Should a pilot suffering from Ménière's disease be grounded or lifted off to the moon?
Recently, a pilot suffering from Ménière's disease was referred to our department. The decision concerning his ability to fly was made after an open discussion with him and his employer. He was allowed to fly during a period of remission. The relationship based on mutual trust proved to be wise since this pilot never tried to deny any recurrence of vertigo and spontaneously decided to obtain a waiver when vertigo reoccurred. In contrast, a law stating that pilots with Ménière's disease should be permanently grounded regardless of the treatment's result may lead to pilots flying with unconfessed illness.
Guyot
J P
JP
Department of Otolaryngology, Cantonal University Hospital, Geneva, Switzerland.
D000337:Aerospace Medicine; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008575:Meniere Disease / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D008875:Middle Aged; D008876:Middle Ear Ventilation; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000601:surgery; D012008:Recurrence; D013557:Switzerland