Avionics News April 2019 - 37

the BasicMed rule, which has different requirements) but
Diphenhydramine, an active ingredient in Benadryl and
may not fully understand the effect of OTC medications
Unisom, was the most commonly identified potentially
on their body.
impairing drug.
Some of the OTC medications that may cause bad
Don't underestimate the potential effect of
effects, such as allergy and cold medications and sleep
diphenhydramine. The NTSB's study cites a
aids, are rather obvious. Other drugs, like anti-diarrheal
driving simulator study that found a single dose of
medications, can cause dizziness
diphenhydramine impaired driving
or other side effects. According to
ability more than a blood alcohol
the FAA, an airman should not fly
concentration of 0.1 grams per
WHILE THE POTENTIAL
while using a medication - whether
deciliter, which is just over the
RISK FOR THESE
prescription or OTC - that is labeled
legal limit for driving in most states
MEDICATIONS FOR
"may cause drowsiness" or advises
in the U.S. One dose of Benadryl
PILOTS IS CLEAR,
the user not to drive or use heavy
or other medications containing
machinery.
diphenhydramine can lead to
Aircraft maintenance technicians,
impairment almost equal to illegally
however, are not subject to the
driving under the influence of
same medical testing or reporting
alcohol.
requirements as pilots. While the
The NTSB issued a safety
potential risk for these medications
recommendation related to OTC,
for pilots is clear, most people don't
prescription, and illicit drugs in 2014,
consider the potential impact on
citing the fact OTC, prescription, and
aircraft maintenance technicians.
illicit drug use is increasing in the
Whether completing detail-oriented
U.S. population.
tasks, working on a lift, or operating
The NTSB's safety
heavy equipment, the side effects of prescription or OTC
recommendation to the FAA stated the agency should
medications can lead to disaster through incomplete or
"Develop, publicize, and periodically update information
poor work on an aircraft or injury - or worse - to the
to educate pilots about the potentially impairing drugs
technician or a colleague.
identified in your toxicology test results of fatally
injured pilots, and make pilots aware of less impairing
NTSB and FAA research and
alternative drugs if they are available." 
recommendation
In a National Transportation Safety Board study of
Industry Work
accident pilots, which reviewed data from 1990 through
The General Aviation Joint Steering Committee,
2012, an average of 25 percent of study pilots had at
an FAA/industry working group on which the AEA
least one positive finding in blood or tissue specimens
participates, tackled OTC drug interactions as part of
with the prevalence of positive toxicology findings
its Loss of Control Working Group activities. Although
increasing "markedly" during the study period. In
focusing on the impact of medications on airmen,
2011, 40 percent of study pilots had positive toxicology
the lessons learned are directly applicable to aircraft
findings for potentially impairing drugs, drugs used to
technicians.
treat potentially impairing conditions, and/or controlled
The GAJSC analyzed a random sample of a decade
substances.
of general aviation accidents reported to the NTSB that
OTC sedating antihistamines, non-sedating OTC
involved loss of control during approach and landing.
drugs, cardiovascular medications, antidepressants,
The GAJSC found that drugs prohibited by the FAA
and illicit drugs top the NTSB's list of positive
Continued on following page
findings by drug category in accident investigations.

MOST PEOPLE
DON'T CONSIDER
THE POTENTIAL
IMPACT ON
AIRCRAFT
MAINTENANCE
TECHNICIANS.

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Avionics News April 2019

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