This issue features six papers in aerospace medicine and safety, including four original articles and two reviews, focusing on pilot health, safety management, aerospace education, cardiovascular research in space, and artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines in aviation safety. Two studies analyze aviation medical examinations, highlighting rising pilot disqualification rates primarily due to neurological, cancer-related, and mental health disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted health management strategies. Another paper proposes enhancing the Line Operations Safety Audit methodology to systematically capture positive crew behaviors, competencies, and proactive threat management. A research article explores relationships between selfefficacy, team-member exchange, and academic performance in aviation service students, recommending customized training programs. Additionally, a review discusses cardiovascular therapeutics using microgravity and cosmic radiation environments, revealing potential terrestrial applications for cardiac regeneration and drug development. Finally, guidelines for AI development in aviation safety stress reliable governance, ethics, and transparency. Future research expanding practical implementation and deepening interdisciplinary collaboration in aerospace medicine and safety is anticipated.

Purpose: The physical and mental fitness of pilots is important for aviation safety. This study analyzes the causes of disqualification among class 1 pilots who underwent aviation medical examinations in South Korea from 2022 to 2024. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from class 1 pilots who underwent disqualification between 2022 and 2024. The disqualifying conditions were categorized into major groups (e.g., neurological, cancer, mental health, car diovascular). Results: Among the 26 disqualified pilots, 92.3% (n=24) were men, and the mean age was 49.4 years old (standard deviation, ±6.9). Neurological conditions were the leading cause (27.0%), followed by cancer-related conditions (23.1%) and mental health disorders (15.4%). Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 11.5%, while falsification of medical records, ophthalmologic issues, musculoskeletal problems, and hearing impairments made up the remaining cases. Conclusion These findings emphasize the importance of rigorous medical standards, robust follow-up protocols, and effective management of both chronic and emergent medical conditions in aviation.

Purpose: Over the past 25 years, aviation medical examinations have become esse ntial for pilot health and safety, paralleling industry advancements. As the number of new and aging pilots increases, the demand for systematic health assessments has also grown. However, comprehensive analyses of pilots’ health behaviors and qualifications, particularly their lifestyle habits, remain scarce. Methods: This study analyzed data from the Airmen Medical Certificate Management System (2000–2024), covering age, sex, license type, affiliation, diagnoses, and screening outcomes. Results: Aviation medical examinations increased from 2,366 in 2000 to over 10,000 by 2016, peaking at 14,652 in 2019. Disqualification rates rose from 0.2%–0.4% to 0.5%–1.0% post-2016. Commercial pilot certificates issuance surged over threefold since 2011, peaking at 1,688 in 2019. Male’s disqualification rates remained around 1%, while female’s rates increased to over 3% by 2023. The highest disqualification rate was in the 50–59 age group (0.48%). Obesity rates increased (33% to 39%), smoking rates remained stable (20%), and alcohol consumption stayed high (around 60%). Conclusion The study highlights the growing demand for aviation medical examinations and rising disqualification rates, particularly among older pilots and female. Targeted health management strategies addressing obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are essential to maintain the health and safety of aviation professionals and ensure industry growth and safety.

This issue features six papers in aerospace medicine and safety, including four original articles and two reviews, focusing on pilot health, safety management, aerospace education, cardiovascular research in space, and artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines in aviation safety. Two studies analyze aviation medical examinations, highlighting rising pilot disqualification rates primarily due to neurological, cancer-related, and mental health disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted health management strategies. Another paper proposes enhancing the Line Operations Safety Audit methodology to systematically capture positive crew behaviors, competencies, and proactive threat management. A research article explores relationships between selfefficacy, team-member exchange, and academic performance in aviation service students, recommending customized training programs. Additionally, a review discusses cardiovascular therapeutics using microgravity and cosmic radiation environments, revealing potential terrestrial applications for cardiac regeneration and drug development. Finally, guidelines for AI development in aviation safety stress reliable governance, ethics, and transparency. Future research expanding practical implementation and deepening interdisciplinary collaboration in aerospace medicine and safety is anticipated.

Purpose: The physical and mental fitness of pilots is important for aviation safety. This study analyzes the causes of disqualification among class 1 pilots who underwent aviation medical examinations in South Korea from 2022 to 2024. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from class 1 pilots who underwent disqualification between 2022 and 2024. The disqualifying conditions were categorized into major groups (e.g., neurological, cancer, mental health, car diovascular). Results: Among the 26 disqualified pilots, 92.3% (n=24) were men, and the mean age was 49.4 years old (standard deviation, ±6.9). Neurological conditions were the leading cause (27.0%), followed by cancer-related conditions (23.1%) and mental health disorders (15.4%). Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 11.5%, while falsification of medical records, ophthalmologic issues, musculoskeletal problems, and hearing impairments made up the remaining cases. Conclusion These findings emphasize the importance of rigorous medical standards, robust follow-up protocols, and effective management of both chronic and emergent medical conditions in aviation.

Purpose: Over the past 25 years, aviation medical examinations have become esse ntial for pilot health and safety, paralleling industry advancements. As the number of new and aging pilots increases, the demand for systematic health assessments has also grown. However, comprehensive analyses of pilots’ health behaviors and qualifications, particularly their lifestyle habits, remain scarce. Methods: This study analyzed data from the Airmen Medical Certificate Management System (2000–2024), covering age, sex, license type, affiliation, diagnoses, and screening outcomes. Results: Aviation medical examinations increased from 2,366 in 2000 to over 10,000 by 2016, peaking at 14,652 in 2019. Disqualification rates rose from 0.2%–0.4% to 0.5%–1.0% post-2016. Commercial pilot certificates issuance surged over threefold since 2011, peaking at 1,688 in 2019. Male’s disqualification rates remained around 1%, while female’s rates increased to over 3% by 2023. The highest disqualification rate was in the 50–59 age group (0.48%). Obesity rates increased (33% to 39%), smoking rates remained stable (20%), and alcohol consumption stayed high (around 60%). Conclusion The study highlights the growing demand for aviation medical examinations and rising disqualification rates, particularly among older pilots and female. Targeted health management strategies addressing obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are essential to maintain the health and safety of aviation professionals and ensure industry growth and safety.

This issue features six papers in aerospace medicine and safety, including four original articles and two reviews, focusing on pilot health, safety management, aerospace education, cardiovascular research in space, and artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines in aviation safety. Two studies analyze aviation medical examinations, highlighting rising pilot disqualification rates primarily due to neurological, cancer-related, and mental health disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted health management strategies. Another paper proposes enhancing the Line Operations Safety Audit methodology to systematically capture positive crew behaviors, competencies, and proactive threat management. A research article explores relationships between selfefficacy, team-member exchange, and academic performance in aviation service students, recommending customized training programs. Additionally, a review discusses cardiovascular therapeutics using microgravity and cosmic radiation environments, revealing potential terrestrial applications for cardiac regeneration and drug development. Finally, guidelines for AI development in aviation safety stress reliable governance, ethics, and transparency. Future research expanding practical implementation and deepening interdisciplinary collaboration in aerospace medicine and safety is anticipated.

Purpose: The physical and mental fitness of pilots is important for aviation safety. This study analyzes the causes of disqualification among class 1 pilots who underwent aviation medical examinations in South Korea from 2022 to 2024. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted using data from class 1 pilots who underwent disqualification between 2022 and 2024. The disqualifying conditions were categorized into major groups (e.g., neurological, cancer, mental health, car diovascular). Results: Among the 26 disqualified pilots, 92.3% (n=24) were men, and the mean age was 49.4 years old (standard deviation, ±6.9). Neurological conditions were the leading cause (27.0%), followed by cancer-related conditions (23.1%) and mental health disorders (15.4%). Cardiovascular diseases accounted for 11.5%, while falsification of medical records, ophthalmologic issues, musculoskeletal problems, and hearing impairments made up the remaining cases. Conclusion These findings emphasize the importance of rigorous medical standards, robust follow-up protocols, and effective management of both chronic and emergent medical conditions in aviation.

Purpose: Over the past 25 years, aviation medical examinations have become esse ntial for pilot health and safety, paralleling industry advancements. As the number of new and aging pilots increases, the demand for systematic health assessments has also grown. However, comprehensive analyses of pilots’ health behaviors and qualifications, particularly their lifestyle habits, remain scarce. Methods: This study analyzed data from the Airmen Medical Certificate Management System (2000–2024), covering age, sex, license type, affiliation, diagnoses, and screening outcomes. Results: Aviation medical examinations increased from 2,366 in 2000 to over 10,000 by 2016, peaking at 14,652 in 2019. Disqualification rates rose from 0.2%–0.4% to 0.5%–1.0% post-2016. Commercial pilot certificates issuance surged over threefold since 2011, peaking at 1,688 in 2019. Male’s disqualification rates remained around 1%, while female’s rates increased to over 3% by 2023. The highest disqualification rate was in the 50–59 age group (0.48%). Obesity rates increased (33% to 39%), smoking rates remained stable (20%), and alcohol consumption stayed high (around 60%). Conclusion The study highlights the growing demand for aviation medical examinations and rising disqualification rates, particularly among older pilots and female. Targeted health management strategies addressing obesity, smoking, and alcohol consumption are essential to maintain the health and safety of aviation professionals and ensure industry growth and safety.

This issue features six papers in aerospace medicine and safety, including four original articles and two reviews, focusing on pilot health, safety management, aerospace education, cardiovascular research in space, and artificial intelligence (AI) guidelines in aviation safety. Two studies analyze aviation medical examinations, highlighting rising pilot disqualification rates primarily due to neurological, cancer-related, and mental health disorders, emphasizing the need for targeted health management strategies. Another paper proposes enhancing the Line Operations Safety Audit methodology to systematically capture positive crew behaviors, competencies, and proactive threat management. A research article explores relationships between selfefficacy, team-member exchange, and academic performance in aviation service students, recommending customized training programs. Additionally, a review discusses cardiovascular therapeutics using microgravity and cosmic radiation environments, revealing potential terrestrial applications for cardiac regeneration and drug development. Finally, guidelines for AI development in aviation safety stress reliable governance, ethics, and transparency. Future research expanding practical implementation and deepening interdisciplinary collaboration in aerospace medicine and safety is anticipated.