On the threshold of its 1th century of history, the Italian Air Force Medical Service confirms its natural projection towards international cooperation by taking care of the Italian module of the medical section of the European Air Group.
Authors:
Lt.Col. Franco Zullo, MD
ItAF Medical Service
Maj. Alessandro Scagliusi, MD
Italian National Delegate EAG AvMed Coordination Board Member – ItAF Medical Service
The final phase of the 18th edition of the Advanced Aviation Medicine Course of the European Air Group (EAG) took place in Rome from 21 to 25 October 2024, with the participation of eleven medical officers from member countries who addressed Aviation and Space Medicine topics.
This year, the Coordination Board of the Aeromedical Section of the EAG chose to conclude the Course in Italy, on the threshold of the 100th anniversary of the Italian Air Force Medical Service.
The Course was developed in six weekly modules, each in charge of one of the EAG partner nations: “Accelerations and High Altitude Physiology”, “Spatial Disorientation and Night Vision Systems”, “Aeromedical Evacuation”, “Space Medicine” and “Biocontainment Systems” are just some of the topics addressed by the students who stayed in various European aeromedical facilities. In this context, the continuous and mutual exchange of knowledge and working methods between attendees and the host nations has been configured as a fundamental multiplier of development and improvement of the activities towards aircrew, with the aim of maximizing their performance in an adequate framework of flight safety. The Course was also attended by medical officers from partner countries: Portugal and the Czech Republic.
The 2024 Italian module focused on Space Medicine and BioMedevac, and took benefit from the participation of military lecturers with proven experience and personalities from the academic world, from the National Institute for Infectious Diseases “Spallanzani” in Rome and from the Italian Space Agency. The theoretical part took place in the historic headquarters of the Institute for Training in Aviation and Space Medicine in Rome, while the operational exercises of aeromedical training and BioMedevac simulation took place in the Aerospace Medicine Department and the Medical Clinic of Pratica di Mare, AFB in Rome.
The final graduation ceremony, attended by the Head of the Italian Air Force Medical Corps Lt.Gen. Pietro Perelli, the Head of the Italian Air Force Medical Service Maj.Gen. Fabio Morgagni and the Director of the Institute for Training in Aviation and Space Medicine Brigadier General Ezio Fiore, was preceded by the presentation of the theses developed by the course attendees, on topics of pressing current interest such as the suitability for flight of transgender people and the new medical regulations for operating remotely piloted aircraft.
The European Air Group (EAG) is an organization formed by the Air Forces of 7 European nations that aims to enhance the capabilities of the air forces of member and partner countries through the improvement of interoperability. The member states are: Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Health-related topics are addressed by the Aeromedical Section of the EAG, whose aim is to improve interoperability in the field of Aviation Medicine, to promote and encourage the sharing of knowledge and “good practices”, and to provide advanced training for doctors who meet the qualifications of Flight Surgeon, as required by the NATO STANDARD Directive AAMedP-1.23, through the action of the Aviation Medicine Coordination Board.
Born on the basis of a long-standing technical agreement signed by the EAG nations in 2005, the Board is an international network composed of “Senior Flight Surgeons” of the seven partner nations (“National Delegates”), experts in aviation medicine, who meet every six months. Its Members organize and coordinate annually an Advanced Course in Aviation Medicine for Medical Officers (EAG Advanced AvMed Course) experts in Aeronautical Medicine activities in their respective countries of origin.
The Italian Air Force Medical Service has the task of ensuring health support in the sectors of forensic and occupational medicine, prevention, assistance and rehabilitation, aeromedical safety and training, procurement of medical materials, towards all Air Force personnel and other subjects entitled (personnel of other armed forces or other institutions), both at home and abroad. Furthermore, it is technically responsible for the training and employment of the Air Force health personnel. Its mission is to assist the personnel of the Armed Forces in order to make them always ready, as regards the psychophysical aspects, to fulfill the duties for which the Air Force and the country call.
