FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-08/1

Title and Subtitle: Development of an Aeromedical Scientific Information System for Aviation Safety

Report Date: January 2008

Authors: Peterman CL, Rogers PB, V�ronneau SJH, Whinnery JE

Abstract:
Introduction
The Bioinformatics Research Team at the Civil Aerospace Medical Institute (CAMI) uses data analysis techniques to study issues associated with medical certification decisions and their effects on the U.S. pilot population to ensure safety of flight. We developed a Scientific Information System to assist in research efforts associated with statistical and epidemiological studies of the U.S. civil pilot population. Significant data challenges exist relative to the integration and analysis of very large datasets associated with civil aviation.

Methods
The CAMI aviation safety/medical certification data warehouse was created with data from varying time periods. Data includes NTSB mishap data from 1983 to 2005, FAA Accident Incident data from 1971 to 2005, airmen registry data (combined with medical certification data) from 1962 to 2005, toxicology data from 1990 to 2005, and autopsy data from 1980 to 2005.

The research methodology, developed using records from the CAMI warehouse, was used to create the Aerospace Medical Research Scientific Information System that contains new metrics for comparing groups of aviators. This was done by developing a methodology that combined the various data sources into a single integrated database while transforming the data into a format conducive to epidemiological studies.

Discussion
We will discuss the methodologies developed to create new metrics�Active Airmen, Months Contributed, and Effective Class�which show promise in comparing groups of aviators with various pathologic conditions. The distributions and evolution of pathologic conditions can be observed in the resulting Scientific Information System pilot population for the time period of interest. The Scientific Information System overcomes the data incongruities between the source databases and makes analysis possible with statistical programs.

Conclusion
CAMI was successful in creating a Scientific Information System, which is a permanent database for use in epidemiological aviation research, by integrating multiple datasets and allowing the investigation of potential safety-related isssues. The Scientific Information System was created to improve data handling issues and bring cutting edge analytical tools to allow explorations of rare outcomes and to develop risk management models. The Scientific Information System permits aviation safety-related epidemiological research on the entire U.S. civil pilot population.

Key Words: Scientific Information System, Data Mining, Decision Support System, Data Warehouse, Database, Bioinformatics, Data Analysis, Aviation Safety, Epidemiology, Aviation Medicine

No. of Pages: 21