does this lever do, then ?" as he unexpectedly retracts your flaps on very short finals !

I think I'll stick to my regular passengers most of the time !

[BackPacker]

I would hesitate to be drawn on which medical conditions are acceptable and which should be avoided.

I realize that each case is unique and that we should, ideally, consult a doctor in every case. But sometimes we don't, not for a quick jolly around the circuit.

Obviously, as someone who is not a doctor, I'm using my best judgment as to what I can and can't do. For example, obese persons, even if 100% fit, should not interfere with the full range of control travel and should not lead to an out-of-balance situation, otherwise the flight is off. Somebody with a mental illness, suicide attempt history, epilepsy or a history of not listening to commands should not be able to grab the controls. Somebody who might die in flight, or suffer from narcolepsy or something similar should be restrained with a shoulder harness so that he/she cannot fall forward and restrict control movement. Somebody with a significant physical or mental disability, requiring assistance from the outside to get in/out, should not be blocking the only exit (PA-28 comes to mind). Somebody with a lung disease should not be in a high-flying unpressurized aircraft and you also need to take care when flying at altitude, with somebody who pees or poos in a bag. And so on and so forth.

But are there any medical conditions which might have an unexpected effect on flight safety, which someone who is not a doctor might not think about? Not looking for a full and exhaustive list, but simply stuff I haven't thought of.

[AMEandPPL]

medical conditions . . . . . . .

But are there any medical conditions which might have an unexpected effect on flight safety, which someone who is not a doctor might not think about?

Well done ! In that previous paragraph I think you've covered most of the things most of us would be primarily concerned about !

I would add just two more. The first would be any kind of ANAEMIA. Where the haemoglobin is low, looks pale, short of breath, easily tired, etc etc. Because oxygen diminishes as we climb up in the atmosphere an anaemic person who JUST copes OK at ground level can become very distressed at a normal airliner cabin altitude ( approx 7000 ft). It would have to be very bad anaemia, though, to preclude a local jolly at around 2000 ft !

The other one to be very wary indeed of is middle ear conditions, such as infections or Meniere's disease. The unaccustomed movements of an aircraft (in all directions), plus the inevitable pressure changes, could give rise to some very distressing symptoms. Might also aggravate motion sickness, and the last thing the PIC wants is anyone puking in his direction !

The point about both these two is that the problems might not be apparent at ground level, and a non-aviation-minded patient or relative might not be aware of the changes once airborne.