During duty, how should fever and infectious symptoms be handled?

• A. You may continue flying after taking OTC meds
• B. Only restrict if fever > 39 C
• C. You should quarantine at home but continue flights
• D. Flight duty should be deferred until medically cleared, per policy

Answer: (D)

Fever and infectious symptoms mean you are not medically fit for duty. The key idea is medical readiness: a contagious illness in a crew member risks others and can impair performance, so flight policies require formal clearance before returning to flight. Continuing duty after taking OTC meds doesn’t guarantee safety because medications can mask symptoms or affect alertness, and fever signals active illness that can worsen in the demanding flight environment. Therefore, the correct approach is to defer flight duty until you are medically cleared per policy. Seek evaluation with a flight surgeon or medical authority and return only after official clearance.