Cultural Difference in Applicants for FAA Physical Performed in Korea 1997~2008

Kwak, Inho

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There have been some reports that under-reporting of pilots concerning their medical history and current use of medications resulted in fatal accidents. From the AME (Aviation Medical Examiner)'s perspective, accurate documentation of the application forms with careful examination of the applicant is necessary to avoid errors and any mishaps that may be contributed by falsification by the pilot. This article examines FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) physicals performed in Korea from 1997 to 2008 to show how Korean and foreign applicants differ in terms of making statements concerning their medical history and current use of medications and to see what can be done to overcome such differences. METHODS: From 1997 to 2008, all FAA physicals performed in one medical institution, was examined. Using the SPSS, the data was analyzed to compare the two groups, the Korean and the expatriate pilots. RESULTS: The total number of applicants was 811 with 785 (96.7%) males and 26 (3.2%) females. Some of the astounding results found among the group of applicants with different citizenship, basically between the Korean applicants and those out of the country including the U.S. and other nations, was that the reporting of any current use of medication (prescription or nonprescription) and of the medical history was vastly different. In reporting the current use of any medication, 13 among 429 (3.0%) Koreans reported yes, whereas for expatriates 82 among 382 (21.5%) reported the current use of medicine. In describing the medical history of the past and present, only 86 (20.0%) Koreans described yes, whereas 217 (56.8%) expatriates did so (Fig. 3). In any visits to a health professional within the last 3 years, only 48 (11.2%) Koreans described yes, whereas there were 188 (49.2%) expatriates. CONCLUSION: In this study, the difference between Korean pilots and the expatriates concerning the disclosure of applicants' medical history, the current use of medication(s), and recent visit to a health professional is obvious. Issues of debate may be that Korean applicants comprise of young age pilots as opposed to relatively older group of expatriates, and so age-related factor cannot be disregarded. In conclusion, proper documentation and examination of pilots may prevent many mishaps related to medical conditions and the use of medication(s) that were not initially recognized and the failure to do will result in fatal accidents.