A crew chief helps secure a pilot of an F-16 Fighting Falcon during an exercise at Misawa Air Base, Japan. [Courtesy: U.S. Air Force]
Key Takeaways:
A Defense Department study found that active duty military aviators and aviation ground crew have a higher incidence of certain cancers compared to the general U.S. population.
Aircrew were 24% more likely to be diagnosed with cancer overall, with significantly higher rates for specific cancers like melanoma (87%) and thyroid cancer (39%); ground crew also showed increased risks for certain cancer types.
Despite higher diagnosis rates, both air and ground crews had similar or lower mortality rates for cancer. The study highlights limitations, including potential underreporting and not implying causation, prompting a second phase to identify specific risk factors.
The recently completed first phase of a Defense Department epidemiologic study finds that active duty military aviators and aviation ground crew are more likely to be diagnosed with certain types of cancer when compared with the general population of the United States.
In some cases, the statistics are staggering.
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Jonathan Welsh is Lead Editor of Aviation Consumer and a private pilot who worked as a reporter, editor and columnist with the Wall Street Journal for 21 years, mostly covering the auto industry. His passion for aviation began in childhood with balsa-wood gliders his aunt would buy for him at the corner store. Follow Jonathan on Twitter @JonathanWelsh4
