MILESTONES OF SOCIETY

History of the Air Force Medical services began with the induction of three emergency commission Indian Medical Service (Army) Officers and seven Medical Assistants into the newly formed Indian Air Force Medical Branch in January 1941. The integration of the Armed Forces Medical Services after independence was accomplished with the assuming of office by Lt Gen KS Master, the First DGAFMS, in April 1949.

The need for aeromedical support to the aircrew was recognised in 1942, when modern aircraft of the RAF and Allied Air Forces were inducted in the Indian Air space for the first time. By 1944, a comprehensive training programme was implemented by the IAF Medical Branch for its Medical Officers and Medical Assistants. New aeromedical units were created and simulators established to meet the requirements of the fast growing Indian Air Force. Initially, the subject of Aviation Medicine was restricted to only to the Medical Officers in IAF who were also responsible for the medical examination and health monitoring of airline pilots from the civil aviation.

In October 1952, the Air Force Medical officers stationed in Delhi area formed a Society and named it Aero Medical Society. The guiding light and architect of the society was Wg Cdr Ajit Nath, DDMS, Air Headquarters. Following objectives were laid down for the Society:

• To advance the science and art of Aviation Medicine
• To establish and maintain co-operation between medical and other sciences concerned with aeromedical development and progress.
• To promote, protect and maintain safety in Aviation.

The first annual meeting of the Society was held on 22nd and 23rd January 1954, in a small cinema hall near Air Headquarters, New Delhi. Group Captain PP Chowdhury, DMS (Air) was elected the founder President and Squadron Leader SD Basu the Honorary Secretary. Air Marshal GE Gibbs, CAS declared open the first meeting of the Society. In the inaugural address he emphasised on the importance of having an interservice organisation which can focus on the special health concerns of the aviators. He praised the efforts being initiated by the Society in the field of Aviation Medicine.

The lecture titled “The Scope of Aviation Medicine in India” given by Wing Commander MM Srinagesh OBE, PMO Operational Command IAF, during the first annual meeting was the first attempt by an IAF Medical Officer to highlight the problems of aeromedical concerns being faced by aviation industry in India.

On 01 Apr 1954, Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee became the first Indian Chief of Air Staff and the Society was privileged to have him as its first Patron of the Society.

In the same year i.e 1954, the Society started publishing a Journal, titled “Aero Medical Society Journal” and Group Captain EAR Ardeshir was the first editor of the Journal.

On 21 Feb 1959, the Society held its first major meeting at Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi. It was a proud moment for the Society when Prof JBS Haldane delivered the Keynote Address.

In 1961, the responsibility for publication of the Journal of the Society was designated to School of Aviation Medicine (established in 1957, which later became Institute of Aviation medicine in 1968 and Institute of Aerospace Medicine in 1983). Since, then IAM IAF continues to be the official publisher of the Journal on behalf of the Society.

On 15 Apr 1965, the Aeromedical Society was registered under the Societies of Registration Act of India.

In the year 1967 the Journal published by the society was named as “Journal of Aeromedical Society of India” which in 1975 was renamed as "Journal of Aviation Medicine" .

As a gesture of thankfulness and gratitude, the Society in 1971 instituted an Oration named after Air Marshal Subroto Mukerjee. It was decided that this Oration will be delivered by eminent speakers during inaugural function of the annual meetings of the Society.

The year 1984 saw the Institute of Aviation Medicine entering the space age with selection of Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma and Wing Commander Raveesh Malhotra as Cosmonaut Trainees for the Joint Indo-Soviet Space Mission which culminated in an eight day, near Earth orbit space flight during which Squadron Leader Rakesh Sharma scripted history for India.

Eventually in 1987 keeping in view the growing prowess in space foray, the Society was renamed "Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine." Subsequently in 1988 the Journal was renamed "Indian Journal of Aerospace Medicine (IJASM)."

The Society grew by leaps and bounds achieving the objectives laid down in 1952. In the year 1994 Society hosted the 42nd meeting of "International Congress on Aviation and Space Medicine” (ICASM) in New Delhi from 25th to 29th Sep. Prof JS Bajaj, Member Planning Commission, delivered Dr André Allard oration.

In the year 2007, Air Vice Marshal MM Srinagesh Memorial oration was instituted in memory of AVM MM Srinagesh who is considered as the Father of Aviation Medicine in India. Every year this oration is delivered by the eminent personalities from the field of science.

The Society saw the conduct of the Golden Jubilee Conference from 19 Nov to 21st Nov 2010. The event was a reminiscence of great effort by the visionaries who had giving fillip to the speciality enabling it to scale greater heights.

The Society had the honour to host the ICASM subsequently in the year 2006 at Bangalore and later in 2016 at New Delhi. All three International Congresses hosted by the Society were attended by numerous dignitaries from the field of Aerospace Medicine from across the world. The successful conduct of International Congresses had brought laurels to the Society and to the Nation as well.

The Society has been contributing immensely to the growth of this niche specialty, Aerospace Medicine. Understanding the importance of research, the Society has been motivating its members by offering them sponsorships for the research projects in the field. The Society has also been assisting its members to travel abroad and attend International Conferences.

Relentless efforts by the Office Bearers of the Society and Journal Editorial Board has resulted in online publication of the Indian Journal of Aerospace Medicine in 2019. The first issue of the Journal was released online by the Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force and Patron of the Society during the inaugural ceremony of 58 th Annual Conference of the Society on 14 Nov 2019. The Journal is now available online on the website (www.indjaerospacemed.com). Now submission of articles, their reviewing and final publication after editorial proof is being carried out online which is a major milestone for the Society.

Significant contributions in the field of Aerospace Medicine by the members of the Society; resulted in Society getting affiliated with Aerospace Medical Association (AsMA) of USA in the year 2020 which is yet another milestone for the Society.

The Society is extending its unconditional support to Institute of Aerospace Medicine, Indian Air Force, which is currently involved in country’s maiden Human Space Programme, Gaganyaan being undertaken by Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO). IAM IAF has successfully completed the selection process of the Astronauts (Gaganauts) and is preparing to provide them with training which is at par with what the world is following. Gaganyaan is certainly a proud and very significant milestone for the Society and the Specialty.

Over last six decades, the Society has been persistently pursuing and keeping pace with the Aeromedical requirements of the aviators. The Society and its Members continue unabated promoting scientific research in this ever expanding and dynamic field. The Society is thus contributing to the operational effectiveness and flight safety while maintaining highest traditions of good medical practice.