What Is Aerospace Medicine?
Aerospace medicine is the branch of medicine concerned with the health of people who work in, or travel through, the aviation environment. It looks at how the body responds to reduced oxygen at altitude and changes in cabin pressure, and at how medical conditions may affect someone's ability to perform safely.
Dr Hoosain trained as a registrar in aviation medicine at the University of Pretoria from 1997 to 1999 and holds a BSc (Hons) in Aerospace Medicine from the same university.
Who Needs An Aviation Medical?
Anyone holding or applying for a South African aviation licence needs a medical certificate issued by a designated examiner. The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) groups these certificates into four classes:
Dr Hoosain also sees aviation engineers and ground staff whose roles require a medical assessment. If you are not sure which class applies to you, the practice can advise when you book.
If you are about to start flight training, it makes sense to complete your medical early. You will need a valid certificate before your first solo flight, and it is better to know about any issue before you have invested in lessons.
What Does The Examination Involve?
The tests you need depend on your certificate class and your age. Your examination may include:
- A general medical assessment, including blood pressure and BMI
- Vision testing, including a colour vision screen
- A hearing test (audiometry)
- An ECG, depending on your class and age
- Spirometry, which measures how well your lungs work, depending on your class and age
- Urine analysis and a drug screen
- Blood glucose and cholesterol checks
- A neurological and musculoskeletal assessment
- A mental health assessment
Mental health forms part of the examination because how you think and feel can affect how safely you perform in the air. The practice can confirm which tests apply to you when you book.
How Should You Prepare For Your Aviation Medical?
Please bring your ID document or passport along with your current aviation licence. If you have had an aviation medical before, your previous certificate is useful too. If you wear glasses or contact lenses, bring them along. Reports from any specialist you have seen since your last medical are useful too, as is a list of anything you take regularly.
It is best to book well before your current certificate expires. That leaves time for any further investigation if something needs a closer look, without putting your flying on hold.
What Should You Tell The Examiner?
Be open about your full medical history, including past operations and any conditions that are well controlled. Something that seems minor to you may need to be documented, and a condition that has been declared and assessed is far easier to manage than one that comes to light later. If you are unsure whether something is relevant, mention it and let Dr Hoosain decide.
How Often Do You Need An Aviation Medical?
The validity period of a medical certificate depends on its class and on your age, and it generally becomes shorter as you get older. Some tests, such as an ECG, are also required more often at certain ages. The practice can confirm when your next medical is due and which tests it will include.
What Happens After The Examination?
Once your examination is complete, Dr Hoosain will go through the findings with you. If you meet the requirements for your class, your medical certificate can be issued and the examination record is submitted to the SACAA. Where further tests or specialist input are needed first, she will explain what is outstanding and how long it is likely to take.
What If A Medical Condition Is Found?
A finding at your medical does not automatically mean you will lose your certificate. Many conditions, such as well-controlled high blood pressure, can be compatible with flying once they have been properly assessed and documented. Where a condition needs further review, Dr Hoosain will explain the process, which may involve specialist reports or referral to the SACAA for a decision.
If a condition needs ongoing management, it can be followed up through family medicine consultations at the same practice.
Can Aerospace Medicine Help Passengers?
Flying affects the body even when you are sitting in the cabin. Lower cabin pressure means slightly less oxygen reaches your blood, and long flights keep you still for hours at a time. If you have a heart or lung condition, or have recently had surgery, it is worth speaking to a doctor before you fly.
Dr Hoosain can assess whether flying is advisable for you and which precautions may help. Common questions about booking are answered on the FAQ page.