Pregnant pilots and aircrew grounded for first trimester under new Air Force flying rules
None of the changes were prompted by any specific cases involving pregnant airmen, said Rose Riley, an Air Force spokeswoman. The new rules, she said, bring the Air Force guidelines more in line with other military branches' policies on when pregnant service members can fly.
In 2022, the service began allowing pregnant women in flight roles to apply for waivers to keep flying all the way from their first trimester through the 28th week of their pregnancy, Riley told Task & Purpose.
The new rules change that window. Now, pregnant aircrew members cannot be approved to fly during their first trimester when the risk of a miscarriage is highest, she said.
But once past that first trimester, women can now seek a waiver to keep flying until the 32nd week of their pregnancy — four weeks longer than previously allowed.
However, the new rules put a hard stop to all flying in planes with ejection seats at any time during their pregnancy, Riley said. Those aircraft include fighters, bombers, and trainers.
Health risks to pregnant women increase dramatically if they are exposed to more than three times the force of gravity, or 3Gs, Riley said. When ejection seats launch free of a plane, they can generate around 18Gs.
Airmen who fly in aircraft without ejection seats — like cargo planes, helicopters and refueling tankers — can still apply for waivers to fly between the twelfth and 32nd weeks of pregnancy, Riley said, a policy change that allows airmen to keep flying four weeks longer than before.
The Air Force found no significant increase in health risks for airmen who fly during the 28th and 32nd weeks of pregnancy, Riley said.
As part of the latest policy updates, Air Force major commands will now be responsible for approving waivers for pregnant airmen instead of local flight surgeons, Riley said.
The Air Force has nine major commands, or higher headquarters levels: Air Combat Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Force Global Strike Command, Air Force Materiel Command, Air Force Reserve Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, Air Mobility Command, Pacific Air Forces, and United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa.
Having waivers adjudicated at the major command surgeon general level will allow medical professionals with more experience to determine if pregnant airmen face any health risks by flying, according to the Air Force.
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