Too Fat to Fly? Overweight Pilots to Undergo Mandatory Testing

After numerous incidents of pilots and air traffic controllers falling asleep while on the job, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) recently announced a new policy that will require overweight pilots and controllers to undergo testing for obstructive sleep apnea, reports CNN.

The sleep disorder, which causes a disruption in breathing patterns during slumber, is extremely common in overweight people, and often results in excessive daytime sleepiness. Under the new rules, pilots and controllers who have a body mass index (BMI) of 40 or greater and a neck circumference of 17 inches will have to be tested for sleep apnea as part of their routine medical examination.

The FAA released a statement on the new policy, saying that it is, “designed to help airmen and aviation safety by improving the diagnosis of unrecognized or untreated obstructive sleep apnea.”

What do you think of this new rule? Does it make sense, or is it discriminatory? Tell us in the comments.

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