FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine 
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute 

Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-23/21

Title and Subtitle:Technological Feasibility Assessment of Conducting Aeromedical Certification Exams using Telemedicine During Public Health Emergencies

Report Date: June 2023

Authors:F. Campion; R. Danan; L. Levine, B. Hayes All authors from The MITRE Corporation

Abstract: During the Public Health Emergency (PHE) caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus, airmen could not schedule medical exams with Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs), necessitating the FAA to extend the duration of medical certification for several months. This situation was undesirable because it removed one of the safeguards for ensuring human reliability in aerospace operations. Accordingly, the Federal Aviation Administration's Office of Aerospace Medicine requested MITRE evaluate the feasibility of telemedicine for aeromedical certification exams in a future PHE, with the main objective of identifying validated technologies for elements of the exam. Based on interviews with senior AMEs, a telemedicine innovation challenge, and an assessment of marketplace best practices, mature telemedicine technology was identified to accomplish 19 and partially complete 10 elements of the FAA's aeromedical certification exam. Elements that can be completed via telemedicine include medical history, height, weight, ear, nose, throat, ocular motility, lungs, heart, vascular, skin, musculoskeletal extremities, spine, identifying body marks/scars/tattoos, neurologic, psychiatric, general systemic, hearing, blood pressure, pulse. Additionally, the electrocardiogram and urinalysis testing can be accomplished remotely. Elements that can be only partially assessed in the home via telemedicine include the retina, pupils, abdomen/viscera, genitourinary, vision (distant, near, intermediate), color vision, field of vision, and heterophoria. Elements that cannot be accomplished remotely include an exam of the anus and lymphatics.

Key Words: Aviation, Certification, Medicine, Pilot, Safety, Technology, Telemedicine

No. of Pages: 21