title: Aircrew periodic medical examinations.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Aircrew are subject to periodic medical examinations (PMEs) throughout their careers. These aim to ensure flight safety.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  This paper discusses the history and rationale of screening aircrew. It then considers the ability of the PME to detect abnormalities and predict future in-flight incapacitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that the current system is of limited value. Selected changes to the content and frequency of aircrew periodic medical examinations could be made without compromising flight safety.
authors.affiliation: Royal Air Force Centre of Aviation Medicine, RAF Henlow, Bedfordshire, UK. david@rafcam.org.uk
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: McLoughlin
authors.forename: D I T
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Jenkins
mesh_terms: D000337:Aerospace Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D000401:Aircraft; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009787:Occupational Medicine / Q000379:methods*; D010808:Physical Examination / Q000379:methods*; D018570:Risk Assessment