RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
Encyclopedia
The RAF Centre for Aviation Medicine is a medical organisation run by the Royal Air Force
at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire
. It is the main site of aviation medicine research in the UK.
, which closed in 1994. Its centrifuge (used for g-force simulation) has been removed. It was a merger of the School of Aviation Medicine at Farnborough
and the Aviation Medicine Training Centre at RAF North Luffenham
.
It was formerly part of RAF Personnel and Training Command
, based at RAF Innsworth
, becoming part of RAF Air Command
in 2007.
in Buckinghamshire
to the centre, becoming the Occupation and Environmental Medicine Wing.
of the human body under extreme physical stress, and without intervention would cause the pilots to lose consciousness through lack of oxygen to the brain - black out (known as G-LOC
). Medical effects caused by flying and g-forces are researched at the centre which include deep vein thrombosis
(DVT). The Eurofighter Typhoon
pilots can experience 9g. Other dangers include rapid uncontrolled decompression from leaving a pressurised aircraft
, and the centre has a hypobaric chamber.
Airlines do not have their own aviation medicine research establishments and have (British Airways
) contracted out work to the RAF's Centre.
(Guy's Hospital
) has started an MSc
programme in Aviation Medicine, which involves the RAF's Centre, specifically the practical experience of g-force
s, decompression, whole-body vibration, and vestibular
(balance sensory system) and visual disorientation. It is the only aviation medicine course in the UK.
.
training aircraft, which operate from MoD Boscombe Down
. These two aircraft were also used by the previous organisation.
It has two wings:
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
. It is the main site of aviation medicine research in the UK.
Formation
It was formed on 1 December 1998. It was pre-dated by the RAF Institute of Aviation MedicineRAF Institute of Aviation Medicine
The Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine was a British Royal Air Force aviation medicine research unit between 1945 and 1994.- Early days :The RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine was opened on 30 April 1945 by the Princess Royal...
, which closed in 1994. Its centrifuge (used for g-force simulation) has been removed. It was a merger of the School of Aviation Medicine at Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
and the Aviation Medicine Training Centre at RAF North Luffenham
RAF North Luffenham
RAF North Luffenham was a Royal Air Force station in Rutland, England, 1940 - 1998. It is near to the villages of Edith Weston and North Luffenham....
.
It was formerly part of RAF Personnel and Training Command
RAF Personnel and Training Command
Personnel and Training Command was one of two commands of the Royal Air Force that were merged to form Air Command on 1 April 2007.- Formation :...
, based at RAF Innsworth
RAF Innsworth
Imjin Barracks in Gloucestershire became the home of the Headquarters Allied Rapid Reaction Corps in 2010.The Barracks were named after the Battle of Imjin because of the connection with the Gloucestershire Regiment which formed part of the United Nations contingent in the Korean War, and was...
, becoming part of RAF Air Command
RAF Air Command
Air Command is the only Command currently active in the Royal Air Force. It was formed by the merger of Royal Air Force Strike and Personnel and Training Commands on 1 April 2007, and has its headquarters at RAF High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire....
in 2007.
Centralisation
The RAF Medical Board was moved to RAF CAM and on 1 June 2000 the RAF Institute of Health moved from RAF HaltonRAF Halton
RAF Halton is one of the largest Royal Air Force stations in the United Kingdom, located near the village of Halton near Wendover, Buckinghamshire.HRH The Duchess of Cornwall is the Honorary Air Commodore of RAF Halton.-History:...
in Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
to the centre, becoming the Occupation and Environmental Medicine Wing.
Function
Flying fast-jet aircraft puts the cardiovascular physiologyCardiovascular physiology
Cardiovascular physiology is the study of the circulatory system. More specifically, it addresses the physiology of the heart and blood vessels ....
of the human body under extreme physical stress, and without intervention would cause the pilots to lose consciousness through lack of oxygen to the brain - black out (known as G-LOC
G-LOC
G-LOC, pronounced 'GEE-lock', is the abbreviation of G-force induced Loss Of Consciousness, a term generally used in aerospace physiology to describe a loss of consciousness occurring from excessive and sustained g-forces draining blood away from the brain causing cerebral hypoxia...
). Medical effects caused by flying and g-forces are researched at the centre which include deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis
Deep vein thrombosis is the formation of a blood clot in a deep vein. Deep vein thrombosis commonly affects the leg veins or the deep veins of the pelvis. Occasionally the veins of the arm are affected...
(DVT). The Eurofighter Typhoon
Eurofighter Typhoon
The Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta wing, multirole combat aircraft, designed and built by a consortium of three companies: EADS, Alenia Aeronautica and BAE Systems; working through a holding company, Eurofighter GmbH, which was formed in 1986...
pilots can experience 9g. Other dangers include rapid uncontrolled decompression from leaving a pressurised aircraft
Cabin pressurization
Cabin pressurization is the pumping of compressed air into an aircraft cabin to maintain a safe and comfortable environment for crew and passengers when flying at altitude.-Need for cabin pressurization:...
, and the centre has a hypobaric chamber.
Airlines do not have their own aviation medicine research establishments and have (British Airways
British Airways
British Airways is the flag carrier airline of the United Kingdom, based in Waterside, near its main hub at London Heathrow Airport. British Airways is the largest airline in the UK based on fleet size, international flights and international destinations...
) contracted out work to the RAF's Centre.
Academic support
King's College London School of Medicine and DentistryKing's College London School of Medicine and Dentistry
King's College London School of Medicine is the medical school of King's College London, and one of the United Hospitals...
(Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
) has started an MSc
Master of Science
A Master of Science is a postgraduate academic master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The degree is typically studied for in the sciences including the social sciences.-Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay:...
programme in Aviation Medicine, which involves the RAF's Centre, specifically the practical experience of g-force
G-force
The g-force associated with an object is its acceleration relative to free-fall. This acceleration experienced by an object is due to the vector sum of non-gravitational forces acting on an object free to move. The accelerations that are not produced by gravity are termed proper accelerations, and...
s, decompression, whole-body vibration, and vestibular
Vestibular system
The vestibular system, which contributes to balance in most mammals and to the sense of spatial orientation, is the sensory system that provides the leading contribution about movement and sense of balance. Together with the cochlea, a part of the auditory system, it constitutes the labyrinth of...
(balance sensory system) and visual disorientation. It is the only aviation medicine course in the UK.
Training courses
It provides training for RAF and outside organisations' (via International Defence Training or Horizon Training) aircrew such as using night vision goggles and dealing with hypoxiaHypoxia (medical)
Hypoxia, or hypoxiation, is a pathological condition in which the body as a whole or a region of the body is deprived of adequate oxygen supply. Variations in arterial oxygen concentrations can be part of the normal physiology, for example, during strenuous physical exercise...
.
Structure
It has two black-coloured BAE HawkBAE Hawk
The BAE Systems Hawk is a British single-engine, advanced jet trainer aircraft. It first flew in 1974 as the Hawker Siddeley Hawk. The Hawk is used by the Royal Air Force, and other air forces, as either a trainer or a low-cost combat aircraft...
training aircraft, which operate from MoD Boscombe Down
MoD Boscombe Down
MoD Boscombe Down is an aircraft testing site located at Idmiston, south of Amesbury, in Wiltshire, England. It is run and managed by QinetiQ, the company created as part of the breakup of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 2001 by the UK Ministry of Defence...
. These two aircraft were also used by the previous organisation.
It has two wings:
- Operational Aviation Medicine Wing
- Occupational and Environmental Medicine Wing
See also
- Luftwaffe Institute of Aviation MedicineLuftwaffe Institute of Aviation MedicineThe Luftwaffe Institute of Aviation Medicine, in German called Flugmedizinisches Institut der Luftwaffe , in Fürstenfeldbruck was founded in 1959...
- MoD Boscombe DownMoD Boscombe DownMoD Boscombe Down is an aircraft testing site located at Idmiston, south of Amesbury, in Wiltshire, England. It is run and managed by QinetiQ, the company created as part of the breakup of the Defence Evaluation and Research Agency in 2001 by the UK Ministry of Defence...
- used for many controversial medical experiments - USAF School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) at Brooks City-BaseBrooks City-BaseBrooks City-Base was a United States Air Force facility located in San Antonio, Texas, southeast of Downtown San Antonio.In 2002 Brooks Air Force Base was renamed Brooks City-Base when the property was conveyed to the Brooks Development Authority as part of a unique project between local, state,...
- Netherlands Aeromedical Institute at Soesterberg Air BaseSoesterberg Air BaseSoesterberg Air Base was a Royal Netherlands Air Force military airbase located in Soesterberg, eastnortheast of Utrecht. It was first established as an airfield in 1911, and in 1913, the Dutch Army bought the field and established the Army Aviation Division.For almost 40 years, United States...
- Aerospace Medical AssociationAerospace Medical AssociationThe Aerospace Medical Association is the largest professional organization in the fields of aviation, space, and environmental medicine. The AsMA membership includes aerospace and hyperbaric medicine specialists, scientists, flight nurses, physiologists, and researchers from all over the world.-...
External links
- Online catalogue
- Aviation photography showing the two Hawk aircraft
- Medical training support website
- Bear Grylls learns about hypoxia during parachute training in 2005