Aeromedical Research Program

The Aeromedical research program addresses improved health, safety, and survivability of aircraft passengers and aircrews.  There are two major program areas: (1) Toxicology and Accident Research which evaluates medical findings gleaned from aircraft accidents to improve the safe operation of aircraft; and (2) Protection and Survival which develops injury reducing materials and structures, and also evaluates survival equipment and procedures to protect aircraft occupants.  Program outcomes include:

• Human failure modes (physiological, psychological, clinical) both in uneventful flight and during civil aircraft incidents and accidents are identified and formal recommendations for counteracting measures are provided.

• The FAA is able to develop bioaeronautical guidelines, standards and models for aircraft cabin equipment, procedures, and environments as a base for regulatory action to enhance appropriate human performance.

• Pilot medical and flight histories and information from accidents and incidents are reviewed to develop new medical criteria, standards, and assessment/certification procedures to ensure full performance capability.

• Assessments of flight attendant and passenger work, behavior, and disease issues are used to propose guidelines for actions to improve the health and safety  of cabin occupants.