TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2016//
TI  - Aeromedical hazard comparison of FAA medically certified third-class and medically uncertified pilots
JO  - Aerospace medicine and human performance
A1  - Ricaurte, Eduard M.
A1  - Mills, William D.
A1  - DeJohn, Charles A.
A1  - Laverde-Lopez, Maria C.
A1  - Porras-Sanchez, Daniel F.
SP  - 618
EP  - 621
VL  - 87
IS  - 7
N2  - BACKGROUND: Since 2004, in the United States, light sport aircraft (LSA) and some aircraft with standard airworthiness certificates can be operated for recreational purposes with a valid state driver's license rather than a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-issued aeromedical certificate. There have been recent efforts to allow operation of much larger, heavier, faster, and more complex aircraft without requiring a medical certificate. The primary objective of this research was to compare hazards to flight safety identified in fatally injured pilots required to possess a valid FAA third-class medical certificate to hazards in fatally injured pilots who were not required to possess a valid medical certificate. <br><br>METHODS: A search of all fatal U.S. aircraft accidents in the FAA Medical ANalysis and TRAcking (MANTRA) registry between January 1, 2011, and April 30, 2014, identified 1084 individuals. A review of accident pilots' medical, autopsy, and toxicological data was conducted. After applying exclusion criteria, 467 pilots remained, including 403 medically certified and 64 medically uncertified pilots. <br><br>RESULTS: A significant difference was found in a surrogate measure for risk between medically certified and uncertified pilots (25% vs. 59%). This difference remained significant after adjustment for age. No significant difference was found in the proportions of hazards identified on toxicological review. <br><br>CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that the risk of an adverse medical event is reduced in pilots required to possess a valid medical certificate. Ricaurte EM, Mills WD, DeJohn CA, Laverde-Lopez MC, Porras-Sanchez DF. Aeromedical hazard comparison of FAA medically certified third-class and medically uncertified pilots. Aerosp Med Hum Perform. 2016; 87(7):618-621.<p />  <p>Language: en</p>
LA  - en
SN  - 2375-6314
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.3357/AMHP.4360.2016
ID  - ref1
ER  -