Aviation medicine.

United States. Army Medical Service School.

Date:: 1931

Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Aviation medicine. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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eral, in that both are concerned with the prevention of disability and the maintenance of physical efficiency. His necessity was realized when it was learned from the experience of our allies that 90 percent of aviation casualties were due to the pilot, 8 percent to his aircraft and only 2 percent to the enemy. With the coming of the flight surgeon, who instituted more careful selection and proper medical supervision of fliers, the 99 per- cent pilot failure was reduced one-half within a year and the second year showed a percentage of twelve under war conditions. In our army the flight surgeon, who is a graduate of the School of Aviation Medicine and who has been recommended by the faculty for such duty, is a recognized specialist in aviation medicine and his duties and responsibilities are defined in the following chapters. The main activities of the flight surgeon as such are (1) the physical selection of the flier (2) care of the flier and (3) classi- fication of the flier as to his qualification for high altitude mis- sions. The latter duty is being performed only to a limited ex- tent at the present time but in event of war, where high altitude missions will be of frequent occurrence, the classification of the flier, in this respect, will probably be of importance. A further classification necessary is that of the type of airplane to which the pilot is most suited. As in the past it will in future wars probably play an important part in determining the assignment of officers to the different branches of aviation, which have dif- ferent altitude requirements. At present, the army flying school allows the flying cadet to make this selection and, if practicable, he is trained in the branch chosen, although event- . ually he will be required to fly all types of airplanes. 7 The Flight Surgeon at least in time of peace, is not en- gaged exclusively in the practice of his specialty. The pre- servation of health prevention of disease, care of the sick, are no less important in the Air Corps, than with the rest of the Army, and the same administrative duties are required.