Arash Zahed - Army Aviation of IR of Iran, ۴ th Operational Base, Isfahan, Iran

Long before the first airplane was invented, carrying patients and the injured by air had already been developed. The true origin of aviation medicine dates back to early 18 th century studies, when a balloon was applied to test the biocompatibility of the upper air layers by American physician John Jeffries. Invention of airplane in the early 19 th century opened a new era not only in aviation industry but in medical transportation as well. The first air ambulance was put to service in 1920. This achievement was made most practical by the invention of rotary wing aircraft, named Helicopter, by the Ukrainian scientist, Igor Sikorsky in 1940s. During the course of the Second World War, the US army gained the chance of using this newly developed aircraft exclusively. Application of aircrafts in medical evacuations could vividly prove lifesaving, as the mortality rate of about 20% in the First World War declined to about 2% in Vietnam War. Beyond dispute, a major part should be considered for the development and improvement of aviation medicine and air-borne transportation of the victims.

aviation medicine, air-borne/aeromedical transportation, air ambulance, mortality rate, golden time