Sudden In-Flight Incapacitation in General Aviation

Abstract

Incapacitation in the general aviation flight environment is a matter of utmost concern to the Federal Aviation Administration since the likelihood of accident is greater due to lack of redundant pilot skills in most instances. The purpose of this study was to appraise the adequacy of medical standards in minimizing the risk of sudden incapacitation. This study considers NTSB data and postcrash medical data received by the Medical Statistical Section of the Civil Aeromedical Institute (CAMI), Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, during the time period from 1975 to the present and other related literature to estimate the probability of incapacitation in general aviation. The occurrence of incapacitation for obvious medical reasons is less than would be expected based on general population morbidity/mortality data; however, the need for continued vigilance in certification and education regarding flying with known or suspected medical problems is emphasized. Keywords: Cardiac arrest; Medical emergencies; Loss of consciousness.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Aug 01, 1987
Accession Number
ADA187044

Entities

People

  • Charles F. Booze Jr.

Organizations

  • Federal Aviation Administration

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accidents
  • Age Groups
  • Aircrafts
  • Aviation Accidents
  • Aviation Medicine
  • Cardiac Arrest
  • Cardiovascular Diseases
  • Civil Aviation
  • Commercial Aviation
  • Death
  • Diseases And Disorders
  • Flight Crews
  • Heart Diseases
  • Myocardial Ischemia
  • Oklahoma
  • Pilots
  • United States

Readers

  • Aviation Safety Risk Assessment.