An analysis of duty restrictions of aviation personnel in the Republic of Korea.

Aviation medical records were reviewed from four U.S. Army medical clinics in the Republic of Korea for flying duty restrictions over a 1-year time period. Duty restrictions were catalogued into 1 of 15 different diagnostic categories and compared by parameters of duration, time of year, crew status, age, and sex. Four hundred twenty-eight records were reviewed. Respiratory illnesses were the most common cause of flight restriction, followed by gastrointestinal and musculoskeletal problems. Flight personnel averaged 12.8 days a year on restrictions. Non-crewmembers were frequently not restricted for treatments that should have required restriction, but when restricted, averaged a significantly longer period of time than crewmembers. Females averaged significantly fewer days out for restrictions, and there were large differences in the number of days out by age for certain restrictions, but the numbers were small. There were some seasonal variation noted in patient visits with fewer visits in the spring and summer.