Air Force aircrew flies a C-130J Hercules during a mission as part of the Air Force Weapons School near Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., May 11, 2012. The Air Force Weapons School is a five-and-a-half-month training course which provides selected officers with the most advanced training in weapons and tactics employment. Throughout the course, students receive an average of 400 hours of graduate-level academics and participate in demanding combat training missions. (Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Eric Harris)
By: FEDweek StaffPregnant aircrew members now have more information from which they can determine how safe it is to continue flying. The Air Force has introduced a new document – the Aircrew Voluntary Acceptance of Risk (AVAR), which outlines medical risks and acceptable flight profiles. Using it, airmen can make sound decisions as to whether they could or should continue to fly while pregnant.
“At the end of the day, we need to balance operational readiness, safety, and our aircrew’s agency,” said Under Secretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones.
Pregnant airmen must request permission to continue flying. The AVAR guide would help them make an appropriate choice, the Air Force believes.
Airmen who wish to resume flying after their pregnancy would need a waiver from their flight surgeon, obstetrical provider, and commander. The three must issue a collaborative decision.
The Air Force maintains that any decision to fly or not would not have an impact on an airman’s military career. Those who choose not to fly would be moved into other career progressions.
“It was a team effort to develop these options for pregnant aircrew so they can continue carrying out the missions they are trained and ready to perform,” Gen. Charles Q. Brown, the chief of staff, said.
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