Flying and Your Health

H

heeha

New Member
I heard that flying is generally not good for your health (ie breathing recirculated oxygen and sitting in a plane that is pressurized to an altitude of 8-10,000 feet is not a good thing to do on a freq. basis)

I also heard that doing a lot of flying will age you quickly.

I am curious to know how some of the pilots on here feel about this.
 
What about the 8,000 to 10,000 feet is bad? Is it the change of pressure or is it the altitude itself? If the suggestion is the latter, then I disagree because many people around the world live at 6,000 feet and above including into the teens in some places. Often times on flights I fly the cabin doesn't go above 6,000.

Recirculated air, I don't know. About half of the air on the plane I fly is fresh air and that is with the recirc fans on.

As far as aging, I think it depends on the type of flying you do. Some people can handle international and some can't. I've flown with some guys who used to work at places like Kalitta and they just did not like the constant time zone changing. Around the world in ten days sounds fun but if the schedule isn't convenient it could be rough. The only thing that I think would age me a little is the early wakeups. I'm still in my 20s so I'm mostly a night owl type. I have read that this changes as one gets older, to where they are more likely to go to sleep a bit earlier and wake up earlier than they did when they were young (and also need less sleep per night). But that is it for me. The occasional 16 hour workday is totally unacceptable (and it seems as though they'll be illegal a year from now) but honestly I am way more tired after waking up at 5AM and working 8 hours than waking up at 10AM and working until past midnight.
 
heeha said:
I heard that flying is generally not good for your health (ie breathing recirculated oxygen and sitting in a plane that is pressurized to an altitude of 8-10,000 feet is not a good thing to do on a freq. basis)

I also heard that doing a lot of flying will age you quickly.

I am curious to know how some of the pilots on here feel about this.
Click to expand...

It's true for pilots that make this a living. Long work hours, timezone changes, flying at odd hours, stress, radiation for those that fly high altitudes. I actually flew with a CA once that refused to turn on window heat above 10k, during non icing of course, because of added unnecessary radiation. I also read somewhere that those that retired as airline pilots had higher cases of cancer. That's why pilots get paid very well. Oh wait........................
 
I wouldn't worry about early wake-ups aging you....Most people wake up early (except for college kids I guess) and don't pre-maturely age.

I'd say the lifestyle causes some dangers, poor diet, lack of excercise etc...Radiation at altitude....Skin cancers.....

Personally I try to fly as little as possible....no joke this stuff has entered into my head. I can't believe doing 900hrs/year for 30 years can be great for me....
 
Socal321 said:
I actually flew with a CA once that refused to turn on window heat above 10k, during non icing of course, because of added unnecessary radiation.
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Off topic rant...

It's idiots like that that make me angry. Guys who are ignorant of the big picture. It probably never occurred to him that the windshield heat serves a purpose beyond keeping ice off the windshield? Sure, it might not ever happen to him, but it's going to suck for the crew that finally has the windshield blow out on them because it's stressed from the extreme temperature changes it was subject to with the heat off. Same thing with the ass I saw pouring water on the brakes one summer because he'd over heated them on landing and was trying to "cool them down".

Anyhow, carry on.
 
I think the worst thing we deal with is disruption of our circadium rythems on a constant basis which is not good for you in any way. As for high altitude radiation, I am trying to understand that better myself.
 
BobDDuck said:
Off topic rant...

It's idiots like that that make me angry. Guys who are ignorant of the big picture. It probably never occurred to him that the windshield heat serves a purpose beyond keeping ice off the windshield? Sure, it might not ever happen to him, but it's going to suck for the crew that finally has the windshield blow out on them because it's stressed from the extreme temperature changes it was subject to with the heat off. Same thing with the ass I saw pouring water on the brakes one summer because he'd over heated them on landing and was trying to "cool them down".

Anyhow, carry on.
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That, and I'm not sure how much "radiation" is put out by the windshield heat. Hope the guy doesn't use electric blankets at home. As for the brakes, I haven't had any yet that aren't green and decreasing by the time we're ready to push back from the gate. The ones that are close normally have brake wear pins that MX has said "Ehhhh, it's close enough."
 
I would suspect (and others may tell me that I'm wrong) that it's poor diet and lack of exercise coupled with a great deal of stress (and possibly smoking) that prematurely ages you.

And this isn't just for pilots. It applies roundly to most folks.
 
At a previous employer (Part 121 Supplemental Freight, mostly at night), some of the guys I worked with were in their mid-to-lates thirties, but looked like they were pushing 60. Also, I once read that the average airline pilot dies at age 69. Yeah, the life can be hard on a person.
 
Nick said:
What about the 8,000 to 10,000 feet is bad? Is it the change of pressure or is it the altitude itself? If the suggestion is the latter, then I disagree because many people around the world live at 6,000 feet and above including into the teens in some places. Often times on flights I fly the cabin doesn't go above 6,000.

Recirculated air, I don't know. About half of the air on the plane I fly is fresh air and that is with the recirc fans on.

As far as aging, I think it depends on the type of flying you do. Some people can handle international and some can't. I've flown with some guys who used to work at places like Kalitta and they just did not like the constant time zone changing. Around the world in ten days sounds fun but if the schedule isn't convenient it could be rough. The only thing that I think would age me a little is the early wakeups. I'm still in my 20s so I'm mostly a night owl type. I have read that this changes as one gets older, to where they are more likely to go to sleep a bit earlier and wake up earlier than they did when they were young (and also need less sleep per night). But that is it for me. The occasional 16 hour workday is totally unacceptable (and it seems as though they'll be illegal a year from now) but honestly I am way more tired after waking up at 5AM and working 8 hours than waking up at 10AM and working until past midnight.
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Agree:
Do a study of people with live in Lake Tahoe (8000+ft). Do they age/die prematurely?

One of the biggest challenges of this career is proper heath management while on and off the job. This will vary from personal lifestyles. I fly with guys who do this very well and I fly with guys who spend every opportunity on a trip to burn both ends of the candle. Their consequences are based on their choices. Of course in life there are no guarantees.
 
It's not the altitude, it's the radiation, breathing jet exhaust, eardrum piercing noises, ozone absorption (some modern jets don't even filter it), time zone changes, and the ridiculous rest rules.

But at least it pays well! :insane:


Okay that came off as way more negative than I meant it. But to the OP, since you asked, those are the things that will wear you down over time.
 
Work out often, try to eat healthy (it's hard but you can do it), and stretch when you can I don't see why this job would be any worse than any other job......

However, after doing standup overnights this month and combine that with commuting, I believe this is bad for your health, I am constantly tired and taking naps in spurts during the daytime.....

It's definitely bad for you in terms of germs. I use hand sanitizer constantly, and wash my hands all the time. I heard that the Saab guys in IAH get clorox wipes to wipe down the controls, and I asked for them in EWR on the Q, but no avail. We just recently got earplugs (which I use religously) which are good for the walkarounds. My old man's hearing is definitely subpar after 40 years of flying.

Just be smart about it and this profession is just like any else. Heck, for the most part you get free gyms during the work week!
 
Commuting time zones is a really big drain. That counts for a lot of aging!

To combat, take advantage of the hotel gyms, pack your own food (peanut butter and jelly = staple) and work out on your days off.
 
fender_jag said:
Commuting time zones is a really big drain. That counts for a lot of aging!

To combat, take advantage of the hotel gyms, pack your own food (peanut butter and jelly = staple) and work out on your days off.
Click to expand...

Been swimming ~80 laps a day on the off days lately. I'll have to give you a call in the next week or two...I know you know more on that than me!
 
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