Flight Training and Nausea

[SJM]

I started flight training this week, and so far I have gotten nauseous at some point on both trips. I can't tell if it's the hot cabin, the smell of old plastic, or the turbulence...or a combination of all of the above that makes me want to vomit. I've never gotten airsick when flying on a big jet, so this came as a surprise to me. Thankfully things didn't get messy, but we got to a point where I told my instructor to just land and call it a day.

Anyone have issues with feeling queasy when flight training? How did you deal with them?

I hope I'll either get used to it or overcome it soon, or this whole flight training thing is gonna be difficult.

[tgrayson]

Originally Posted by SJM

How did you deal with them?

Peppermint or ginger are supposed to help.

(And, yes, nausea is common when beginning flight training.)

[charlie1017]

Originally Posted by SJM

I've never gotten airsick when flying on a big jet, so this came as a surprise to me. Thankfully things didn't get messy, but we got to a point where I told my instructor to just land and call it a day.

Sounds like me on my first two flights with a CFI... Fly often and it'll go away. In the meantime try the ginger ale and don't go up there on an empty stomach (although you should try to avoid greasy foods while you get used to flying).

[Superfly7XAF]

You sound like me a couple of weeks ago. I started out and got a little nauseous when things would get bumpy. I was really worried about it and actually posted on here about it. Part of my family is really susceptible to nausea and so it really got me thinking if I could handle it.

Thankfully, I eventually got used to it and now don't have as big a problem with it as at the beginning. Although, for me, sometimes I find myself still getting queasy when I fly too much "inside the plane," a bad habit I picked up from FS. I have about 20 hrs now and am still going, just MAKE SURE YOU EAT SOMETHING before you go up and STAY HYDRATED. It sucks the fun out of it when you go up and start to feel sick. Don't worry, you'll be fine. Good luck.

[Soul Brotha']

Originally Posted by SJM

I started flight training this week, and so far I have gotten nauseous at some point on both trips. I can't tell if it's the hot cabin, the smell of old plastic, or the turbulence...or a combination of all of the above that makes me want to vomit. I've never gotten airsick when flying on a big jet, so this came as a surprise to me. Thankfully things didn't get messy, but we got to a point where I told my instructor to just land and call it a day.

Anyone have issues with feeling queasy when flight training? How did you deal with them?

I hope I'll either get used to it or overcome it soon, or this whole flight training thing is gonna be difficult.

Don't sweat it. I blew chunks my 2nd and 3rd training flights. I thought this airline gig thing wasn't going to work out either. Your body has to get use to flying. I would find your local boating/fishing store and maybe invest in some motion sickness bands/patches. Only wear them for the next few flights until your body adjusts. Getting motion sickness has really nothing to do with your stomach.

[BigPoppa]

I was on a destroyer in the Navy. It was long and narrow and very tippy. Almost everyone got seasick the first time they hit heavy weather at sea. Some people got sick the 2nd time. A few the 3rd.

Only a very, very few people got sick every time. Everyone else eventually adjusted and stopped feeling queasy altogether. Unless you're part of a tiny minority with serious inner ear issues, you too should be fine eventually.

[Gulfstream IV]

I know an instructor with +500hrs who got sick recently from flying. He never gets sick but occassionally even those with many hours will feel it. Try early morning flights usually you'll avoid convective turbulance from the heat rising during the day. Winds are calmer and temp is cooler. Good luck!

[Doug Taylor]

Originally Posted by Soul Brotha'

Don't sweat it. I blew chunks my 2nd and 3rd training flights.

Geez, do you chew your food before you swallow it, man? I mean, come on now! Should be a semi-viscous goo that resembles melted head cheese and aspic! But chunks?!

[KBUF]

Two years ago I took a friend on a flight to get some food. He got a little airsick on the descent when it got a bit bumpy. We ate a huge, greasy lunch, much to my regret because about half way back to our home airport, he needed an airsick bag, and odor propagates through a 172 cabin very quickly...
Anyway, happened to me in the beginning, but haven't had nausea since about 5 flight hours. Had some students go through the same thing. Nothin to worry about.

[KBUF]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Geez, do you chew your food before you swallow it, man? I mean, come on now! Should be a semi-viscous goo that resembles melted head cheese and aspic! But chunks?!

Nice imagery Doug...gross, but on the money.

[FBOPilot]

SJM, drink water, wear cool unrestricted shirts, no heavy greasy meals before sim and put the airvent on you in the sim to help keep you cool. The sim is usually cool when you get in, but as you get worked over by the sim instructor, you'll find the sim is too warm and needs more cooling.... let them know and let them bundle up. You're getting the workout. Close your eyes from time to time if that helps and keep a sick sack near by. And, yes, I too, have had a couple of moments of motion sickness. Part of the transition from light stuff to heavier stuff. Good luck and stay cool!

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by FBOPilot

SJM, drink water, wear cool unrestricted shirts, no heavy greasy meals before sim and put the airvent on you in the sim to help keep you cool. The sim is usually cool when you get in, but as you get worked over by the sim instructor, you'll find the sim is too warm and needs more cooling.... let them know and let them bundle up. You're getting the workout. Close your eyes from time to time if that helps and keep a sick sack near by. And, yes, I too, have had a couple of moments of motion sickness. Part of the transition from light stuff to heavier stuff. Good luck and stay cool!

where is there anything about a simulator?

[charlie1017]

Originally Posted by FBOPilot

Part of the transition from light stuff to heavier stuff. Good luck and stay cool!

From SJM's profile, he's doing primary (PVT) training. Thanks for the advice though! Didn't know you could get queasy in a full motion sim!

[JA Yawd Bwoy]

Originally Posted by charlie1017

From SJM's profile, he's doing primary (PVT) training. Thanks for the advice though! Didn't know you could get queasy in a full motion sim!

me either lol, I have been in plenty of sims ( on the USS Intrepid atleast), and I feel preet normal. Just like FSX baby

[FBOPilot]

a quick read through SJM's post lead me to automatically think of sim training where ALOT OF PILOTS do get motion sickess.

[chrisj]

Try ginger tablets or gingerale before you fly. I used Ginger Root capsules from GNC during the first 10-15 hours of my private training and they worked well. I think you'll find that the nausea will subside significantly after the first couple hours however, just give it time.

[PilotBeckfizzle]

Like others have said try the ginger tablets from GNC. I have a student who used to get sick until he started taking these. Take one pill 18hrs before your flight, again at 12hrs, 6hrs and right before your flight. Make sure you're hydrated and you've had at least something to eat before you go (no empy stomach).

[ryount45]

I did eveything wrong... I went up for my first flight on friday didn't eat a thing or drink any water but when up flew got bumped around landed and was fine in the air. Got back on my feet and felt a little something though.

[DeltaASA16]

Originally Posted by Gulfstream IV

I know an instructor with +500hrs who got sick recently from flying. He never gets sick but occassionally even those with many hours will feel it. Try early morning flights usually you'll avoid convective turbulance from the heat rising during the day. Winds are calmer and temp is cooler. Good luck!

Early mornings (+/- 1 hour of sunrise) is the best time to fly for new fliers. As long as there is no frontal activity, the air is calm, moist, and cool. .. Means you aren't sweating in the plane, the plane flys like its a hot knife slicing through butter, and being the break of morning, your brain is locked into the flying. Its great!

I'd take my students who had trouble with nausea up in those early morning flights and I could see a noticeable difference.

Then again, there was that time I got really sick with a student. I could hardly walk when we landed... guess it had been a rough trip to the bars the night before! haha

[cre8flyer]

Anxiety is also a factor. My students who have gotten close to being sick have been the nervous ones.

[Sprint100]

Originally Posted by Doug Taylor

Geez, do you chew your food before you swallow it, man? I mean, come on now! Should be a semi-viscous goo that resembles melted head cheese and aspic! But chunks?!

When I say I blew chunks, I literally mean chunks. I had a nice meatloaf sandwich from Marie Calendar's about 1.5 hours before my training flight. I know that was TMI.......