Aeromedical Certification Principles for Health Professionals

Overview

This course (formerly “Principles of Aerospace Medicine for Medical Professionals”) serves as a comprehensive introduction to aerospace medicine, including the aeromedical certification of pilots and air traffic controllers. It is designed for all health professionals across various disciplines who treat aviation personnel. Prior exposure to aviation medicine is not required.

This professional short course introduces the specialty area of aerospace medicine and provides an overview of the process of aeromedical certification of applicants for a CASA Aviation Medical Certificate. It includes the environmental physiology of flight, the operational aspects of flying, the medical regulatory system, the impact of clinical conditions on flight safety and fitness to fly from both an aircrew and passenger point of view. It will equip you with the essential knowledge and skills required to critically evaluate medical conditions and environmental stressors and advise on fitness for flight.

This course does not qualify you as a Designated Aviation Medical Examiner (DAME); however, for non-GP specialists, completion of the course will entitle you to be listed with CASA, who might call on your expertise in future for complex certifications. More information about initial DAME training can be found here .

The course is also appropriate for GPs who want to get involved with pilot medicals but who have been unable to register for the 8-day DAME Training Course, for GPs wanting to do Basic Class 2, RAMPC and Class 5 Medicals and for GPs who look after pilots but who don’t undertake a DAME function. It is also appropriate basic training practice nurses who assist DAMEs with aviation medicals.

Developed collaboratively with CASA, this course promises a thorough exploration of the vital principles underpinning aerospace medicine, ensuring a safer sky for all.

Key facts

2 -Days

In-person

$1699 + GST

Certificate + Gain CPD points

CASA Offices, Canberra, 18 - 19 October 2025

2026 dates TBD

Course details

  • The aim of this short course is to equip participants with a knowledge of the fundamentals of aerospace medicine, and to apply Australian regulatory standards to aeromedical certification, assess risks and environmental stressors, evaluate aircraft-related health and safety concerns, determine fitness for flight, and analyse the impact of medical conditions on flight safety.

    By completing this course, participants will be able to:

    1.      Understand the stressors of flight

    2.      Critically evaluate the impact of environmental stressors of flight on human physiology and medical conditions.

    3.      Apply Australian regulatory principles and procedures when assessing applicants for aeromedical certification.

    4.      Apply principles of aeromedical decision making and risk assessment when providing opinions on medical certificate applicants.

    5.      Advise on fitness of crew and passengers for flight in the context of the unique operating environment of the individual.

    6.      Critically evaluate how various medical conditions may affect fitness for flight and degrade flight safety.

    7.      Apply for listing as a CASA credentialed specialist (if applicable).

  • The Principles of Aerospace Medicine for Medical Professionals is ideal for all medical practitioners in Australia and the region who are interested in knowing more about this exciting area of medicine. To meet the course requirements, you must be a medical doctor with:

    1.      Undergraduate or Postgraduate degree in Medicine; and

    2.      Current medical registration with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA)

  • 1.      The course will provide approximately 14 hours of face-to-face engagement delivered as workshops, team activities, lectures, and case studies.

    2.      The areas covered include:

    3.      Day 1: Regulatory Aviation Medicine, Aeromedical Decision Making, Environmental Physiology, Operating Environments, Human Factors

    4.      Day 2: Health and Fitness Standards, Passenger health, Clinical Aviation Medicine Workshops relevant to the discipline of the participants

    5.      Self-directed learning by reading the prescribed CASA Guidelines and writing a post course clinical reflection will be expected. In addition, materials such as case studies, online resources, and journal articles will be provided as an online resource to participants, inclusive of the course tuition.  It is expected that the course materials will provide approximately six hours of additional independent learning time.

    6.      Location: Canberra

  • Course dates for 2025 are as follows:

    • Course 1 – CASA Offices, Sydney, 16-17 August 2025

      or

    • Course 2 - November or December 2025 – location TBA

  • Fees:

    TBC (inclusive of GST)

    Inclusions:

    • Course materials, including pre-reading.

    • Certificate of Participation.

    • Access to Aerospace Medicine specialists from Human Aerospace and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.

    • Administrative and teaching support.

    • Catering: morning tea, lunch, and afternoon tea

    There will be an optional course dinner which is not included

    Cancellation

    Human Aerospace and CASA reserve the right to cancel or modify the course details, dates, and venues. Registrations exceeding capacity or insufficient enrolments may result in cancellation, with participants notified promptly.

    Refunds

    Participants may be eligible for refunds under certain conditions:

    • If Human Aerospace cancels the course.

    • If a visa application is refused (proof required).

    • If cancellation occurs six weeks before the start date.

    No refunds for withdrawals within six weeks of the start date. Registration can be transferred to a substitute participant or to a later course.

KEY PEOPLE

Professor Gordon Cable AM, Cofounder and head of Flight Medicine at Human Aerospace.

Professor Cable is an Honorary Professor of Aerospace Medicine, School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, a Fellow of the Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine, long-time educator at former head of training at RAAF Institute of Aviation Medicine, Space Medicine & Life Sciences Lead (2020–21) at the Australian Space Agency, and holds multiple international aerospace Fellowships.

Professor Tracy Smart AO, Professor, Military and Aerospace Medicine, ANU School of Medicine and Psychology

Professor Smart is Professor of Military & Aerospace Medicine at ANU, focusing on health security, military service impacts, leadership, and as a Space Medicine Mission Specialist for InSpace. A physician and retired RAAF senior officer, she served 35 years, including RAF/USAF exchanges, overseas deployments, and as ADF Surgeon General.

Dr Kate Manderson, Principal Medical Officer, Civil Aviation Safety Authority

Dr Manderson is Principal Medical Officer for Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority. She specialized in aerospace medicine through the ADF (Royal Australian Navy) before joining the civil sector. She’s a Fellow of Royal Aeronautical Society, the Aerospace Medical Association, Australasian College of Aerospace Medicine, and RACGP, with broad experience in medical education, leadership, and governance, focusing on rural healthcare.

Dr Tony Hochberg, Deputy Principal Medical Officer, Civil Aviation Safety Authority

 Dr Hochberg is Deputy Principal Medical Officer at CASA, with a background as an Aviation Doctor for CAA NZ/CASA and Corporate Physician, managing aeromedical retrievals, hyperbaric repatriation, and travel health. He taught aviation medicine (postgrad) and occupational medicine at Edith Cowan University, University of Otago, and Curtin University.