[Effect of flying on the health status of pilots in the light of epidemiologic data]

This paper gives an analytical review of epidemiological data about the morbidity and mortality rate of the flying personnel. It shows that the flying personnel differs from the general population in their better health condition which manifests as lower morbidity and mortality rates in every large group of disease. This better health status of the flying personnel may be a result of their adequate selection. The selection makes it difficult to identify relationships between disease and flight effects. Information about these relationships is contradictory and/or insufficient. Proper assessment of flight effects on the health condition of the flying personnel needs further controlled epidemiological investigations.