A review of otolaryngologic aircrew disqualification in the Chinese Air Force, 1961-90

Otolaryngologic disease was the third most common medical cause of permanent grounding, accounting for 145 (12.2%) of 1,186 aircrew members permanently grounded for various medical reasons in the General Hospital of the Chinese Air Force, 1961-90. We reviewed the medical files of these 145 grounded aircrew members. Their mean age was 31.7 years, their mean flight time before grounding was 878.3 hours, and the mean course of disease from onset to disqualification for flying was 3.9 years. Nearly half of them flew in fighter aircraft and 91 (62.8%) were pilots. The most common otolaryngologic condition responsible for permanent grounding was barotitis media, followed by hearing loss, Ménière's disease, motion sickness, and vertigo. The information from this report demonstrated that the grounded aircrew members were likely to be young, and that the course of disease from onset to grounding was too long.