Aviation medicine
April 10 2008
Aviation medicine (AM) is a branch of occupational medicine, and is the medical specialty concerned with the interaction between the aviation environment and human physiology, psychology and pathology. Aerospace medicine is the preferred term in North America. Human factors are a very important aspect of aviation medicine.
Consult the related library factsheet on Travel medicine and the hot topics on Travellers' Thrombosis and SARS which may also contain useful information.
The BMA Board of Science and Education have published a report summarising current research on commercial flying and traveller's health.
Read The impact of flying on passenger health : a guide for healthcare professionals (May 2004).
Print resources
Books
The BMA library has a small collection of texts on aviation medicine and related topics such as high-altitude or diving medicine.
Brubakk AO. Bennett and Elliotts' physiology and medicine of diving 5th ed. Saunders 2002
BMA location: QT 260.5.D6
Cummin ARC, Nicholson AN. Aviation medicine and the airline passenger. Arnold 2002
BMA location: WD 700
Rainford DJ. Ernsting's aviation medicine. Hodder Arnold, 2006.
BMA location: WD 700
Harding RM, Mills FJ. Aviation medicine 3rd ed. BMJ Books, 1993
BMA location: BMA 687
Pollard AJ. High altitude medicine handbook. Radcliffe 2003
BMA location: WD 710
Ward MP. High altitude medicine and physiology. 4th ed. Arnold 2007
BMA location: WD 710
Journals
Aviation, space, and environmental medicine
Aerospace Medical Association, ISSN: 0095-6562
The AMA provides contact with physicians, life scientists, bioengineers, and medical specialists working in both basic medical research and in its clinical applications. The journal is the major one in the area and covers all of the scientific disciplines related to aviation, space, and environmental medicine; case reports in clinical aviation, space, and environmental medicine; private, commercial, and military aviation medicine; medical problems for crews in high performance aircraft or in manned space travel; occupational medicine; flight safety; and environmental and life support systems involving performance, acceleration, deceleration, weightlessness, radiation, bioinstrumentation, etc
Aviation, space, and environmental medicine website
BMA location: R : B73
Occupational and environmental medicine
BMJ Publishing Group, ISSN: 1351-0711
Monthly journal concerned with areas of current importance in occupational medicine and environmental health issues throughout the world. Original contributions include epidemiological, physiological and psychological studies of occupational and environmental health hazards as well as toxicological studies of materials posing human health risks.
Occupational and environmental medicine website - http://oem.bmjjournals.com/
BMA location: R : B520. Online access available (BMA house only).
Occupational medicine
Oxford University Press, ISSN: 0962-7480
Topics covered include work-related injury and illness, accident and illness prevention, health promotion, occupational disease, health education, the establishment and implementation of health and safety standards, monitoring of the work environment, and the management of recognised hazards.
Occupational medicine website - http://occmed.oupjournals.org/
BMA location: B95. Online access available (BMA house only).
Web resources
AERADE
An aerospace and defence web directory, compiled by the University of Cranfield. This section on human factors includes aviation medicine:
AERADE website - http://aerade.cranfield.ac.uk/subject-listing/aeromed.html
Aerospace Medicine and Human Factors website
Maintained by Dr Dougal Watson, currently Principal Medical Officer of the New Zealand Civil Aviation Authority, this is a web resource for those with an interest in the human side of aviation. Contains details and archives of his aeromedical internet mailing list, articles, organisations, books, a directory of practitioners, an aeromedical reference database, and a very large collection of links.
Aerospace Medicine and Human Factors website
Aerospace Medical Association publications
Provides a number of publications available to non-members such as 'medical guidelines for airline travel', and 'useful tips for airline travel'.
Go to the Aerospace Medical Association publications
BMJ career focus: aviation medicine
Royal Navy officer Dr Clare Hunter adds her experience in studying for a Diploma in Aviation Medicine (DAvMed) at King's College London. This 2005 article contains practical tips on how to approach the course.
BMJ career focus article on the DAvMed
Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) Office of Aerospace Medicine and Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI)
Although US-biased in terms of certifications etc, the site has many aeromedical resources including the Federal Air Surgeon's Medical Bulletin, and areas on human factors, research, and occupational health.
FAA website
High altitude medicine guide
Compiled by Thomas E. Dietz MD, a practitioner of emergency medicine, the site aims to "help prevent mortality and morbidity in high altitude trekkers and climbers by providing a centralized source of current information on high altitude illness prevention, recognition, and treatment." The most useful section for doctors is an altitude illness guide for physicians covering diagnosis and treatment of the most common conditions.
High altitude medicine guide
United States Naval Flight Surgeon's handbook 2nd ed. (1998)
Part of the US Virtual Naval Hospital site. More specific to military operation than the USAF guide above but does contain general information particularly on toxicology, burn management and decompression sickness.
Surgeon's handbook
Other organisations and libraries
Aerospace Medical Association (US)
320 South Henry Street
Alexandria
VA 22314-3579
USA
tel: (703) 739 2240
fax: (703) 739 9652
Go to the Aerospace Medical Association website
AsMA aims to "apply and advance scientific knowledge to promote and enhance the health, safety and performance of those involved in aerospace and related activities." Members include aerospace medicine specialists, scientists, flight nurses, physiologists, and researchers. Approximately 25% of the membership is international.
Association of Aviation Medical Examiners (UK)
Educational charity to advance, for the public benefit, education and research in aviation medicine.
Association of Aviation Medical Examiners website
Civil Aviation Authority (UK)
CAA House
45-59 Kingsway
London
WC2B 6TE
tel: 020 7379 7311
email (library):library-enquiries@srg.caa.co.uk
Civil Aviation Authority website
The CAA is the UK's specialist aviation regulator. Its specific responsibilities include air safety, economic regulation, airspace regulation, consumer protection, and environmental research and consultancy.
Federal Aviation Authority (US)
800 Independence Ave, SW
Washington
DC 20591
USA
Federal Aviation Authority website
The FAA is responsible for the safety of US civil aviation. Major roles include regulating civil aviation to promote safety; encouraging and developing civil aeronautics, including new aviation technology; developing and operating a system of air traffic control and navigation for both civil and military aircraft; researching and developing the National Airspace System and civil aeronautics; developing and carrying out programs to control aircraft noise and other environmental effects of civil aviation; and regulating US commercial space transportation.
International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine
Promotes and researches aviation medicine and the contribution to international co-operation.
International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine
International Civil Aviation Organisation
ICAO
External Relations and Public Information Office
999 University Street
Montreal
Quebec H3C 5H7
Canada
tel: (514) 954 8219
fax: (514) 954 6077
email: icaohq@icao.int
International Civil Aviation Organisation
Formed in 1947 as a result of the 1944 Chicago Convention on International Civil Aviation, ICAO is a specialised agency of the United Nations linked to the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). ICAO's aims include standardisation, air traffic management, regional planning, facilitation of movement of passengers and cargo, economic regulation of air transport, technical co-operation for development, and an international code of air law.
Royal College of Nursing (RCN) In-flight Nurses’ Association
Royal College of Nursing (Head Office)
20 Cavendish Square
London
W1G 0RN
tel: 0845 7726100 (membership)
Royal College of Nursing In-flight Nurses’ Association
Professional association for in-flight nurses. It is a forum of the RCN, so full information is only available to RCN members.
SAFE (Survival And Flight Equipment) Association (Europe)
c/o 57 Wylam
Mill Park
Bracknell
Berkshire
RG12 8XS
tel: 01344 647827
email: sec.safe-europe@ntlworld.com
SAFE (Europe) website
SAFE ( Europe) is a membership organisation which aims to encourage safety in aircraft operations through technical excellence by stimulating dialogue between professional agencies, specialist equipment producers and the user community of all European countries. It publishes proceedings of its annual symposim. It is related to the SAFE (US) organisation (details below).
The SAFE (Survival And Flight Equipment) Association (US)
300 North Mill Street, Unit B
Creswell
OR 97426
USA
tel: (541) 895 3012
fax: (541) 895 3014
email: safe@peak.org
SAFE website
SAFE is a non-profit professional association with members throughout the world. It's aim is to "stimulate research and development in the fields of safety and survival, and to disseminate pertinent information to concerned individuals in government and industry". Proceedings of its symposia are published annually.
Postgraduate courses in aviation medicine in the UK
Diploma in Aviation Medicine (Royal College of Physicians)
Regulations, syllabus, fees and dates.
Diploma in aviation medicine
Civil Aviation Authority (UK): Search for an AME (Aeromedical examiner)
For pilots looking for an examiner to conduct a CAA-approved medical, or for physicians looking for areas in which there may be vacancies.
Civil Aviation Authority Search for an AME website
Clinical considerations in aeromedical transport
One week residential course open to doctors, nurses and paramedics, at the University of Surrey.
Clinical considerations in aeromedical transport website