A REVIEW OF OTOLARYNGOLOGIC AIRCREW DISQUALIFICATION IN THE CHINESE AIR-FORCE, 1961-90

Otolaryngologic disease was the third most common medical cause of per manent grounding, accounting for 145 (12.2%) of 1,186 aircrew members permanently grounded for various medical reasons in the General Hospit al of the Chinese Air Force, 1961-90. We reviewed the medical files of these 145 grounded aircrew members. Their mean age was 31.7 years, th eir mean flight time before grounding was 878.3 hours, and the mean co urse of disease from onset to disqualification for flying was 3.9 year s. Nearly half of them flew in fighter aircraft and 91 (62.8%) were pi lots. The most common otolaryngologic condition responsible for perman ent grounding wets barotitis media, followed by hearing loss, Meniere' s disease, motion sickness, and vertigo. The information from this rep ort demonstrated that the grounded aircrew members were likely to be y oung, and that the course of disease from onset to grounding was too l ong.