Learning to fly and airsickness
 

Hi folks

Flying100k miles in '10, reading the ask a UA pilot thread on FT and listening to channel 9, I decided to start taking flying lessons.

In jan 2010, I did an air combat experience:
http://www.barnstorming.com/documents/52.html

It was a blast, but during the 45-minute flight, I lost my breakfast. Twice. Sad but understandable considering the yanking and banking and the circling around that was going on. Landing was followed by more nausea, and all I could do the next 5 hours was lie down.

One year later, last weekend, I did an official introductory flight lesson. The flight was ok. For the first 20 minutes that is. Then, as the instructor took over to land, I started to feel dizzy. By the time we landed, I couldn't walk straight. I had to lie down on a couch and nap for 45 minutes, then I was ok to drive back home.

Now, I'm just not sure if I'm cut out for piloting an aircraft. I usually don't get airsick on an airliner, but do in the backseat of a car. I think it's to do with an unlimited field of view - in a car, or in a GA airplane, I feel a little claustrophobic. I'm getting dizzy thinking about it :).

I really like flying, but not enough to spend $150/hr AND feel like crap when I'm done. Any fellow FTers know of how to get around this problem? Does this go away if I keep going back?

thanks

I got sick on my trial flying lesson too, and nearly gave up... but gave it another try, and felt fine on the second one. I got my Private Pilot's Licence in 1989, and I still fly.

I don't think motion sickness is something you can ever overcome totally - but you can certainly build up a lot of resistance to it. I still get seasick. I sometimes get sick in the back of the car. Sometimes I even get sick when I look at moving pictures shot with an unsteady hand (i.e., amateur video). I have been known to get sick when flying as a passenger in a light aircraft. But flying myself I am usually fine.

I was fortunate in that I had very understanding instructors, who were able to help me build my resistance. In the early days they made sure I only flew on calm days. Gradually I started flying on days that were less calm. Sometimes lessons had to be cut short because I started feeling a bit queasy, but as time went on this happened less and less.

If I were you I'd give it another try. Pick a calm day. Make sure the instructor is aware of your predicament. If, after two or three lessons, you still find that you get airsick then maybe it isn't for you. But I wouldn't give up just yet.

I'd agree with everything Aviatrix says. Over time (the first 20 to 40 hours) your resistance will improve, but the problem never fully goes away.

I had probably vomited at least 10 times by the time I got my PPL at 65 hours. I now have 300 hours, and never get sick cruising, though power-on stalls, spins, thermalling in gliders, and other aggressive manoeuvring can make me ill. Anything involving negative G forces makes me ill very quickly. Not only has my resistance to motion sickness improved though, but I've now vomited so many times that I don't consider a big deal any more!

I find the following helps:

1. Medication. Test it in advance though in case it makes you drowsy.

2. Drink plenty of water.

3. Make sure you're not too hot. A large part of the reason I was ill so much when learning was, I suspect, due to learning in Miami in summer.

4. Eat a light meal before the flight. It's tempting to fly on an empty stomach, but I find this makes me more likely to be ill.

5. Keep your eyes outside the cockpit as much as possible. This is good practice anyway for collision avoidance.

6. Keep all turns smooth and coordinated (also good practice).

7. Ask your instructor (and examiner when the time comes) if you can do all stalls, steep turns, etc, at the end of each flight.

Good luck! I've no doubt you'll be able to overcome this, and learning to fly is one of the best things you'll ever do.

You might try going under the hood, or early morning rides.

Flying private kills too many, if you are not comfortable stay out, it is not worth it.

One day under the hood my instructor was white after we landed, he said it was rough up there,. concentrating on the instruments had my mind focused, the plane could have been on fire and I would have held it on course.

I have lost a few friend to errors..who went up when they should not have.

Thanks all for your responses.

I do want to learn to fly, and as suggested by acunningham and Aviatrix, I'll try a few more times before throwing in the towel.

satman40, you make a good point. I spent a lot of time reading Avweb columns (specifically Probable Cause and The Pilot's Lounge), and I think I understand the inherent risk in GA flying is higher than even that in driving a car.


I also feel like my initial experience could have been better - the instructor seemed too focused on the business aspect and didn't really "instruct" or explain much. I think I'll try another intro flight with someone else next.

If you feel becoming sick and the instructor is controlling the plane you should just kindly ask him to take over for a while. I know in some situations it is not advisable, but it helps a great deal. I had to give up PPL-A due to school etc, but when I had the plane it was 99% of the time no problem. Never vomited during my lessons, but I remember one lesson I was feeling very nausea even when I got home. Went to bed and the day after it was nearly okey except that I didnt have much for breakfest that day. Luckily I have no problem with cars and buses (that must be a really PITA). Haven't become seasick either even on very rough sea.

I think as you take more lessons you'll build up a resistance plus the instructor will let you stay on the controls longer which will help. Watch out for certain medications. Make sure they're not on the disapproved list. Have you tried ginger root or ginger ale?

Good luck!

I don't know if it is allowed but if you can take a dramamine the night before you may find that fixes your problem. I worked on a charter boat for quite a while and it was the only thing that worked. Only drawback was I slept like a log and rolling out at 4 am was a drag but it kept me from "chumming" :) I also always had tums in my pocket just in case it was especially rough.
However, your dizziness may indicate an inner ear problem - worth having check out.

Although few will admit it, 60% of pilots STILL get sick sometimes, and 80% of cabin crews. It's more normal than you might think. They make sure they do it discreetly. An FA friend of mine has told me many a story of going in the galley and letting go of her dinner in silence, then putting on a smile and going back out. Crews are not allowed to take meds for it.

To an extent you can develop your "air legs" by repeated exposure. Many flight schools and the military do a regimen of flights that get you to the border of nausea, stop, and try to extend that point until you become better adjusted.

I fly twice a week and still get airsick sometimes. And I have been at it for 20 years. Mostly it's on descent and approach. I use a scopalamine patch. It works. But if you are actually flying, you simply have to learn to grab the bag and hold your alertness together.

I am fortunate in that I have never suffered from any kind of motion sickness. My instructor tried to demonstrate spatial disorientation to me during my IR training, and ended up feeling a bit queasy himself, even though I was the one under the hood!

I have a good friend who started lessons but got sick on every flight and in the give up with the training. Sometimes you have to accept it is not going to work. Most OTC medications for motion sickness are not approved for airmen. If you belong to AOPA they have a good resource for determining if a medication is approved or not. This is also a good resource:-
http://www.leftseat.com/medcat1.htm

Good luck, I hope you can find a solution, personal flying is truly great fun. If I could go back to when I was 18, I would have chosen a different career.

So you're saying that a person's airsickness gets worse (or is more likely) in instrument conditions? i.e. just when you need your mental faculties the most they get clouded? fml

I guess there's nothing to do but try. I hope I get used to it, I don't quite wanna be a VFR+calm weather only pilot, but I guess I now need to find out what my body's limitations are......

It's more likely in instrument conditions since you no longer have a visual reference to the outside horizon, but by the time you're ready for instrument training your body should have adapted.

I'd agree strongly with this. I've been sick many times in VMC, but never in IMC (despite some bad turbulence). Not only is the body somewhat acclimatised by the time you start your instrument rating, but IFR never (or at least should never) involves the manoeuvring and G forces found in VFR. An important principle of IFR is that manoeuvres should be smooth, gentle, and well co-ordinated to avoid disorientation.

The worst turbulence I've ever experienced was during my instrument rating checkride, and I felt fine. One second we were 50 feet above the MDA on an VOR approach, the next 20 feet below the MDA, and I though the checkride was busted right then, but the examiner was happy that I recovered immediately and returned to above the MDA!

Thanks for the replies all. I will give this another shot. In a few months, I'm going to do another intro lesson, and see how it goes from there. Will keep your tips in mind. fingers crossed!

Hi mad1 and everyone

I have recently started my PPL. I had my 2nd flight yesterday. And as you may gather I to had the same issue of feeling a bit green. Im sorry if you you have posted how everything went but id like to know if/how you got over the airsickness? Are you still flying?

Im flying in Gauteng South Africa, the flight was 1.2hrs, midday. My father was a pilot for over 30something years and upon questioning him if he felt ill the first time he answered "No" but his first couple of flights were apparently much shorter than 1.2hrs. So I'm in the same boat as a lot of people it sounds to me