No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

No abstract

During the past ten years, there have only been a few published research studies examining the possible behavioral consequences of energy drink consumption by college students. With that in mind, the authors surveyed collegiate aviation flight students regarding their consumption of energy drinks and their perceptions of side effects and behavioral patterns after consuming energy drinks. Results show that 57% of student pilots surveyed consume energy drinks 1-3 times a week. In addition, 56% stated they can only consume one energy drink (16 ounces) without experiencing side effects. A majority (60%) reported they consumed energy drinks the same day they piloted an aircraft; and the same percentage (60%) had observed other student pilots consuming energy drinks the same day they piloted an aircraft. And yet, 67% of the participating flight students agree that energy drinks have an effect on collegiate flight students' ability to pilot an aircraft.

No abstract

Before 2010, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) did not allow airmen to exercise the privileges of pilot in command (PIC) of an aircraft or obtain a medical certificate if one had been diagnosed with anxiety, depression, and/or taking an SSRI medication. Since 2010, the FAA relaxed its views and certification standards. However, this is not an issue unique to the U.S. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and other ICAO States began evaluating airmen suffering from anxiety, depression, and/or taking an SSRI medication in early 2000. ICAO and most ICAO States have identified the need for further research regarding mood disorders and airmen. In addition, ICAO has issued guidance regarding certification standards, though each ICAO State has the authority to set its own standards. While the FAA and the other ICAO States have accepted mood disorders in aviation as a reality, additional work is needed to unify standards within the international aviation community. ICAO States with more stringent standards, may force airmen to seek alternative treatment options and not disclose crucial medical information or seek appropriate treatment options in fear of reprisal. In 2018, a qualitative study was conducted that evaluated FAA medical certification standards for airmen suffering from mood disorders and compared them against medical certification standards of other ICAO State agencies and ICAO recommended practices. This qualitative study also evaluated U.S. pilot perceptions of the certification process, as well as views from a non-aviation medical physician using interviews and survey questionnaires. Responses were compared to current practices and evaluated. Findings from this study concluded that while FAA certification standards may be comparable to other ICAO States, general views regarding agency acceptance of mental health disorders can vary widely across State agencies.

Over the last decade, energy drinks have become ubiquitous on college campuses. The global market for these drinks exceeds billions of dollars a year and new 'energy' products are progressively marketed and introduced annually. Outside of college student populations, the effects of energy drinks have been examined extensively. However, among college students, limited energy drink research has been conducted, and this study was the first to examine the effects of energy drinks among collegiate flight students. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of energy drink consumption on collegiate flight students' pilot skills in simulated flight. Thirty collegiate flight students participated in two distinct simulated flight sessions after consuming a 16-ounce energy drink and a 16-ounce placebo. After students consumed each drink, the researchers evaluated pilot skills in three distinct areas; straight and level flight, complex turns, and in-flight emergencies. Even though statistical analysis on some of the flight session data failed to disprove the null hypothesis (H 0 ): The consumption of energy drinks has no significant effect on collegiate flight students' pilot skills, the results of this investigative study raise new questions and concerns regarding collegiate student pilots and provide a springboard for future research projects.