I was recently asked to give a talk on my experiences as a pilot physician, and I thought this may make for an interesting topic. Of course, the first issue is that I’m not a pilot physician.

What’s in a name?

Those who can officially claim the title are military doctors who’ve gone through a formal US Air Force training programme to be dually qualified as operational pilots. Flight surgeons look after military pilots, but don’t necessarily have wings themselves.

The civilian version of the flight surgeon is, of course, the aviation medical examiner (AME), who does more than just examine. But what do we call the civilians who fly professionally and practice as an AME (other than a bit mad, obviously)? “Civilian pilot physician” seems a bit contrived, and “flying doctor” is taken. So perhaps the term “pilot doctor” suffices.

The lack of a clear job title and description is due to the fact that there’s no defined career path for this role. For the most part, it’s a passion project.  A great many pilots are doctors; some of them fly professionally. In turn, some concern themselves with looking after aircrew when not flying. Semantics aside, this is the fringe in which I operate, which provides me with some healthy perspective.

Why do we need pilot doctors?

Having been at the mercy of an airline roster on and off for well over a decade, I’ve developed a good understanding of the impact the aviation environment has on the human body. When I say aviation environment, I don’t just mean angry thunderstorms and crosswind landings. I also mean difficult rosters, early sign-ons, maximum FDP days, stressful sim renewals, freezing winter walk-arounds, etc. My knowledge allows me to apply greater discretion and has improved my ability to differentiate between what’s important and what is, for lack of a better word, nonsense. There are certainly good examples of both in the world of aviation!  

A unique industry with unique needs

In this role, you develop a healthy dose of empathy, which is a cornerstone of providing adequate patient and, in this case, pilot care. Boredom, fatigue, anxiety and relief are just some of the feelings that can be experienced on a single sector. This is not the average desk job and so it’s important to have good physical and mental health.

Imagine a world in which each airline employed a flight-deck-qualified doctor. This person would look after the general health of the aircrew while flying on the line and having their finger on the proverbial pulse of the crew.

Reducing risks

Military flight surgeons often deploy with a squadron and clear each member before a sortie. I’ve been guilty of flying with a cold in my career, and I understand the reluctance to call in sick. Such lapses of judgment would surely be easier to avoid if pilots could consult a trusted but impartial pilot doctor, working under company authorisation, before signing on for duty. This would be quite a thing to have. It is, however, a bit of fantasy.

Although I’ve performed AME duties and flying duties, I’ve never done so simultaneously in an official capacity. I do, however, think there could be a case for training more pilot physicians as the advantages are obvious.

So why the shortage?

The problem is that of numbers and cost. While the SAAF has a similar, official programme, it hasn’t enjoyed much support in recent decades. Even the mighty USAF has only around 10 pilot physicians active at any given time. Much like the supply of pilots, the militaries of the world can no longer be relied upon to provide the expertise for civilian operations.

Perhaps it’s time for the aviation industry itself to address the need for more dedicated medical care.