Association of Total Flight Hours and Health Conditions with Sick Leave Use Among Civilian Pilots

Introduction: In-flight medical incapacitation jeopardizes flight safety. To reduce such breakdown episodes, airlines have implemented a sick leave system. This study aimed to examine the association of total flight hours and health status with sick leave use among civilian pilots in South Korea and to identify the demand for a health promotion program.

Methods: For data collection, an online survey was conducted between August-November 2018, involving pilots of nine civil airlines in South Korea. A total of 456 pilots responded, of which data from 6 were excluded due to missing items; 450 pilots were included in the final analysis. The SPSS WIN 26.0 software was used for analysis, and a logistic regression analysis was performed.

Results: The factors influencing sick leave were 7.39 times higher in the case of 1000-4999 h of total flight time than in the case of less than 1000 h, and 2.19 times higher for those with pre-existing conditions than for those without.

Discussion: Future research is needed to focus on the relationship between sick leave use and chronic diseases and between sick leave use and health-promoting behaviors among pilots. In addition, health promotion programs may be more effective if they are tailored to the job characteristics of pilots. Furthermore, counseling and education programs regarding the numerous harms of high-risk drinking must be strengthened. This may include emphasizing the negative effects of drinking on flight safety and personal health. Han B-S, Choi E-H, Kim M-S. Association of total flight hours and health conditions with sick leave use among civilian pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2025; 96(1):31-38.