Porridge!!
I used to suffer bad sickness in small boats, was recommended to eat something filling but bland like porridge. It worked a treat to stop seasickness, so when I started flying I tried the porridge right from the start and never had a problem. When I started overnight trips and couldn't get porridge in the morning I almost needed the bag once or twice but now I'm fine. Don't know whether this was physical or psychological but the porridge worked for me.

My personal way of dealing with air sickness before i 'grew' out of it was

1) Those acupressure wrist bands-worked a treat and when i got used to it all i threw 'em away.

2) eat something a maybe 2-4 hours before hand and be well hydrated.

3) plenty of fresh air

4) Mints are excellent-just dont ask me why!

5) Those ginger tabs

6) Eyes outside as much as possible - only very quick and occasional glance at the instruements, after all it is vfr flying. And if possible do as much flying as possible, and during each lesson maybe ask do the first 5-10 mins yourself just doing whatever(climbs,descents turns etc) before intsructor starts demonstrating the next set of exercises.

Hope that helps and remember it will pass with experience

Ps be well rested and defo not hungover

splendid advice . . . . . . . !
 

A very good suggestion ! One with scientific backing too !
Mint is part of a chemical grouping known by pharmacists as "carminatives". These relax smooth muscle in the gastro-intestinal tract. Release of trapped gas by "burping" is one effect, and less nausea and vomiting could be expected if pressure and tension in the gut was reduced.

"Polo" , anyone ? :)

Yeah I'd like to see a pilot or aircrew do that. I'd still make the suggestion to any PAX but when it comes to those doing the job.....yeah right!

Flybymike's got it right. Its all about your senses giving your brain conflicting information e.g. if you are looking at instuments while in turbulence your eyes are telling you that you aren't being thrown around but the balance mechanism in your ears is telling you that you are. So keep your head out of the cockpit as much as possible and look around the horizon (good airmanship anyway).

When I first began flying gliders I thought I might get air sickness and so I did, although only minimally. Now when I fly into what you call turbulence I recognise it as thermic activity and therefore just what I want! Learn to accept it, you'll soon get used to it.:ok:

Are there no medicinal treatments without drowsy side effects? Though I'd heard about some patches a while back..?

only if the need is very great . . . . . . . .
 

The answer to that is "yes", but there are a few provisos !

Non-medical treatment should ALWAYS be considered first, if at all possible. I have commented on here before that too many folk "reach for a pill" far too readily these days ! However, if other means do not control, and the situation is distressing, one might consider MOTILIUM (that's a trade-name , chemical name is domperidone ).

It is prescription-only in the UK, so you'd need to discuss getting it with your GP, cannot just buy from a chemist. This suggestion from me is ONLY FOR ADULTS ! I could not condone children being given medication like this for non-medical and recreational reasons.

But in the right circumstances it has a very powerful anti-emetic effect without any of the sedative side effects of the phenothiazines. My (adult) daughter used it very successfully in the early days after I got my PPL. She doesn't need it now ! :)

Flying frequently will help get rid of the woozies or at least keep them under control.

When thermalling gliders, scanning for traffic inside the turn is much easier on the tummy than looking outside the turn.

On a hot day with rough thermals, it's shake and bake.

In a glider you can be up for some hours; so have to take along food and water and have provision for letting out the used water:\