List at least three causes of pilot incapacitation mentioned in the guidance besides gastroenteritis.

Hypoxia at altitudes above 10 000 ft, smoke or fumes from air-conditioning system contamination, food poisoning or food allergy, falling asleep, heart attack or stroke due to cardiovascular disease, physical injury, or a hostile act by an unruly passenger or terrorist action.

What is the most extreme example of incapacitation mentioned in the guidance?

Death, typically due to cardiovascular disease.

Which flight crew members are the target of the initial and recurrent training described in this guidance?

Pilots involved in single-pilot IAM operations, and pilots and technical crew members involved in VEMS operations.

What does the guidance say about managing the consequences for non-incapacitated crew members?

It is a training objective that may be included, as applicable, for example in single-pilot operations with a technical crew member aboard.

Does the guidance mention any specific applicability date for the training requirements?

No, the guidance does not state any applicability date.

GM1 ORO.FC.420

Q: What are the possible training formats for the initial and recurrent training on pilot incapacitation?

Classroom instruction, discussion, audiovisual presentation, or other similar formats.

Q: What is the primary purpose of the training described in this guidance?

To enable pilots and technical crew members to (self-)detect the early stages of pilot incapacitation and handle it, including by activating the relevant operator's procedure.

Q: Name at least three training objectives that may be included in the incapacitation training.

(Self-)detection of pilot incapacitation; taking appropriate actions including correct stop/go decision; applying the appropriate operator's procedure correctly; maintaining aircraft control, as applicable; managing the consequences for non-incapacitated crew members, as applicable.

Q: In which operational context does the guidance specifically mention maintaining aircraft control as a training objective?

In single-pilot operations with a technical crew member aboard.

Q: What is the reference number of the EASA rule to which this guidance material (GM) belongs?

ORO.FC.420; 430 (Operator conversion training and checking).

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GM1 ORO.FC.420; 430 Operator conversion training and checking

ED Decision 2025/010/R

SINGLE-PILOT INCAPACITATION IN IAM OPERATIONS WITH VCA

‘Pilot incapacitation’ is the term used to describe a sudden degradation of the medical fitness of an operating flight crew member, rendering the flight crew member unable to carry out their normal duties because of the onset, during flight, of the effects of physiological factors.

Incapacitation may have different severity states. Death is the most extreme example of incapacitation (typically due to cardiovascular disease). By far, the most common cause of flight crew incapacitation is gastroenteritis.

Other causes may include:

— hypoxia at altitudes above 10 000 ft;

— smoke or fumes associated with contamination of the air-conditioning system;

— food poisoning or food allergy;

— falling asleep;

— heart attack, stroke due to cardiovascular disease;

— physical injury;

— a hostile act by an unruly passenger, terrorist action.

Initial and recurrent training in the form of classroom instruction, discussion, audiovisual presentation or other similar formats may be provided to pilots involved in single-pilot IAM operations or to pilots and technical crew members involved in VEMS operations to be able to (self-)detect the early stages of pilot incapacitation and handle it including by activating the relevant operator’s procedure.

The training objectives may include:

— (self-)detection of pilot incapacitation;

— taking appropriate actions including correct stop/go decision;

— applying the appropriate operator’s procedure correctly;

— maintaining aircraft control, as applicable (e.g. in single-pilot operations with a technical crew member aboard);

— managing the consequences for non-incapacitated crew members, as applicable (e.g. in single-pilot operations with a technical crew member aboard).

Details

Source-Title: GM1 ORO.FC.420, 430 Operator conversion training and checking View latest amendments

Erulesid: ERULES-1963177438-23748 Compare versions

Domain: Air operations

Applicabilitydate: 9 July, 2025

Entryintoforcedate: 9 July, 2025

Regulatorysource: ED Decision 2025/010/R Navigate

Regulatorysubject: Part-ORO

Typeofcontent: GM to IR (Guidance material to implementing rule)

Parentir: ORO.FC.420 Operator conversion training and checking

Origin: EASA

Category: EAR