On Dec 27, 6:54 pm, danlj wrote:

2: scopalamine is a prohibited medication per FAA aeromedical rules,
so if you have an incident and are found to have been using it, be
aware that your insurance may not cover you, and you may face
enforcement action on your licence if you survive. The non-requirement
of medical certification for glider pilots is not permission to fly
impaired. Every pilot is required by FARs to refrain from flying with
any unsafe condition.

You piqued my interest in the US rules so I went looking for them. As
far as I can see there is no such thing as a "prohibited" medications
list in FAA regs. I did find, in Title 14 Part 91, the following:

91.17 Alcohol or drugs.

(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil
aircraft--

(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;

(2) While under the influence of alcohol;

(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any
way contrary to safety

Also on the FAA website a guidance note on OTC medicines:

http://www.faa.gov/pilots/safety/pil...flying_web.pdf

Which makes it clear that a pilot should not fly if using a drug that
lists drowsiness as a side-effect.

All the new-generation "non-sedating" antihistamines list "drowsiness"
as a side-effect and I personally know several pilots who use them for
hay-fever relief :-/.


Dan