Association of Control Service Types with Aviation Medical Examination Results and Sick Leave in Air Traffic...

Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between the characteristics of air traffic controllers, their aviation medical examination results, and their sick leave, with the ultimate aim of promoting their health and contributing to the enhancement of aviation safety. Methods: The subjects of this study were air traffic controllers affiliated with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport and the Airport Corporation in various regions of Korea. Data collection was conducted through a survey from 10 May 2023 to 10 December 2023. Results: A total of 220 participants were included in the final analysis. An analysis of the factors associated with the aviation medical examination results revealed that approach controllers were 3.044 times more likely to receive a non-fit result (conditionally fit or unfit) compared to area controllers. An analysis of the factors associated with sick leave showed that approach controllers were 3.891 times more likely to take sick leave than area controllers. Conclusions: Based on the results of this study, it is necessary to implement regular job rotation to eliminate monotony, enhance job satisfaction, and provide diverse career experiences, considering the varying workloads and characteristics of different control tasks. Furthermore, various organizational support initiatives must be introduced to enhance both the physical and mental health of air traffic controllers.