During the first century of flight there were distinct periods of intense innovation within the aerospace industry. During these eras advancements in materials, design and propulsion were being made on an almost annual basis leading to the obsolescence of military aircraft within one or two years of their introduction. Today the aerospace industry is heading into another era of intense innovation as unmanned systems are being developed for military, civil and scientific missions. Go To Item

U-2 pilot Gary Powers was shot down over the Soviet Union on the 1st May 1960, provoking a major Cold War incident and ruining a summit meeting of the superpowers two weeks later. Go To Item

The Future of Aviation Medicine in Europe: Untangling the Web

In April 2008 the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), an executive agency of the European Commission, became responsible for the Licensing and Medical Standards of pilots in Europe.

The advent of a pan-European legislative structure for the regulation of aviation medical assessments in Europe is an exciting and challenging prospect. The objective of improving flight safety for the citizens of Europe by the harmonisation of medical standards is laudable and well supported. Go To Item