There is no more dedicated aficionado of aviation safety than the jolly man in the red suit who is about to undertake the red-eye of all red-eyes. The ground crew of industrious workers are busy with the tasks of loading the sleigh to within weight and balance limits, fueling up the reindeer, and checking the weather forecasts for every city around the globe. As he watches with pride while sipping a cup of Yuletide Tea his attention turns to his final paperwork. As is well known in aviation circles, there is no better preparation than to review each edition of the Aviation Watchdog Report before heading out on any flight, especially this epic journey. As he carefully reads each informative article, he becomes more thankful for this source of safety information. He has never been more prepared for his annual flight.

Although his sleigh is packed full of gifts that include small drones for young enthusiasts around the world, he fully understands the risks associated with them. It could be very painful for Rudolph should they contact one while in flight. The March story, The Foundation for Aviation Safety is Issuing a Warning – There is a Growing Risk of Drones Colliding with Airplanes is read with interest. He’ll be sure to follow proper FAA procedures around all airports.  He is also saddened to read, Boeing Petitions the FAA for Yet Another 737 MAX Exemption. He shakes his head as he wonders how the 737 MAX can have so many noncompliant systems. His sleigh has always been fully compliant although a few reindeer have sought exemptions for occasional cookie overconsumption.

The Flying with Children story is informative and extremely important for those families travelling over the holidays. He’s thankful that he’s the only sleigh occupant. Kids flying around in the sleigh only happens in the movies. Although he doesn’t have to worry about toxic fumes (unless Blitzen eats too many carrots prior to takeoff) he does wonder why the FAA hasn’t done sufficient air quality testing. It seems appropriate to do so and mandate corrective actions to prevent the common “dirty sock smell” and other smoke and fume events in passenger aircraft. Fume Events and Aerotoxic Syndrome are real threats to airline passengers and crew. But if he ever had evacuate the sleigh he can answer in the affirmative after reading, Emergency Evacuation – Are you Prepared?

He agrees with the sentiments in U.S. Air Traffic Control – An Overhaul is Warranted. He certainly can’t be delayed by flow control procedures on this flight! He is encouraged after reading NextGen Didn’t Deliver – Will the New Initiative? The U.S. needs this new ATC system; getting around Canada and Europe is much easier. But reading, FAA Organization Authorization Designation is even more concerning. He can’t trust the elves to inspect and approve their own work; that would be negligent at best. They’re very talented, but everyone makes mistakes. The same is certainly true for aircraft manufacturers!

Looking back at United Flight 232 and American Flight 191 tragedies gave him pause. We must all learn from history and strive to do everything we can to prevent a recurrence. When he reads of the recent UPS Flight 2976 disaster he worries that regulators and operators are failing to heed the warning signs.

As he finishes up the cup of tea along with his preflight tasks he takes one last look at the Aviation Watchdog Report. He totally agrees that There Are No Accidents: Only Predictable Outcomes. He drills constantly with his crew as each possible scenario is reviewed well before he boards the sleigh and the crew is harnessed. It’s also true that the current system of accident investigation needs to be overhauled. The story, The Aircraft Investigation Process is Broken is spot on.

He would like to read more from this team of experts, but it’s time to mount up for the long flight ahead. With no danger of an LRD Activation, he’s set for takeoff and a safe journey bringing joy around the world. He can’t help himself as he cracks the whip and rotates off the glistening snow as he shouts gleefully, “Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Donner and Blitzen!”

Editor’s Note: We at The Foundation for Aviation Safety are so appreciative of your readership and your interest in aviation safety. We offer you all our best wishes and a wonderful holiday no matter where you live or what holiday you celebrate. Aviation connects the world in many ways and maintaining our hard-earned safety margin is vitally important to all. We enjoyed bringing you this holiday tale but trust us when we say we will never lose sight of the seriousness of this mission. We serve all individuals who fly and their loved ones.

It is well known that sitting for prolonged periods is not good for the human body. Humans are built to be mobile, and constant movement is generally beneficial. This can be accomplished through regular exercise, proper ergonomics while working in an office setting, and by keeping active in all phases of life. But these commonsense guidelines are more difficult to follow if one is a frequent flyer. This is especially true if long-haul flights are involved. Sitting for prolonged periods, especially in cramped airline seats, can pose a serious health risk for many individuals. Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common condition that can lead to even more serious health problems.

Simply put, DVT is a blood clot that forms in the body’s deep veins, most commonly in the legs. There are many causes of DVT, and risk factors include advanced age, obesity, previous or family history of DVT, recent surgery, and ongoing inflammatory disease. For the purposes of this article the focus is on sitting in an airplane seat for that long cross-country or international flight. If you have one of those in your holiday plans, please read on.

The circulatory system is a complex collection of veins, arteries, one-way valves, the heart, and the lungs. The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body. It circulates oxygenated blood through the arteries to every part of the body. That blood is then returned to the heart through the veins and then pumped into the lungs for oxygenation and returned to the heart. This cycle repeats itself continuously with the average adult moving nearly two gallons of blood through the body each minute.

Blood must also be able to clot to stop blood loss during an injury. Without this clotting property a simple laceration could be life threatening. The bad news is that clotting sometimes occurs due to other factors such as stagnant blood flow. This is the case when a person is sedentary for an extended period. Blood must return to the heart from the legs and if the legs are not moving there is a likelihood of reduced flow, especially around the one-way valves within the veins. If blood is stagnant, it is much more likely to start clotting. The result is a blood clot in the vein which can cause a blockage. It can also break away and move from the lower body back to the heart and/or lungs. This is when a DVT can become life-threatening. For anyone interested in more physiological information about this process at the molecular level check out this link.

In summary, blood clots in the legs can cause blockages that injure local tissues. Localized pain, swelling, and discoloration can result. This is a significant problem, but it becomes far worse if the clot suddenly travels to the heart or lungs. The clot can then cause a heart attack or a pulmonary embolism- both are serious conditions and require swift medical intervention.

Prolonged sitting in that cramped airliner seat means the blood must fight gravity to return to the heart. It also doesn’t have the advantage of continual muscle contraction that helps move blood through the veins. Other factors specific to flying that can increase the likelihood of developing a DVT are the dry air in the cabin (10-20% humidity) and the relatively high cabin altitude. Breathing in dry air will dehydrate the system which leads to thicker blood and the lower oxygen level at a typical cabin altitude of 6,000 feet means less oxygenated blood which is more susceptible to clotting.  

As mentioned above, keeping your legs moving is a key to avoiding DVT while flying. Get up out of your seat frequently- at least every two hours. Choosing an aisle seat is helpful in this effort. But you can also help yourself by simply moving your legs frequently, performing heel raises and other stretches as you sit, and avoiding crossing your legs. Keep them moving as best you can even if you can’t get up out of your seat. Drinking plenty of water will help hydrate and likely make you get out of your seat more often to use the facilities. Lastly, avoid alcohol as it can dehydrate you as well.

Wearing compression socks is often recommended to prevent DVT. These socks are tightest at the ankle and gradually loosen toward the calf and thigh. This mimics the natural pressure needed to push blood back up the leg towards the heart. This increases blood flow velocity, thereby reducing the likelihood of clotting.  

Please keep these recommendations in mind if you are planning a long flight, especially if you have any of the other risk factors. Additional information about DVT, how to avoid them while flying, and compression socks can be found at these links:

·      WebMD- What you Should Know About Flying and Blood Clots

·      Columbia Vascular Surgery- How to Avoid Blood Clots When Flying: Advice from a Vascular Surgeon

·      FAA- Deep Vein Thrombosis and Travel

·      WebMD- Compression Stockings: Benefits and Side Effects