COVID-19 and Aerospace Medicine
As the COVID-19 pandemic developed around the globe, aviation operations were significantly reduced in an effort to help control the spread of this highly infectious virus. Aerospace Medicine professionals have been collaborating on ensuring aircrew, flight attendants, support personnel, and passengers are properly protected during all phases of aviation operations. It is critical to a full recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic that proper planning, policies, and preventive strategies are developed and implemented to protect all engaged in aviation operations now and into the future.
Collaborative Arrangement for the Prevention and Management of Public Health Events in Civil Aviation - CAPSCA
Established in 2006, CAPSCA is a voluntary cross-sectorial, multi-organizational collaboration programme managed by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) with support from the World Health Organization (WHO). It brings together international, regional, national and local organizations to combine efforts to improve preparedness planning and response to public health events that affect the aviation sector such as:
- Communicable diseases (pandemic influenza, Zika, Ebola, Coronavirus);
- Chemical events (nuclear power-plant accidents);
- Bioterrorism;
- Volcanic ash;
- Water and food safety;
- Hygiene and waste management;
- Drones in humanitarian operations;
- Disaster management (natural or man-made disasters).
The programme operates in the six ICAO regions, through its seven regional coordination groups (APAC, ESAF, EUR/NAT, MID, NACC, SAM and WACAF). It provides for an annual multi-sector, multi-stakeholder meeting in each of the regions at which the approach to public health event management in the aviation sector is developed and harmonized globally. In addition, CAPSCA provides assistance during natural or man-made disasters through the global CAPSCA network.
ICAO/CAPSCA PUBLICATIONS
International Air Transport Association (IATA) Publications
World Health Organization (WHO) Publications
United Nations COVID-19 Response
International Federation of Airline Pilots' Associations (IFALPA) Publications
US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Publications
US Health and Human Services (HHS) Publications
US National Institutes of Health (NIH) Publications
European Union aviation safety agency