Date: 202005
Aircraft: No Aircraft
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Not Flying
Human factors: Confusion; Situational Awareness
Anomaly: Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
Result: General None Reported / Taken
Contributing factors: Environment - Non Weather Related; Company Policy; Human Factors; Procedure
Primary problem: Company Policy

Narrative: Guidelines impose a requirement for Flight Crews to wear face covering masks. It appears there is a diversity of opinion in the medical community about the efficacy of wearing non-surgical masks to stop the spread of disease; and there is also a diversity of opinion about the health risks associated with the routine wear of face masks by otherwise-healthy individuals. Some medical professionals and associations advise that the routine wearing of face masks may present the following health risks for individuals: 1. Increased chance of dizziness; hypoxia; hypercapnia; and headaches; 2. Increased risk of viral infection; due to increased touching of the face; as a result of the novelty and discomfort of wearing a mask; 3. Increased chance of infection; as a result of prolonged use of a contaminated; single-use mask; 4. Increased chance of infection; as a result of exhaled air being directed into the eyes; causing an uncontrolled response to touch or rub the eyes; 5. A decrease in the body's innate immune response; as a result of the increased viral load resulting from the creation of a moist habitat that sustains and encourages viral activity; 6. A decrease in the body's natural immune response; as a result of diminished exposure to the natural flora that create and maintain a robust immune system. This leads to the following concerns: 1. An increased risk of hypoxia and hypercapnia is incompatible with safe flight operations. Although guidelines do not require the use of face covering masks inflight; it does require Crews to wear them immediately prior to flight; and makes their inflight use optional. Before we mandate the use of these masks for Crews who are about to operate an aircraft--or permit their optional use for Crews in flight--we should first conduct a risk analysis. It appears guideline hints at FAA approval for this practice; but it appears that the FAA SAFO 20009 on this subject was simply reinforcing generalized CDC guidance about the wear of face masks in public; without specifically addressing the unique situation of Flight Crew Members who are about to operate (or are actually operating) an aircraft. It is not clear from SAFO 20009 that the FAA did an appropriate medical study to determine if it was safe for Flight Crews to be exposed to an increased hypoxia and hypercapnia risk immediately prior to or during flight. Furthermore; the SAFO does not require operators to analyze this risk; and instead only directs them to address complications surrounding the donning of oxygen masks. Unless the FAA or the Company has conducted a study to evaluate hypoxia and hypercapnia risks; in consultation with aviation medicine professionals; it seems premature to apply the generalized CDC guidance for members of the public to the special and unique work environment of Flight Crews who are operating or about to operate an aircraft.2. Since Flight Crews lack the ability to adequately disinfect face masks during their extended travels; and since the Company is unable to adequately supply Flight Crews with an appropriate number of single-use face masks to permit regular replacement; it is possible that our flight crews may be more susceptible to self-induced contamination if they are required to wear masks. 3. There appears to be a risk that extended use of the face covering masks could actually result in a decline in the immune system of otherwise-healthy flight crews--something that would result in greater susceptibility to viral infection in the long term; including the COVID-19 virus that these measures are meant to defeat. While well-intentioned; it's very possible that we could be hurting the health of our Employees and creating the potential for increased sick calls with a mandatory wear policy--the opposite of what we hope to achieve with a mandatory wear policy.If an appropriate medical study about hypoxia and hypercapnia risks associated with facial mask use by Flight Crews has been conducted and Flight Crews are simply unaware of it; then the study's findings should be made available to Flight Crews; so that they may be better educated on this subject. In the absence of a suitable medical review that addresses these potential health and safety concerns; it is suggested that the mandatory wear policy should be eliminated until such a study can be completed; to guarantee the safety of our Employees and Customers. Similarly; the possibility that a mandatory wear policy could inadvertently have an overall negative impact on Employee health; instead of a positive one; should be evaluated if it has not been; and weighed against the perceived advantages of such a policy.




Synopsis: Air carrier pilot described the potential negative aspects of wearing a face mask in the flight deck.