RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine
RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine | |
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Latin for 'That they may fly free from care')[1] |
The RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine (RAF CAM) is a medical organisation run by the Royal Air Force and based at RAF Henlow in Bedfordshire. It is the main organisation conducting aviation medicine research in the UK.
History
Formation
The centre was formed on 1 December 1998 as a result of the merger of the School of Aviation Medicine based at Farnborough in Hampshire and the Aviation Medicine Training Centre based at RAF North Luffenham in Rutland.
The centre's predecessor was the RAF Institute of Aviation Medicine (RAF IAM), which closed in 1994.
Expansion
The RAF Medical Board and RAF Institute of Health moved from RAF Halton in Buckinghamshire to the centre on 1 June 2000, becoming the Occupation and Environmental Medicine Wing.
It was formerly part of RAF Personnel and Training Command, becoming part of RAF Air Command in 2007.
In April 2022, the centre retired its two
Future
Due to anticipated closure of RAF Henlow, It is planned to relocate the centre to a new purpose-built facility at RAF Cranwell by 2026.[3]
Function
The RAF Centre of Aviation Medicine is the lead authority in the British Armed Forces for aviation medicine and provides:[3]
- advice, support and services to the Ministry of Defence, British Army, Royal Navy and Royal Air Force, Military Aviation Authority, Air Accidents Investigation Branch, Defence Accident Investigation Branch, academia and commercial organisations
- support in the development of aircraft and other systems, including urgent operational requirements
- the RAF Medical Board and clinical assessment of military aircrew and air traffic controllers
- chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) training for aircrew
- aviation medicine training to the British armed forces and aircrew and medical personnel from other nations
- aviation medicine & aeromedical policy
- occupational health and environmental health support
Flying research
The centre researches the medical effects of flying, such as
Airlines that do not have their own aviation medicine research establishments (e.g. British Airways) have contracted out work to the RAF's Centre.[citation needed]
Academic support
Training courses
The centre provides training for aircrew from the RAF and other organisations (via International Defence Training or Horizon Training) in subjects such as using
It provides training for the on-board Critical Care Air Support Team (CCAST, similar to the Critical Care Air Transport Team of the USAF)
Facilities
The
See also
- Diving Diseases Research Centre, in Plymouth
- Luftwaffe Institute of Aviation Medicine
- USAF School of Aerospace Medicine (USAFSAM) at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio
- Netherlands Aeromedical Institute at Soesterberg Air Base
- Aerospace Medical Association
References
- ISBN 0-7100-9339-X.
- ^ "RAF Medical Services". Facebook. 28 April 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2022.
- ^ a b "Royal Air Force (RAF) Centre of Aviation Medicine (CAM) Relocation - 701577386". Find a Tender. Ministry of Defence. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ Aviation Medicine MSc
- ^ Night vision goggles
- ^ International Defence Training courses
External links
- Online catalogue
- Aviation photography showing the two Hawk aircraft
- Medical training support website
- Bear Grylls learns about hypoxia during parachute training in 2005