MEDICAL MATTERS: The recent successful re-enactment of the first transatlantic flight achieved by Alcock and Brown in 1919 was a reminder of how far aviation has progressed in 85 years.
Steve Fossett and Mark Rebholz piloted the same type of aircraft (a Vickers Vimy biplane originally built in 1918) for an impressive 18 hours before putting the plane down on the 8th fairway of Ballyconneely golf club in Clifden.
Both men were exposed to the elements in the open cockpit for the entire journey; the arrangements for passing urine while aloft owed something to modern medical practice but would hardly have been acceptable even in the economy section of the lowest of low-fare airlines.
According to Captain Rebholz, the procedure involved standing up in the racing wind ("75 miles per hour straight into the kisser"), unzipping his flight suit and digging through layers of clothing to find the Ziploc plastic urinary bag. Then, while "rocking around in the racing wind", he proceeded to pass water "hoping he was hitting the baggie".
It was a far cry from modern aviation, where 18-hour non-stop flights are now possible using ultra long-haul aircraft.
At the same time, people are travelling at an older age and with a broader range of ailments, so that the issue of remaining healthy while on board an aircraft is a real one.
That it does not always go to plan is borne out by an analysis of aircraft movements at Shannon Airport. According to Irish Air Letter, in April three diversions were made by aircraft flying between North America and continental Europe to Shannon because of medical emergencies in flight. This figure excludes the many incidents where it was deemed safe to carry on flying to the original destination.
Most large airlines now have a commercial arrangement with companies such as Medilink that supply 24-hour medical advice to the flight crew of long-haul aircraft. In the absence of a doctor on board, it allows the captain exchange information on a sick passenger's condition so that an appropriate decision about the need to divert the aircraft is made.
Large aircraft also carry a certain amount of medical equipment - oxygen, stethoscope, a defibrillator and a small amount of medication would be standard. However, airlines rely on the fortuitous onboard presence of a doctor or nurse rather than cabin crew for their use.
The media hue and cry about deep vein thrombosis (DVT) and air travel has abated considerably, but the potential problem has not gone away. There is a proven link between the formation of clots in the legs and long periods spent in a fixed position such as occurs on long plane journeys. For flights in excess of five hours, it is advisable to walk around the cabin at regular intervals.
Carrying out gentle in-seat leg exercises is also recommended - most flight magazines give details of these. If you are overweight, take the contraceptive pill or have a history of circulatory problems, then it is a good idea to make an appointment to see your doctor before you go.
He may, depending on your condition, recommend that you take aspirin for a few days before and after you fly. Aspirin decreases platelet stickiness, thereby reducing the likelihood of clot formation. Another possible intervention is to wear support tights or specially made elasticated stockings.
The SARS scare of 2003, which highlighted the risk of respiratory infection being spread between airplane passengers, was a reminder that we breathe recycled air when travelling in aircraft. Older aeroplanes were designed to supply fresh air through the cabin. Newer aircraft, in an effort to cut airlines' fuel bills, use a system of recirculating air, rather than providing fresh supplies.
Several people, including both a colleague and a relative, have experienced moderately severe respiratory tract infections on a recurrent basis linked to recent air travel.
While it is theoretically possible that microbes are being recycled throughout the cabin, I am not aware of any scientific studies to prove a link between recent air travel and respiratory infection.
But if readers have had similar experiences I would be grateful if they shared them with me.
It is not a problem that would have bothered the intrepid duo who recreated history earlier this month. If anything, they might have complained of a surfeit of fresh air gusting past them in the open cockpit of the Vickers Vimy.
Dr Muiris Houston is pleased to hear from readers at mhouston@irish-times.ie but regrets he cannot answer individual queries.
