What is the recommended policy for herbal and dietary supplements for pilots?

• A. Use is encouraged to enhance wellness
• B. Avoid use due to risk of sudden incapacitation
• C. Use only during non-operational duties
• D. They have no regulatory implications

Answer: (B)

Pilots must avoid herbal and dietary supplements because many of these products are not tightly regulated, may contain undisclosed ingredients, and can produce unpredictable effects such as sedation, dizziness, or impaired judgment. In the cockpit, even small impairments can compromise safety, especially under high workload and physical stress. Some supplements can interact with prescription medicines or vary in strength between batches, making it impossible to guarantee they’re safe to use before or during flight. Therefore the prudent policy is to refrain from using these products while in operational status unless a flight surgeon explicitly reviews and clears them. This protects against sudden incapacitation and adheres to aviation safety standards. The idea that use is encouraged is unsafe; using only during non-operational duties still risks unexpected flight tasks, and saying there are no regulatory implications ignores the medical and safety controls in aviation.