Current RAF Asthma Guidelines

Asthma is a disease of the medium sized airways characterised by inflammation of the airway wall, constriction of the muscle of the airway wall and excessive mucus production. These all conspire to narrow the airway impeding the entry and exit of air into the lungs. The onset of symptoms is often unpredictable and can be either gradual or extremely rapid. To make things a little more difficult asthma is not a single entity but a continuum of disease ranging from nocturnal cough, cough on exercise or in cold weather to intermittent wheeze requiring treatment with inhalers to life threatening disease requiring emergency treatment. Asthma or wheezing diathesis in childhood is common and up to 30% of childhood sufferers will go on to have further episodes as an adult, identifying who those 30% are is extremely difficult hence the current policy on asthma as laid down in AP1269A Leaflet 5-03 para 4.


ASTHMA AND SELECTION FOR AIRCREW

The Asthma policy for those seeking a career in any of the Aircrew branches is as follows:

(1) Candidates with a current or past history of asthma are to be made permanently unfit for aircrew duties.

(2) Candidates with a history of a single episode of wheeze in association with a respiratory tract infection after their 5th birthday are to be referred for specialist assessment. Those with a negative assessment on formal testing may be acceptable for aircrew selection. Those with demonstrable bronchial hyper-responsiveness after the infection has resolved are to be made permanently unfit aircrew duties.

An accurate history is the most useful tool OASC has in deciding whether a candidate has had asthma in the past; this is gleaned from both the candidate on their medical form, and their general practitioner who provides OASC with a report.

NOTE: If you are unsure whether you have had disqualifying asthma you should fill in an asthma Medical Supplement leaflet via your AFCO which will then be assessed at OASC.

ASTHMA AND SELECTION FOR GROUND BRANCHES

The policy on asthma for ground branches is less stringent than that for aircrew, but has become stricter following a review in April of this year. Once again the diagnosis will be based upon the candidate’s medical history. If the candidates answers YES to any of the following questions then they will be considered unfit for entry:

(1)Are you currently on any treatment for asthma?

(2) Have you had any asthmatic symptoms including nocturnal cough or exercise-induced wheezing in the past 5 years or since the age of 16 years?

(3) Have you used any inhaler (continuously or intermittently) for control of asthma or wheeze for a period > 8 weeks in the 5 years before application?

(4) Have you required oral steroids for asthma or wheeze since the age of 5 yrs?

(5) Have you required admission to an intensive care unit for asthma at any time in your life?

(6) Have you required a hospital admission > 24 hours for asthma or wheeze since your 5th birthday?

In addition to the above questions if the candidate’s GP report shows that he/she has had more than 2 distinct episodes of wheeze after reaching the age of 5 or any recorded peak expiratory flow rate readings less than 80% of the lower limit of the predicted range for age and gender he/she will also be found unfit for entry. As for aircrew, applicants for ground branches who are unsure whether they have had disqualifying asthma should also complete an Asthma Medical Supplement Leaflet which is submitted to the Medical Board via their AFCO.

For more information regarding any of these areas highlighted, please contact your AFCO and they will be able to give you more detailed information regarding specific cases.

I had an inhaler on prescription over 4 years ago, have not used one for over 10 years, swim, gym, cycle and dance 4 times a week, have answered no to ALL the questions on the medical form and have just been declared permanently unfit for the RAF!

I rang the AFCO centre who were at a loss as to why and as there is no appeal for the medical I feel it's very unfair to make such a decision. I have now got to rethink my whole career now as this was all I wanted to do. I didn't want to be a pilot, so what's the problem?

I had terrible hay fever before joining the Army, but I kept quiet about it. All the years I was in, and crawling around fields and bushes, not once did I sniff or sneeze. As soon as I was discharged, I had terrible hay fever again. Anecdotal, I know - but I'm telling you there must be something in the food.

And whatever it is, I could do with some more.

Bad move.

I had an inhaler on prescription over 4 years ago, have not used one for over 10 years, swim, gym, cycle and dance 4 times a week, have answered no to ALL the questions on the medical form and have just been declared permanently unfit for the RAF!

I rang the AFCO centre who were at a loss as to why and as there is no appeal for the medical I feel it's very unfair to make such a decision. I have now got to rethink my whole career now as this was all I wanted to do. I didn't want to be a pilot, so what's the problem?

Actually quite insulted to think I would lie on a form of any kind. I answered no HONESTLY to all the questions asked by the RAF on the medical form, do have integrity! Am going to ring them up and ask for more forms again. Thanks for all the replies

at what point did your application get rejected smileycarole?

Well I have got through to the interview stage of the application to be an aircraft maintenance mechanic. I had slight asthma as a child and wonder if this would affect me for this role and if so, when would I find out? I called the afco today and all they say is it's up to the medical staff not them to tell me if I'm ok or not,they did not mention the four year rule.