Aeromedical Center Salzburg

14/01/2026

Aviation and air travel have evolved significantly since the inception of powered and space flight. Evolving aviation medical standards have grown with the industry to support pilots, aircrews, flight engineers, air traffic controllers, astronauts and space tourists.
ICAO has set aviation standards, and the ICAO regulations are the basis that national regulators around the world have built their structures on. Thanks to harmonization of standards, international air travel is efficient and the benchmark of safety in the travel industry.
Depending on where and for whom pilots fly, they need to meet the licensing and aeromedical requirements of the state that their operators are registered in.
I am sitting at a restaurant at Miami airport today writing this essay. The number of crews flying in and out of MIA (or any international hub) is staggering. The number of licensing authorities assuring compliance with regulations and maintaining flight safety is huge. South, Central and North America, Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Asia and China are all represented.
Today I am enroute to Savanna, Georgia, where Aeromedical Center Salzburg has partnered with Roth Aeromedical Services to provide European Aviation Security Agency (EASA) aeromedical certification services in the continental United States.
The genesis of this project involved the cooperation of major aviation corporate entities, the Austrian regulatory authority, Austro Control, friends and partners in the aviation industry, as well as the contribution of the faculty of the Austrian Association of Aviation Medicine and the European School of Aviation Medicine to train and certify the AMEs, support staff and administrators.
Aviation works well because all involved understand the interdependency of the system and offer mutual support. The military term wingmanship is very apt and our US project would not have been possible without the support of our avi and avimed wingmen from around the world. This is good wingmanship at its finest.
Tomorrow we will perform the first EASA avimed exams in the United States under the structure of an EASA member accredited aeromedical center.
My partners, staff and avi med wingmen at Aeromedical Center Salzburg, Roth Aeromedical Services, Austro Control and EASA have all provided invaluable support to bring this project to fruition.
I am humbled by the contributions all have made and look forward supporting our pilots and air crews in Europe and now also in Savannah, Georgia in the US.
Thank you!
Doc Tom

30/05/2024

The final version of the AAMI logo👍 Thanks a million Niki Maurer for your graphic arts work!

28/03/2024

https://surveys.fai.org/index.php/569996?lang=en

Load unfinished survey You have completed 0% of this survey 0% Caution: JavaScript ex*****on is disabled in your browser or for this website. You may not be able to answer all questions in this survey. Please, verify your browser parameters. 2024 CIMP Webinar- Return to flying after a pause Dear Res...

28/03/2024

Save the date: Sunday 12 May 2024, 16:00 UTC/Zulu

https://surveys.fai.org/index.php/569996?lang=en

Here is a link to an upcoming FAI webinar addressing the topic of returning to safe flying activities after a break. Thank you to Mike Goulian and Christopher Friedl for joining Jacques Berlo and me to present this avi safety topic that is relevant to all aviators at some point in their flying careers. For most of us every spring after the winter break.
Be safe my wingmen!
Doc

PS - registration and participation is open to all and free of charge 👍



The supercool air race photo credits go to: Red Bull Air Race

13/09/2023

Summer is winding down and other projects are taking off. Our office is seeing a wonderful mix of local and international pilots, last week we supported our colleagues @ Aeromedical Center Vienna with their avi med symposium and as fall approaches, with advection fog over the fields (smoke on?), we are getting ready to head to Arabia. More news to follow shortly!

16/08/2023

Thank you to Mag. Schwalb and the press bureau of the Ärzekammer für Salzburg for this write up. It captures my passion for aviation, aviation medicine and orthopedics. A big thank you to my colleagues and our dedicated staff who make our complex clinic operations look so easy. You guys make me look good. Dankeschön!

Der Salzburger Facharzt für Orthopädie und Orthopädische Chirurgie Dr. Thomas Drekonja ist neuer Präsident der Medizinischen Kommission des Welt-Luftsportverbands FAI. Hier erzählt er von seiner Leidenschaft fürs Fliegen und von den Aufgaben als oberster Fliegerarzt.

Jetzt lesen im neuen med.ium digital: https://medium.aeksbg.at/detail/chef-aller-fliegeraerzte

Foto: ©AeMC
Aeromedical Center Salzburg
FAI - World Air Sports Federation

15/04/2023

Will be offering my two cents on avi medicine at a round table forum open to the general aviation community at the Aero Expo in Friedrichshafen next Saturday 👍 The Expo is a huge event and I am honored to be invited to join this panel!

28/03/2023

Smoke on and God speed to all pilots, fans, sponsors, partners, host cities, stakeholders and friends of air racing! You can count on our support 👍 Good job guys!

The air race that has thrilled and inspired the world will return in October 2023 in a new format with three top air race pilots.

01/08/2022

The old dog still has some good tricks on hand!

Facteurs Humains Et Atténuation Des Risques Des Courses Aériennes

Human Factors And Risk Mitigation In Air Racing

Dear Author:

I’m pleased to be able to notify you that your abstract has been accepted for an oral presentation at the upcoming International Congress of Aerospace Medicine, 22-24 September 2022 in Paris, France.

Details regarding the specific timing of your presentation will be forthcoming within the next few days.

I apologize for the delay in notifying you of your abstract’s selection. We had many more requests for oral presentations than we could accommodate—even after opening two additional rooms, so the abstract review process required more time than anticipated. You should, therefore, feel particularly satisfied to have been selected for a podium presentation at ICAM2022.

As I mentioned, you will receive notification of the timing of your oral presentation very soon. At that time, you will also be notified of instructions for presenters, how to provide your presentation, etc.
If your plans have changed, and you are no longer able to make a presentation at the ICAM2022, please let us know as soon as possible, so that we can adjust the Congress schedule accordingly.

Please note that your presentation will be retained by the ICAM2022 Organizing Committee for future use and dissemination. Failure to appear at the ICAM2022 to make your presentation will result in removal of your abstract from the “accepted” listing that will be posted on the ICAM2022 and associated websites after the Congress.

Once again, congratulations on the acceptance of your abstract for presentation at the ICAM2022. We look forward to hearing your very interesting presentation!



John Crowley MD MPH

On behalf of the ICAM2022 Scientific Committee

12/02/2022

2022 Team building and strategic orientation meeting with our team in Abtenau. Thank you Markus Gutjahr for hosting us, thank you to every member of our team and thank you to our patients and pilots for your ongoing trust!

09/01/2022

The future is here today. We strive to grow with the challenges and remain dedicated to the support of pilots, crews and air traffic controllers wherever their jobs may take them. Happy still to be „old school“ in Salzburg ATC ops 👍

https://www.nats.aero/news/london-city-is-first-major-airport-controlled-by-remote-digital-tower/

24/11/2021

The global pandemic has challenged all of us. Timely and accurate information is
critical for crews, passengers, staff, patients, operators and employers. Our
clinc now offers rapid response COVID19 testing during office hours and on demand on weekends and holidays. Results are available within an hour. Test result reports are issued in paper form and uploaded to electronic platforms with appropriate QR codes for rapid scanning and official review as needed. If your work, travel plans or personal situation require confirmation of your COVID19 status, call our office for a test appointment.
Phone: +43-662-874487