1. Alcohol in Aviation by
Dr. Thomas Trozzi

2. FAR 91.17 A) Within 8 hours after consumption alcohol
B) While under the influence of alcohol
C) While having .04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.

3. Important Facts
Two out of three adults in the United States drink alcohol
Alcohol is involved in 30% of all drowning and 60% of boat fatalities
40% of all traffic fatalities involve the use of alcohol

4. Important Facts Continued
During the 1960’s, 43% of all general aviation fatalities involved alcohol use
Present day statistics indicate 30% of GA fatalities involve alcohol

5. Genetics of Alcohol Genetic predisposition toward alcohol abuse
Research indicates a mutation of the molecular structures of enzymes
Heredity also affects alcohol use

6. Alcohol At Work In The Body
Alcohol is classified as a sedative, tranquilizer, hypnotic and addicting drug
In moderate amounts, alcohol causes:
relaxation, stimulation of the appetite and creates a state of euphoria
3) In large amounts, alcohol is toxic

7. Alcohol Absorption Watery drinks Fatty foods Carbonated beverages
Physical, mental and emotional state
Body chemistry
Gender differences

8. Alcohol In The Brain (Behavior)
Friendlier
Gregarious
Release of sexual inhibitions
Jeckyll and Hyde personality changes

9. Alcohol In The Liver Alcohol is broken down in steps by enzymes
Only 5% of alcohol is eliminated from breath, urine, sweat. The rest from the liver
Alcohol is processed by the liver at the rate of 0.3 oz. pure ethanol per hour (less than 1oz. of whiskey)
In large amounts, alcohol can damage the liver resulting in liver disease

10. Liver Disease Decreased gluconeogensis resulting in hypoglycemia
Impaired blood detoxification
Loss of bile, prothrobin and albumin production

11. Alcohol In The Brain Stimulation and agitation
Euphoria (false sense of well being)
Depresses and sedates
4) Anesthetizes
5) Hypnotic state and sleep
6) Impairs the ability of the brain to use oxygen

12. Alcohol And Motor Ability
Muscle function
Reaction time
Eyesight:
1. Depth perception
2. Night vision
3. Eye muscle imbalance
Vestibular apparatus

13. Brain And CNS Involvement
Lost ability to retrieve and consolidate information
Cognitive ability impairment
Altered production of brain RNA
Altered brain chemistry

14. BAC% And Associated Symptoms%
Appears normal %
Mild euphoria, talkativeness, decreased inhibitions, attention, impaired judgment, reaction time %
Emotional instability, loss of critical judgment, memory, comprehension, muscle in-coordination

15. BAC% And Associated Symptoms%
Confusion, dizziness, emotional instability, impaired visual, balance, slurred speech %
Apathy, impaired consciousness, stupor, severe muscle in-coordination %
Unconsciousness, possible death (respiratory failure)

16. Alcohol’s Effect In The Cockpit
Sensory Gathering:
70% of spatial orientation cues come from vision for both VFR and IFR
Nystagmus(rapid oscillatory eye movement)
Positional Alcohol Nystagmus(PAN)
Vestibular apparatus involvement

17. Cognitive Interpretation:
Planning
Sequencing
Judgment
Perception
Cognition
Discrimination
Calculation
Association
Attention
Voluntary Response
Vigilance
Information Processing

18. Cognitive Interpretation:
1. Alcohol impairs nearly every aspect of information gathering by the brain.
2. Information gathering narrows at 0.04% BAC

19. Cognitive Interpretation Continued:
3.Decision making and reaction time are impaired at 0.09% BAC
4. Attention deficits occur as low as 0.02% BAC

20. Boeing 727-232 Simulator Tests
Highly trained experienced pilots flew for 8 sessions over the same course.
Planning, performance and procedural errors were noted along with failures of vigilance beginning at the lowest BAC of 0.025% as compared with 0% BAC.
Post alcohol impairment was observed for 14 hours after alcohol intake

21. Degrees of Impairment
Degree of impairment associated with a given BAC, is not constant and may vary among individuals. This may be attributed to tolerance. Tolerance is a decrease in magnitude of an effect after repeated exposure to alcohol. More experience drinkers show less impairment than less experienced drinkers.

22. Other Factors Influencing The Effects Of BAC
Sleep Deprivation
Altitude Hypoxia
Fatigue
Night Flying
Medication Use
Bad Weather Flying

23. Psychomotor Response
Impairment in control manipulation begins as low as 0.035% and rises as BAC increases
Reaction time tasks are impaired by BAC levels of 0.09 %
Psychomotor and spatial orientation capabilities are impaired at 0.1%
Complex task performance and reaction time is impaired at BAC of 0.04 %

24. Psychological Aspects Of Alcohol
The euphoria induced by alcohol as well as the impairment of judgment, may cause a pilot to undertake maneuvers that he would not under take while sober. This leads to risk taking on the part of the pilot while he is already performance challenged.

25. Physical Aspects Of Alcohol:
Slows heart rate as well as breathing mechanism.
Prevents proper cellular oxygenation resulting in hystoxic hypoxia
At altitude the effects of alcohol are additive and not synergistic in producing hypoxia
Alcohol produces induced hypoglycemia which lowers blood sugar and affects pilot performance

26. Hangover Effect:
Post alcohol impairment(PAI) has been defined, as performance impairment after alcohol is no longer detectable.
PAI has been observed 14 hours after alcohol ingestion (0.08 to 0.01% BAC) in simulated flight tests.

27. Symptoms Associated With PAI
Headache
Stomach Upset
Dizziness
Irritability
Dry Mouth
Impaired Judgment
Stuffy Nose
Increased Sensitivity To Light
Fatigue

28. Conclusion:
FAR
No person may operate or attempt to operate an aircraft:
Within 8 hours of having consumed alcohol
While under influence of alcohol
With a BAC of 0.04% or greater

29. Conclusion Continued:
Flying is a complex task involving, sensory, cognitive and psychomotor operations. Alcohol impairs all flying skills at all levels.
Any concentration of alcohol in a pilot is unacceptable and constitutes a serious hazard.
Recommendation: 24 hours bottle to throttle