Policy considerations of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection in U.S. Naval aviation personnel.

This article reviews the available medical data that form the basis for the U.S. Navy's policy on aeromedical disposition of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) seropositive flyers. Following a brief review of military HIV antibody testing and clinical evaluation, this article addresses the main issue in the Navy's aeromedical disposition policy--the subtle neurologic sequelae of HIV infection or HIV encephalopathy. Following a review of the available knowledge of HIV involvement in the nervous system, the aeromedical considerations that form the basis of Navy policy of permanently grounding without waiver all HIV seropositive flyers is discussed.