The U.S. Air Force is changing its policies regarding pregnant pilots and their authorization to fly.
The new policy restricts pilots from flying jets during the early weeks of their pregnancies due to certain health risks. The new rules focus on service members in their first trimester of pregnancy. One of the most significant changes in these new aviation guidelines involved prohibiting pregnant pilots from flying aircraft within the first three months of pregnancy. It also limited the granting of waivers for those who wish to fly while pregnant.
“Due to the increased risk of miscarriage during the first trimester, pregnant aircrew are restricted from flying up to the first 12 weeks of the gestational period,” the release specified.
It marks a shift from the previous presidential administration, which was more lenient on pregnant Air Force personnel flying during their first trimester. The military branch said it was returning to the standards from 2019 regarding pregnant pilots to ensure safety.
“This change reverts back to the 2019 policy and aligns the Air Force policy with the rest of the Department of Defense,” noted a release distributed by the Air Force medical service. “Once aware of a pregnancy, female aviators must report their change in medical status to their provider.”
Other measures in the policy update included extending the time frame for pregnant aircrews to fly by four weeks.
“Pregnant aircrew are authorized to fly during weeks 12-32 of the gestational window,” noted the release regarding the updated policy. “This four-week increase from the original policy is supported by medical data indicating that there is no significant risk increase between weeks 28-32.”
The new regulations also prohibited pregnant pilots from using aircraft with ejection seats or “high-performance aircraft” due to safety and health concerns. The Air Force cited limited research regarding the G-force’s impact on pregnant pilots during flight as the impetus for this decision.
The changes focused on ensuring pregnant female pilots were protected from harm due to the rigors of pilot jobs. The Air Force explained that pregnant service members could sufficiently continue their career trajectory. It listed several examples of suitable replacement work.
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“The overall impact of physical changes of pregnancy are unpredictable and vary between individuals,” the release noted. “If medical professionals determine aircrew members cannot fly due to any medical reason, commanders have several options to help the aircrew member continue with career progression and maintain currency.”
Simulator training, educator positions, leadership roles, and “many other training opportunities and duties” were listed as alternative programs for pregnant members to “maintain currencies.”