What types of medication should UAS remote pilots avoid when actively flying?

What types of medication should UAS remote pilots avoid when actively flying?

• A. Vitamin supplements with no side effects
• B. Water consumed prior to flight
• C. Caffeine in moderation
• D. Any medication that will affect the remote pilot's mental state

Answer: (D)

Being able to fly a UAS safely depends on staying alert and able to react quickly and accurately. Medications that affect your mental state can slow your reaction time, dull judgment, or distort perception, which directly increases the risk of losing control of the aircraft or missing hazards. Because of that, you should avoid any medication that will affect your mental state while actively flying. The option describing “any medication that will affect the remote pilot's mental state” best captures the safety rule that applies to medications during flight. The other items aren’t about medications that impair mental function: vitamin supplements with no side effects don’t typically affect performance, water is simply hydration, and caffeine in moderation is a stimulant that may be permissible in safe amounts.

Being able to fly a UAS safely depends on staying alert and able to react quickly and accurately. Medications that affect your mental state can slow your reaction time, dull judgment, or distort perception, which directly increases the risk of losing control of the aircraft or missing hazards.

Because of that, you should avoid any medication that will affect your mental state while actively flying. The option describing “any medication that will affect the remote pilot's mental state” best captures the safety rule that applies to medications during flight.

The other items aren’t about medications that impair mental function: vitamin supplements with no side effects don’t typically affect performance, water is simply hydration, and caffeine in moderation is a stimulant that may be permissible in safe amounts.