Pilot incapacitation occurrences 2010–2014

Low capacity air transport
Low capacity air transport operations include RPT, charter, and medical
transport. While high capacity operations have multiple pilots so that in the
case of pilot incapacitation, there are other crew members available to assume
duties, some low capacity operations operate with only one pilot. The CASA
Civil Aviation Order (CAO) 82.3 on Conditions on Air Operators’ Certificates
authorising regular public transport operations in other than high capacity
aircraft outline the flights where a minimum of two pilots are required. These
include regular public transport operations where the aircraft has more than
nine passenger seats fitted or jet aeroplanes with a maximum take-off weight
(MTOW) exceeding 3,500 kg. Single pilot flights may have other operational
staff such as a flight nurse on board. If the sole pilot becomes incapacitated,
other people on board may not possess the same flight skills as a pilot to
assume a flying role.
In low capacity air transport operations, there were 12 reported incapacitation
occurrences between 2010 and 2014, with eight different causes (Table 1). Similar
to high capacity air transport, the most common cause of incapacitation was
gastrointestinal illness.
There was little variation in the restriction of duty after incapacitation (Table 1). In
seven cases, there was no effect on flight. One aircraft descended below assigned
altitude in controlled airspace and four aircraft returned to departure location.
Table 1: Duty restriction in pilot incapacitation types in low capacity transport operations
Incapacitation
type
Gastrointestinal
Illness
Duty restriction
Normal
duties
Partial
duties
Removed
temporarily
Unknown
Total
3 1 4
Illicit drugs 1 1
Unknown 1 1
Gall stone 1 1
Laser strike 1 1
Viral infection 1 1
Multiple
1 1
conditions
Lack of cockpit
1 1
ventilation
Hypoxia 1 1
Total 6 3 2 1 12
› 9