DGCA asks pilots to avoid self-medication

“Over-the-counter drugs can impair the performance of pilots on duty"

The Directorate of Civil Aviation has advised pilots to avoid self-medication and taking over-the-counter medication as it could be detrimental to their flying performance.

In a safety advisory, the DGCA said one of the foremost health determinant of psychomotor as well as cognitive flying performance was the use of medicines by a pilot.

"It is an undeniable fact that some of the prescription drugs or over-the-counter drugs can impair the performance of pilots on duty….More so, in the internet age, the pilots are now more aware of drugs and self-medication. However, they lack awareness of the potential side effects of self-medication, which may impede their cognitive and decision-making performance,” the aviation watchdog said in the advisory.