Aviation medicine. A valediction.

Critics of this long series of articles on aviation medicine might be forgiven for thinking that the BMJ has succumbed to the national enthusiasm for marathons while upholding the other great British virtue of supporting minority interests. In reality, aviation medicine has made a major and vital contribution to the development of the aeronautical and space industries, which in turn have had as great an impact on our lives as any of the other remarkable examples of twentieth century technological achievement. In the time taken by the athlete to run a marathon it is now possible for the infirm to travel thousands of miles by air. In the first four articles we highlighted the medical problems that could arise for passengers and patients in the abnormal environment of flight. In particular we examined the need for improvement and standardisation of emergency medical facilities aboard aircraft and emphasised the legal, ergonomic, and clinical problems which complicate the treatment of inflight medical emergencies. In the hope of stimulating debate we made several recommendations for consideration by the medical profession, the airlines, and government. Although many interesting comments have been forthcoming from our peers, a constructive response from organisations such as the International Air Transport Association and International Civil Aviation Authority is still awaited. In 1981, the annual representative meeting of the British Medical Association declined an opportunity (item 154) to debate some of the questions that we have now raised. A further opportunity was offered at this year's meeting (items 570 and 571) but was again ignored. Perhaps the BMA should