Head in the Clouds, Golf (Now, with 100% more Mozilla Intern (tm)!)
On Memorial Day, The ReedBotTM and I went on a flight down to Oceano Airport for lunch.
Section 8.1.2.b, paragraphs 2, 3, 4, and 5 of the Airmen's Information Manual say, in part:
Either an upper respiratory infection, such as a cold or sore throat ... can produce enough congestion around the eustachian tube to make [pressure] equalization difficult. Consequently, the difference in pressure between the middle ear and aircraft cabin can build up to a level that will hold the eustachian tube closed, making equalization difficult if not impossible. The problem is commonly referred to as an "ear block." An ear block produces severe ear pain and loss of hearing that can last from several hours to several days. Rupture of the ear drum can occur in flight or after landing. Fluid can accumulate in the middle ear and become infected. An ear block is prevented by not flying with an upper respiratory infection or nasal allergic condition. ... If an ear block does not clear shortly after landing, a physician should be consulted.
Having just recovered from a nasty cold the Sunday morning before, that was (what some would call) the first mistake of the flight.
(Some might call spending two hours stuck in an airplane next to Reed the first mistake, but I assure you, he was a model passenger, and I'm proud to report I won't be invoking the "interference with a flight crew felony" clause—which applies to general aviation aircraft as well, thank god—the airlines always cite.)
Since I'm going on Day Five of not being able to hear out of my right ear, it may have turned out to be the worst mistake of the flight... but arguably, I didn't know it at the time.
I think I began to realize something was going to be wrong when we climbed through about 2,500 feet (ironically, over the Mozilla offices), and my ears didn't want to pop... and about 500 feet later, started to pop in the most excruciatingly painful way).
After about 5,000 feet, the popping was over, and I thought to myself "Well, alright. That was awful. Lesson learned. Let's get to Oceano." Enter an mostly uneventful (and beautiful) flight down there.
Until the descent. The the excruciating popping—in reverse—occurred. Oh my Jesus Lord... did I beg for forgiveness.
The lunch was good (clam chowder in a bread bowl!), but slightly rushed... and the refueling stop in San Luis Obispo-proper was uneventful.
The flight back was also uneventful and the sunset, beautiful.
On the descent into Palo Alto, though, my right ear refused to clear... and if you want to talk about horrible sinus pain... oh man.
But, a low approach at Moffett Airfield with the approach lights on almost made it all better.
Almost.
The full Flickr set—for those that want to nitpick about cloud clearance requirements— is here.
Overall, I had a really fun time. I hope the ReedBot did too.
And now, to play the waiting game with my hearing returning to my right ear (although, it did pop in a clearing-sort-of-way tonight, so that's encouraging...)
Comments
I did have fun!
Posted by: reed | June 2, 2007 12:17 AM
Does 8.1.2.b also apply to commercial flight (I'd expect it would, given the effective altitude in the pressurized cabin), or no? I don't remember hearing of this before, so I suspect it doesn't, but in either case, why or why not?
Posted by: Jeff Walden | June 10, 2007 11:50 PM
@Jeff:
It very much does, although the semantics are a bit different.
They make a big deal about it in the AIM because it can pose a huge hazard to flight if the pilot is experiencing it. I've heard stories of—although, fortunately didn't experience—such painful ascents and descents that it has caused pilots to black out.
The other reason it tends to be more important to private pilots (as such) as we're more likely to be flying unpressurized aircraft (at first anyway), and the when you're flying commercially, the pressurization is said to be about 8,000 feet. Compare that to an unpressurized plane, where you can go up to 14,000 feet for a half hour without oxygen (legally, anyway; I've heard it's not recommended, for lots of reasons). Also, that's an oxygen requirement, not a pressurization requirement, so you could theoretically go higher and have the same sorts of problems with your sinuses.
This all applies to scuba divers as well; the AIM covers it too (section 8.1.2.c), but they cover it for divers because it applies to them if they fly commercially as well.
Posted by: Preed | June 11, 2007 8:31 AM
Okay; I expected the difference between an unpressurized and a pressurized cockpit might play a factor there. I wasn't sure, tho, because you said your popping occurred at a mere 2500 feet, which is substantially below the effective altitude of a pressurized cockpit. That must have been one wicked cold. :-)
Posted by: Jeff Walden | June 12, 2007 11:30 PM