Medical Certification Strategies in Response to Technologically Advanced Prosthetic Devices

INTRODUCTION: Current medical technology provides an effective solution for applicants with either physical or mental conditions to obtain a Federal Administration Administration’s medical certificate if the requirements of operational functionality in their flight duties are met. It is expected that aerospace medical professionals become familiar with currently available and projected advanced medical technologies and develop “new” methods of assessing their potential impact on the aeromedical safety and performance of both aviation and space crews and passengers. The purpose of this manuscript is to discuss a few advanced technologies to illustrate some of the challenges associated with the use of new technologies and devices in a high stress environment. In addition, it will propose recommendations pertaining to the evaluation of advanced neuroprosthetics and aeromedical certification of amputee pilots. DISCUSSION: The implications of currently available advanced medical technologies on aerospace safety still remain unknown. The final decision to issue a medical certificate to any user of an advanced medical device will need to be made on a case-by-case basis. RECOMMENDATIONS: To mitigate the risks posed by the predicted increase in the number of devices and advanced technologies in the aerospace environment, it is highly recommended that Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aerospace Medical Certification Division (AMCD) start assigning specific pathological codes to pilots using advanced neuro-prosthetics, including microprocessor prosthetic legs and robotic limbs, as well as cochlear implants, and that the manufacturer, model, and software/hardware revision of the device(s) be documented and tracked along with the body region involved. Additional research will be needed to acquire technical data for developing the rules and regulations regarding the compatibility between the cockpit’s environment, including avionics and control systems, with commercially available advanced medical prosthesis to meet the requirements of the MIL-STD-464 standard. Finally, it is important to determine the current population of pilots using advanced medical technology or affected by medical conditions that may potentially require the use of advanced medical technology in the future. Individualized evaluations, focused on performance in both standard and unusual operational settings, including a rapid egress from the cockpit to evaluate advanced prosthesis impact on aviation safety is recommended.

• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/57209
• Corporate Authors:

  Venesco, LLC

  14801 Murdock Street, Suite 125
  Chantilly, VA  United States  20151

  Adena Regional Medical Center

  Chillicothe, OH  United States 

  Federal Aviation Administration

  Office of Aerospace Medicine, 800 Independence Avenue, SW
  Washington, DC  United States  20591
• Authors:
  • Ricaurte, Eduard M
  • Mahmoud, Nevine
• Publication Date: 2018-3

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 54p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pilots; Amputees; Aviation safety; Certification; Diseases and medical conditions
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01781990
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: DOT/FAA/AM-18/7
• Files: NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Sep 20 2021 2:52PM