How Goes It LETTER, Feb 91

File: 110196_aacaa_04.txt
Page: 04
Total Pages: 5
I          11.The 50 TAS had a series of double shuttle missions deliver-
          ing supplies and troops to a northern Saudi landing zone. These
          missions typically lasted 12 to 14 hours. There were 28 crews
          available for these missions' which typically numbered four to six
          per day. No crew had two such missions in a row, and typically
          there were 15 to 24 hours of crew rest prior to these missions.
          There was nearly always a 24 hour period of crew rest at the cog- -
          pletion of these missions. In addition to these Fissions, crews
          continued to man the regular daily missions. There was no need for
          GO/NO-GO medications during this time. The 50 TAS flight surgeon
          surgeon did fly with a crew during a typical double shuttle mission
          and found that the crew tolerated the mission well. The pilot and
          co-pilot did alternate short cat-naps while flying Straight and
          level on autopilot and this appeared to alleviate any sleepiness
          that might have been encountered near the end of this long duty
          day. These missions were conducted with alert times around the
          clock. There were one or two crewmembers with difficulty achieving
          sleep at the required times. They were given Restoril 30 mg after
          grounding. They checked back in with the flight surgeon prior to
          the mission to assure their complete recovery from any effects of
          medication prior to resuming flying status At no time was the use
          of Dextroamphetamine utilized. 

          12. Both SMEs considered the use of GO/NO-GO medications due to
          the long flying hours' especially at night. However, it was
          decided that risks out-weighed benefits in these multicrew' slower
          aircraft. Of particular concern was possible habituation to
          dextroamphetamine. Temazepam (30 mg) was used several times for
          aircrew members with several days of insomnia. They were grounded
          and seen by a flight surgeon prior to resuming flying duties. "NO
          Go" pills provided good rest - without drowsiness or any side
          effects 12 hours after administration.
        13. The initiation of the air war on 17 Jan 91 coinsided with a large number 
          a large incidence of URIs. Because of high sortie generation and
          limited aircrew' SMEs at this location elected to allow aircrew
          embers to fly while taking certain medications. These medications
          include: pseudoophedrine (Sudafed)' terfenadine (Seldane)' phenyl
          ropanolamine/guaifenesin (Entex LA)' beclo~ethasone nasal spray
         Beconase), amoxicillin, and ipubrofen (Motrin). Before flying
         with medications, flyers with URIs had to perform a normal valsalva
         and have no complaints of facial sinus pressure. They also lacked
         symptoms including fatigue, fever, chills' myalgias, significant
         cough' and shortness of breath. Several flyers flew while finisb-
         ing a course of antibiotics for bronchitis or sinusitus. Addition-
         ally' ibuprofen was prescribed for uncomfortable but non-disabling
         musculoskeletal pain. No side effects nor decrement in mission
         performance was noted in any of these flyers.
        14.(U) In support of newly assigned dedicated (flying crew
         chiefs, six abbreviated flying physicals were given to 114 TAW
         members. The class III physical included an exam by a flight sur-
         geon'~vital signs, visual acuity' with a Snellen chart, and
         Ishibara color plates. All examinees were found physically fit for
         flying class III duties. Based on this requirement, it is recom