The Aviation Medical Center is a health center specifically authorized by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) to certify that individuals starting or currently working in the aviation sector meet international health standards.
What Is An Aviation Medical Center?
The Aviation Medical Center conducts periodic examinations in accordance with international aviation regulations (EASA, ICAO) to determine if personnel have any health issues that would prevent them from performing their duties.
The Aviation Medical Center aims to reduce the risk of potential health problems and related serious issues that may occur in the air through comprehensive examinations. However, it is not only a control unit but also provides health consultancy services to help flight personnel maintain the sustainability of their profession.
The physicians at the Aviation Medicine Center specialize in aviation physiology and occupational risks, and they diagnose medical problems that could jeopardize flight safety early and implement the necessary protocols.
The procedures carried out at the Aviation Medical Center are categorized according to Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Cabin Crew classifications as defined by the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM) and international authorities. While the frequency of examinations and the details of tests differ for each class, the main goal is to obtain airworthiness approval.
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What Diseases Does The Aviation Medical Center Treat?
The Aviation Medical Center, rather than treating illnesses like a traditional hospital clinic or patient examination, assesses the impact of existing conditions on flight safety and monitors the health status of personnel. The Aviation Medical Center specifically examines systemic and sensory disorders that directly affect flight safety.
The following are the main medical conditions that are examined at the Aviation Medical Center and that may prevent flight participation:
- Cardiovascular Diseases: Heart rhythm disorders, coronary artery diseases, and uncontrolled hypertension (high blood pressure) problems.
- Eye Diseases: Loss of visual acuity, depth perception disorders, and color blindness (dyschromatopsia)
- Ear, Nose, And Throat (ENT) Problems: Hearing loss, balance disorders (vertigo), and sinusitis that can lead to barotrauma.
- Neurological And Psychiatric Conditions: Epilepsy, severe vertigo, depression, anxiety disorders, substance abuse screenings.
- Metabolic Diseases: Insulin-dependent diabetes (Type 1 diabetes) and severe metabolic diseases that can lead to loss of consciousness during flight.
What Departments Does The Aviation Medicine Center Include?
The Aviation Medical Center adopts a multidisciplinary approach, and aviation personnel undergo a holistic evaluation. Specialist physicians from different disciplines participate in each examination, and reaching a consensus on the individual's health status is essential.
According to the regulations of the General Directorate of Civil Aviation (SHGM), the mandatory departments in an Aviation Medical Center are as follows:
- Flight Medicine: This unit manages the process and approves the final report.
- Internal Medicine: Systemic diseases are assessed, blood values are checked, and metabolic health analysis is performed.
- Eye Diseases: Refractive errors, fundus examination, and color vision tests are performed.
- Ear, Nose, And Throat (ENT): Audiometry (hearing test) and balance tests are performed.
- Neurology: This involves assessing the health of the nervous system and measuring reflexes.
- Psychiatry/Psychology: Personality tests and mental capacity assessments are conducted.
What Professions Does The Aviation Medical Center Serve?
The Aviation Medical Center is a healthcare facility where all licensed personnel with operational responsibilities related to flight, whether in the air or on the ground, can receive medical examinations. The occupational groups that are required to obtain a health certificate from the Aviation Medical Center are listed below, categorized by profession:
- Commercial Airline Pilots (Class 1): Captains and co-pilots
- Private Pilots (Class 2): Pilots who fly for recreational or non-commercial purposes.
- Cabin Crew: Personnel responsible for flight safety and passenger health.
- Air Traffic Controllers (Class 3): Operational personnel who manage air traffic from the ground.
- Flight Technicians And Aeronautical Engineers: Technical personnel whose duties require them to be present in flight.
- Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) Pilots: UAV users operating above certain weight and altitude limits.