FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-82/14

Title and Subtitle: Regulatory aviation medicine: Its philosophies and limitations

Report Date: September 1982

Authors: Norwood G, Jordan JL

Abstract: The application of aviation medicine is relatively standardized throughout the world, both in civil and military operations. Substantial differences exist, however, in the way different countries, or even different agencies in the same country, determine the medical qualifications of persons who wish to operate aircraft. As a rule, the medical certification policies of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are more liberal than those imposed by the U.S. Department of Defense and by many foreign countries. Understanding the reasons for these differences requires an awareness of the characteristics of FAA's regulatory policy. Specifically, we must consider three aspects of that policy:

1. the certification system and its overall effects,
2. the philosophy of medical certification and standards, and
3. the limitations of the system.

Key Words: Medical certification, Certification

No. of Pages: 8