Flying UAS and Over The Counter (OTC) Medications

Prescription medications come with specific instructions from a doctor and pharmacist that are required to ensure the patient understands the potential side effects associated with taking them. Over the Counter (OTC) medication can also have significant, powerful effects but do not require the same level of instruction to the person taking them. This presents a major problem in aviation operations due to individuals inadvertently taking medications that will have a detrimental effect on their performance, and cause them to be in violation of FAA regulations, and ultimately compromising the safety of their flight. UAS operations are no different and require the same level of responsibility when crewmembers and operators are flying missions.

Consider the following scenario:

You have been hired as an independent UAS contractor to conduct an aerial site survey for a large commercial construction project. The project is located in the bustling downtown of a large city that is surrounded by tall buildings, and it is an active construction site. You have procured all of the requisite approvals, meticulously planned your flight, and coordinated with the lead contractor to have personnel halt their work in order to execute your survey. Everything is going according to plan except for the unfortunate fact that you have developed a severe head cold. This keeps you up the night before your aerial survey job, only affording you four hours of sleep. You wake up feeling lousy, tired, and have difficulty focusing. You really want to complete this job and come through for the customer. You remember that you have a large selection of cold medication in your home and think that if you can just get relief from your symptoms that you will feel well enough to complete this job. What should you do?

Consider these questions as you think about the scenario above and address these items in your submission: 

1. What physiological factors could affect your performance for the aerial survey?

2. Are you allowed to take medications before conducting UAS operations? 

· If so, which ones? 

3. What risk factors are associated with this job that complicate your decision to fly it?

· Provide a short paper submission of at least 300 words total.

· Use reference citations in APA format.

· Add a Reference section to the end of the paper.