Return to aviation duty after recovery from COVID-19

Abstract

LAY SUMMARY As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to grow in many areas of the world, the virus may increasingly infect military service members and their families. Most service members who contract COVID-19 develop a mild disease course that requires primarily supportive care and steps to limit the spread of infection to others. However, increasing evidence suggests that heart, lung, and coagulation disorders and psychological sequelae may occur even among generally healthy young adult COVID-19 patients. These potential manifestations of the disease are a cause for concern for Israeli Air Force pilot cadets and aircrew personnel, particularly in high-performance aircraft, because they may lead to decreased performance during flight and potentially to sudden incapacitation. In this article, the authors describe the Israeli Aeromedical Center’s recommendations to flight surgeons on the medical workup required before military aviators return to flight duties after recovery from COVID-19.