Flight Surgeon

Contingent Upon AwardThe flight surgeon practices preventive medicine first and foremost. He or she is the natural interface between the practice of medicine, the science of safety, and the profession of aviation. Through successful aviation medicine programs, the flight surgeon promotes aviation safety, decreasing the potential for aircraft accidents. This is accomplished by a dedicated search for those problems - physical, mental, environmental, and man-made, which compromise safety in the air and in the workplace. To accomplish the job, the flight surgeon makes regular visits to squadron spaces, constantly assessing squadron esprit, safety consciousness, and the mental health of the aircrew and critical support personnel. Additionally, the flight surgeon flies with the squadron as aircrew to observe in-flight stressors and crew coordination. The process of promoting safety begins with the uncompromising selection of quality personnel. It extends through their training and into the fleet workplace, including the ground support personnel who ready the planes for flight. The training of a flight surgeon, therefore, includes subjects ranging from the physiology of flight to industrial medicine, environmental hazards, and the investigation of aircraft accidents. The responsibilities of a flight surgeon in today’s fast-moving, highly sophisticated operational forces are broad and ever-changing. The flight surgeon recognizes that safety hazards do not come to the clinic for identification but must be sought out. Thus, the establishment of a good rapport with operational personnel is essential to the safe completion of the operational mission.The stresses and conditions that result from working in extreme conditions require unique, specialized care. Aerospace Medicine Specialists/Flight Surgeons are primary care physicians for pilots and crew members traveling in air or space. These physicians discover, prevent, and manage the various physiological responses that result from encountering exceptional environments, enabling our Airmen to stay in peak condition and continue their jobs in the air.What you’ll doConduct medical examinations and provide care for air and missile crewsDetermine fitness for flying and special duties, as well as evaluating living and working environments to detect and control health hazardsRegularly participate in flying missions to observe and advise on aeromedical issuesDevelop and manage preventive medicine programs, including the education of flight personnel in healthy lifestylesEstablish procedures for managing casualties in aviation accidents and other disastersProvide advice on aeromedical evacuation and serve on aviation mishap investigation boardsServe as the liaison between flying squadrons and medical services Component:Air Force Active DutyRank:OfficerAFSC:48AX