Expert Opinion
AINsight: Too Sick To Fly, Part 2
A pilot's foremost responsibility medically is to assess their fitness to fly
pilot coughing
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Respiratory and other viral illnesses can occur at any time of year. However, in the winter flu season, we see them more frequently and often with more significant symptoms than in the summer.

Illnesses can be caused by bacteria, but more commonly result from a host of viruses. There are the usual suspects of common respiratory viruses and their ongoing mutational strains that have been around essentially forever. These include strains such as rhinovirus and adenovirus. Fancy scientific names aside, these viruses cause the common cold and other respiratory illnesses.

Robert Sancetta, M.D.
AIN Contributor
About the author

Dr. Robert Sancetta is a former DC-10 captain with 11,000 flight hours. He has worked as a Senior AME since 1993 and is appointed as AME Consultant to the FAA Federal Air Surgeon.

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