<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This paper will examine the impacts of obesity in aviation medicine. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has described the problems of obesity and being overweight as one of the greatest public health challenges of the 21st century (<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_asam-2020-001_ref_001">1</xref>) and this will certainly lead to increasing numbers of obese aviators (or potential aviators) presenting for medical certification. These people may not realise the impact their increased weight could have on their flying career and is often going to be an incidental finding in their examination rather than the specific problem they present with. This leads to the question for the medical examiner, does being overweight/obese matter in aviation and how might it increase a person’s risk of incapacitation in the cockpit?</abstract>

OBESITY IN AVIATION MEDICINE

EDITORIAL

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">The COVID-19 pandemic has presented a unique and challenging environment for aeromedical organisations. We present lessons learnt during the development and implementation of our operational processes and procedures at The Royal Flying Doctor Service (RFDS) Western Operations for the transfer of suspected COVID-19 patients. To date, we have conducted 105 such fixed-wing transfers. The unique geography and health care system of Western Australia mandates that long-range, fixed-wing transfers are often required to centralised tertiary care. These lessons learnt provide a framework for the essential logistical, equipment and human factor considerations for developing an effective system. The translation of predominantly hospital-centric protocols into the aviation environment requires careful forethought, effective leadership and teamwork. Conducting COVID-19 suspected aeromedical retrievals significantly impacts all aeromedical retrieval operations and aeromedical personnel that should be realised by an aeromedical organisation.</abstract>

CHALLENGES OF COVID-19 AEROMEDICAL RETRIEVAL: LESSONS LEARNT FROM CONDUCTING AEROMEDICAL TRANSFERS DURING A PANDEMIC

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">This paper examines the historic but tragic first human vertical rocket flight which took place in south-western Germany on 1 March 1945. The primary lesson learned from the flight was that, as a result of the combination of psychological and physiological stresses, a human pilot could not be expected to fly a vertically launched rocket manually. An autopilot would be essential for the guidance of the Natter rocket interceptor up to its operational altitude. No further human vertical rocket flights took place until 1961 when Major Yuri Gagarin was launched into orbit. In early April 1945 a fully operational Natter flew successfully into the lower stratosphere under the control of a three-axis autopilot and crewed with a dummy pilot. Both dummy pilot and rear fuselage were recovered successfully under separate parachutes. In less than a year the engineers and scientists in collaboration with aviation physicians and physiologists at research institutions across Germany had laid down the basic principles which still apply to human rocket flight today.</abstract>

FUNDAMENTAL LESSONS OF THE FIRST HUMAN VERTICAL ROCKET FLIGHT

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is the condition in which blood clots form within the venous circulatory system, and consist of DVT (deep vein thrombosis) and PEs (Pulmonary emboli).It is a common condition, with an estimated life-time risk of 8% and an annual incidence of 0.84-1 per 1000 population<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_asam-2020-005_ref_001">1</xref>, <xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_asam-2020-005_ref_002">2</xref> and represents a significant economic burden: within Australia the annual estimated cost in 2018 being $1.72 billion AUD<xref ref-type="bibr" rid="j_asam-2020-005_ref_003">3</xref>.The condition is considered aeromedically significant for both aircrew and passengers; diagnosis and treatment may have implications on an aviators medical certificate and the general public are often concerned about developing “economy class syndrome”.This paper reviews the pathophysiology of VTE, the relationship between VTE and its treatment in the aviation environment. It also reviews some of the international aeromedical regulatory guidelines and provides a suggested approach to certification in case of VTE.</abstract>

VENOUS THROMBOEMBOLISM

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 12 (2021): Issue 1 (January 2021)

Volume 11 (2020): Issue 1 (January 2020)

Volume 10 (2018): Issue 1 (December 2018)

Journal of the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine

The Journal of the Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine [JASAM] is a peer reviewed, open access journal that publishes scientific papers related to aviation and space medicine and related life sciences. It publishes original research, case studies and educational scientific papers related to such topics as aviation physiology, space medicine, pilot fitness, aeromedical hazards and toxicology, fatigue, aeromedical retrieval and others. It is the vehicle for papers presented at ASAM scientific meetings to reach the membership and general scientific population.  The journal through conference scholarships has provided an avenue for medical students to share important clinical information of great benefit to the practice of aerospace medicine.  ABOUT SOCIETY  The aims of Australasian Society of Aerospace Medicine are:   To cultivate and promote aviation medicine and related sciences;  To provide an authoritative body of opinion on matters of aviation medical significance; and  To increase the awareness of the aviation industry, government, and the general public of the importance of aviation medicine to flight safety.  Archiving  Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.  Plagiarism Policy  The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 