Flight medicine keeps aircrew healthy

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Sarah McDowell
  • 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  (Editor's note: This is the second story in the three-part feature series highlighting the 325th Medical Group's women's health clinic, flight medicine and family practice.)

Whenever something breaks, such as an aircraft, there is someone standing by ready and able to fix it. But, what happens if those who fly the aircraft "break?"

Keeping these men and women flying is a critical task, and that's when the 325th Medical Group's Flight Medicine steps in.

"Our goal is to keep fliers flying and ensure they are physically capable of doing their job safely," said Maj. Darin Gunninck, 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron nurse manager.

The flight provides medical support for Tyndall's 325th Fighter Wing and tenant units.

"We go over their records with a fine toothed comb,' said Dr. (Maj.) Manoj Ravi, a flight surgeon with the 325th Aeromedical-Dental Squadron. "We have to adhere to very stringent standards in the Air Force instruction."

With a staff of only four flight surgeons for a population of about 1,600 patients, practicing flight medicine is a job that can be demanding, but it appears that the folks at Tyndall do it well.

As in other shops, even "ordinary" tasks such as deployments can make the job even more difficult.

"As with everybody else involved in the war on terror, we have been affected by deployments this year," said Major Gunnink. "What is unique to us, is that we had two flight surgeons deployed this year, and one had a permanent change of station which left us with only two doctors for nine months out of the year."

The doctors may incur these challenges, but when it comes to their patients, they study the challenges of the unique work environment.

To help the doctor further understand the stresses and strains students experience in the cockpit, flight doctors fly once a month. They also review the aircrafts' heads up display tapes to further familiarize themselves.

"We fly with the pilots to see what they go through and frankly, I can tell you, it's like being in a boxing match," he said. "It's hard work. Not only do they have to manage the G-forces, they have to maintain an optimum level of situational awareness as they fly and fight. They have to process a lot of information in a short time, so it's critical they don't get fixated on one element of flight or distracted by outside concerns."

He said once an issue, whether physical or mental, is discovered, a thorough assessment is conducted and a course of action involving the appropriate officials is determined.

"A minor ache on the ground can become a significant issue in the air," he said. "We have to be aware of any little thing that can throw off a pilot's fitness level."

Major Ravi said his interaction with students can either be formal, through office visits, or informal, through visits to the fighter squadrons. Referrals are another source of information, though the major said that referrals don't often happen here.

"We hang out at the operations desk and as the fliers get more comfortable with you, they'll ask questions. We try to address the minor issues at the squadron."

The doctor said the two favorite parts of his job are the flying and working with the instructors and students.

"Fighter pilots have some inherent characteristics that make them successful," Major Ravi said. "They are extremely intelligent and good at multitasking. They never do anything half way, no matter the task, so we have to watch out that they don't oversaturate themselves."

Also during their squadron visits, they are not only interacting with instructors and students, they are assessing the overall occupational environment to ensure it is "conducive to operational effectiveness," according to the major.

"Pilots live to fly and fight," the doctor said. "They want to be healthy and they want to fly, and you're helping them achieve that goal, it's a great feeling."