Flight Medical Clearance

1. Flight Medical Clearance • Overall guidance for NASA Dryden Flight Research center found in Dryden Centerwide Procedure DCP-X-048, “Flight Medical Certification” • SOFIA document: SOFIA Flight Medical Clearance for Non-Essential Aircrew • Airborne Science Participant – a non-aircrew member of the onboard crew such as a Principal Investigator, Scientist, and Technician • For Airborne Science Participants flying on NASA aircraft the medical clearance process screens those medical conditions that could result in sudden incapacitation causing an abort or other significant disruption of the mission

2. Medical Clearance Flowchart NASA Dryden Medical Doctor Completed Flight Medical Clearance Form Doctor’s recommendation for flight - or - AF Form 1042 NASA Dryden Pilot’s Office Completed Airborne Science Flight Participation Form 176-7b

3. The Medical Clearance Process • The process to receive medical clearance is: • Complete a Medical History form D-WK 859-1 similar to that used by the Federal Aviation Administration • Fax the completed Medical History form to the Dryden Health Unit, attention of the Chief Medical Officer (Dr. Bendrick) NOTE: This fax is inside the medical clinic, and its contents are seen ONLY by medical personnel • Based on review of the Medical History form, the Chief Medical Officer (or designee) makes an aeromedical disposition regarding medical clearance for flight • Specific recommendations to mitigate risk(s) to personal health, flying safety, or mission completion, may also be made • In some cases, the Chief Medical Officer (or designee) will contact the individual to clarify issues that may affect medical fitness for flight (continued on the next page)

4. The Medical Clearance Process • When the Participant is medically cleared for flight, the Chief Medical Officer (or designee) completes AF Form 1042 indicating such clearance • Any restrictions or limitations are noted on the form • NO private medical information is written on the form • The Chief Medical Officer (or designee) faxes the form AF Form 1042 to the Flight Operations Office for annotation & filing in the mission folder

5. Alternate Medical Clearance • If Participants adamantly want their own doctors (non-NASA) to perform the medical clearance, that is acceptable to NASA under the following conditions: • Their physician must use form D-WK 859-1 as a guide for Participant evaluation (and any other considerations their physician may have) • The Participant’s doctor must communicate his or her disposition in writing (such as a written letter or annotation on an official prescription pad, etc.) to the NASA Dryden Chief Medical Officer • The NASA Dryden Chief Medical Officer (or designee) will then complete the AF Form 1042 and send it to Flight Ops • The Participant’s physician may also contact the NASA Dryden Chief Medical Officer to discuss any concerns

6. Privacy of Medical Information • In the United States, there are several state and federal laws that govern the privacy of medical information (Privacy Act of 1973, HIPPA, etc) • The Employer (including Flight Operations, Supervisors, Managers, etc) does NOT have a right to: • Any employee’s private medical information without that employee’s expressed, written consent • Any specific diagnoses, medications, treatments, etc. • The Employer DOES have a right to know if an individual is medically qualified to perform a job or a task (e.g. flight duties), as well as any restrictions or precautions that may be indicated

7. Privacy of Medical Information • NASA Dryden policies abide by these laws and result in the following actions to protect an individual’s information: • All medical information (such as a completed Medical History form) is sent ONLY to the medical staff at the NASA Dryden Health Unit • All completed Medical History forms are retained in a locked cabinet (for one year) and are protected like any other private medical information for any other employee

8. Medical Clearance Summary • Private medical information does NOT get conveyed to the employer or operators • It is the preference of NASA that the Dryden Chief Medical Officer review all Medical History forms and make the disposition • Communication from a Participant’s physician to the Dryden Chief Medical Officer is acceptable if the individual insists

9. Final Flight Clearance • Complete the Airborne Science Flight Participation form 176-7b • Next of kin • Supervisory signature from your organization • Fax to NASA Dryden Operations Office • Original form must be provided – a copy is acceptable for temporary approval