Experimenter is a magazine created by EAA for people who build airplanes. We will report on amateur-built aircraft as well as ultralights and other light aircraft.
Issue link: http://experimenter.epubxp.com/i/142883
vomiting has begun, and it works in minutes. Unfortunately, the batteries in the current Reletex model are not replaceable. It must be discarded when they run out. The lowest-cost three-day unit is $150 and runs for 60 hours, so it will cost about $2.50 per hour to prevent you or a passenger getting sick in your airplane. Prescription medications have a similar per hour cost. The Reletex is available through hospitals or can be ordered online at www.Aeromedix.com. A similar electronic unit that doesn't get much publicity, called the Comfort Quest, is sold through marine sources. It appears to be the same type of device as the Reletex, except its batteries are easily replaced by the user. The manufacturer claims the unit does not require the conductivity gel to ensure that the signal gets though to the nerve, though they don't explain why. Online reviews from users are favorable. The cost is $129 from West Marine stores and other suppliers, or order online at www.WestMarine.com. There is a YouTube video available about this device. Contributing Factors Airplanes tend to cause more motion sickness than automobiles because of the different forces involved It has been discovered that when the median nerve in the wrist is stimulated externally with acupuncture or a weak electrical current, the peristaltic wave motions in the stomach associated with nausea can be blocked. and also because of the "fear factor," which is a significant effect. Turbulence is a trigger for pilots of ultralights and light aircraft because we can get bounced around a lot in thermal turbulence. We need better flight planning to avoid those conditions. Fatigue increases our vulnerability, so be wary of long flights or taking concentrated training with multiple flights each day. Pilots shouldn't be flying with a hangover, but watch out for your passengers. Flying with a hangover increases the risk of motion sickness. Carbon monoxide decreases our resistance and can be a problem for aerobatic pilots when practicing tail slides. Pilots must try to fly healthy and smart to avoid factors that can make us vulnerable to motion sickness. Prevention is our best route because there are so few treatments available to the active PIC. Try to minimize head movements in turbulence, and keep your focus outside the airplane on the horizon. Looking inside the cockpit in turbulence is akin to reading in the backseat of a car. Frequent up and down movements of the head while looking at your charts and then back to the horizon (as when flying in a navigation contest) is an excellent trigger for motion sickness. Here is a short video from the FAA with more tips on "Motion Sickness in Aviation." Fly smart and fly healthy and you won't be joining the Flat on the Grass Club. » Please send your comments and suggestions to dgrunloh@illicom.net. Te Reletex neuromodulator is used in hospitals to treat nausea and is available in a three-day and seven-day model. Dan Grunloh, EAA 173888, is a retired scientist who began flying ultralights and light planes in 1982. He won the 2002 and 2004 U.S. National Microlight Championships in a trike and flew with the U.S. World Team in two FAI World Microlight Championships. EAA Experimenter 37