The following waiting times are recommended: is due to a nerve that is connected from the brain to the  stomach. When confusion or disagreement occurs be- tween the eyes and the orientating vestibular system,  vomiting may erupt. When symptoms of motion sickness begin, get back  on the ground. In the meantime, avoid unnecessary  head movements and keep your eyes on the horizon. As the pilot, you should note if the passenger, who  had been talking throughout the flight, gets quiet. You  should ask “how are you doing” because getting quiet  is sometimes a precursor to feelings of nausea. Inform  passengers while still on the ground to let you know  if their stomach begins to feel “uneasy.” Spatial disorientation is not normally associated with  slow and low (non-aerobatic) powered parachute  flights. However, it is important to know that spatial  disorientation is a condition of the body’s confusion  relative to the spatial position. This commonly results  from the eyes disagreeing with the sense of balance  (the vestibular system of the inner ear) which may  be disagreeing with the postural nerve impulses from  the pressure areas in the skin and muscles. Hence, the  brain gets conflicting spatial information. This condi - tion is sometimes called vertigo. Motion sickness can be the result of continued flight  stimulation, such as rapid or unexpected turns and  swinging through the PPC pendulum. As the pilot, you  will find a reduced rate of upset stomachs if you let the  passenger know, ahead of time, the flight maneuver  you are about to make and avoid abrupt maneuvers. For new students, anxiety and stress may greatly con- tribute to motion sickness. However, after a few les- sons and some time in the air from the front seat, these  feelings/symptoms will usually dissipate. The recommended procedure to deal with spatial dis- orientation is to maintain constant, straight and level  flight via the throttle and remove all control input to  the steering controls. Dives Not Req.   Dives Requiring Controlled Ascent  Controlled Ascent Flights up to A minimum A minimum 8,000 feet MSL  of 12 hrs.  of 24 hrs. Flights above A minimum  A minimum 8,000 feet MSL  of 24 hrs.  of 24 hrs. Spatial Disorientation Stress Stroke and Heart Attack Scuba Diving Stress is a strong factor in pilot error. Stressful situ- ations are very disruptive conditions. There are three  categories of stress: environment (physical, such as  loud noises), psychological (the loss of a loved one)  and physiological (fatigue). Any of these factors can  be influential on your mental capacities, and hence  should be given consideration when begining your  medical self-evaluation prior to preflight inspection.  Any pilot experiencing a high level of stress is not  safe and should not fly as PIC. Medication like Dramamine can be used to prevent  motion sickness/nausea in passengers, but since it  can cause drowsiness, it is not recommended for the pilot. Taking a flight, especially a high flight, after a deep  scuba dive can have some devastating results. This is  because the increased pressure of the water during a  dive causes nitrogen to be absorbed into the body tis- sues and bloodstream. Then, when flying at altitudes  of reduced atmospheric pressure, the nitrogen will  move out of the bloodstream and tissues at a rapid  rate. This rapid out-gassing of nitrogen is called the  bends (as it is felt in the joints—the bending joints of  the limbs) and is painful and incapacitating. In the event you feel light-headed or dizzy, you  should remove your feet from an input position on  the steering controls. When you feel light-headed or  dizzy, there is a possibility this could be a prelude to  a heart attack or stroke. If you are about to experience  a medical problem of this magnitude, then you could  have a seizure or leg spasms (due to the pain from the  heart attack) and therefore, uncontrollably and with- out intention, spiral yourself into the ground if the leg  spasm induces severe steering input. If you don’t feel “right”— pull your feet away from  those steering controls, at least until you begin to feel  better, and then get yourself safely on the ground as  soon as possible. A pilot or passenger who intends to fly after scuba  diving should allow the body sufficient time to rid it - self of excess nitrogen that was absorbed during the  dive. If the appropriate amount of time is not allowed,  decompression sickness due to gases released in the  blood can result in a serious in-flight emergency. As an absolute standard safety measure, any pilot fly - ing near a large body of water should ask the passen- ger during the preflight if he or she has recently been  scuba diving. 1-8