Pilot's tip of the week

An Alternative To Water

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Subscriber question:

"Not to be too graphic, but if I drink enough water to stave off thirst on a long flight I have to stop too often or use a 'receptacle' in the airplane, which isn't easy. Do the pros fly thirsty or do they know something I don’t?" — William P.

Bruce:

“Pilots have invented about as many ways to balance fluid intake versus outflow as they have methods to hot-start an engine. Here’s my solution, proven on many long-distance flights: Grapes.

I wash and chill clusters of grapes (green or red, your choice, but definitely seedless) and keep them handy in a small cooler or insulated bag. They’re mostly water, so snacking on them helps you feel less thirsty without gulping liquids. Grapes also are a low-calorie, low-salt, satisfying snack that doesn’t leave crumbs in the cockpit.

Other mostly-water fruits, like oranges, also can work, but they all require peeling and handling that can get sticky. Grapes come in tidy, ready-to-eat, single-serve clusters.

Next time you plan a long leg, bring a bunch of grapes and see if they improve your endurance.”

How do you handle hydration on long cross-countries?

(NEW) VFR Mastery scenario #84 “MOA or Marathon?” is now available. The rules say you can fly through an MOA, but conventional wisdom is you should avoid one if it’s hot, right? Sometimes that’s inconvenient or downright impossible. What then? Is ATC your ally on this—or something to avoid? Surely they wouldn’t let you wander in if it was truly dangerous, but what are the consequences? Watch the Intro video.

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