Safety
FAA Wants Pilots With High Body Mass Index To Undergo Sleep Testing

Ever since two pilots fell asleep in the cockpit of a Bombardier CRJ operating as Go! Flight 1002 during a February 2008 flight from Honolulu to Hilo, Hawaii, the NTSB has urged the FAA to tackle the issue of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) among pilots. The captain of that aircraft was diagnosed with severe OSA after the flight. The FAA responded to the NTSB recommendations, first with education and now by warning pilots that if their body mass index (BMI) exceeds a certain number, they will be singled out for apnea testing by a board-certified sleep specialist.

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