FAA Welcomes New Federal Air Surgeon
By Dr. Susan Northrup, M.D., FAA Federal Air Surgeon
Challenges and crises often lead to stronger organizations on the other side of them. 2020 was certainly a challenge for the Office of Aerospace Medicine (AAM). But the organization I take over as Federal Air Surgeon (FAS) is now stronger for it. While the general aviation (GA) audience was understandably concerned about maintaining general health and medical certification in an incredibly challenging environment, AAM had other challenges in addition to those.
I served as the FAA medical subject matter expert to ICAO’s COVID-19 response activities and on the FAA COVID-19 Incident Management Team (IMT). I also served as the AAM liaison to the Air Traffic Organization. AAM serves as the medical certification standards body for air traffic controllers. AAM has been functioning as a key advisor to FAA leadership in how to continue critical operations in the safest possible way and how to implement Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations. We also had to balance how to continue our own normal certification operations while protecting our staff. This led to some changes that will likely improve our process going forward, but we will have more information on those changes in the future.
An Introduction
In 1985, I earned a bachelor’s degree in chemistry from the Ohio State University, followed by a medical degree in 1989. I added a master’s degree in public health from the University of Texas in 1994. I enjoyed a great career in the U.S. Air Force, where I had the honor of serving as the U.S. Head of Delegation to NATO’s aeromedical working group, and I later retired as a colonel. I then spent several years as the Regional Medical Director for aircrew and passenger services at Delta Airlines. I joined the FAA in 2007 as the Regional Flight Surgeon (RFS) for the Southern Region and eventually a Senior RFS before serving as acting deputy FAS. In addition, I’ve authored scientific papers on subjects as diverse as accident investigation, the use of sleep aids by pilots, cabin air quality, and bioterrorism. Having worked in various military and civilian roles at the local, regional, national, and international levels will hopefully help in guiding the Office of Aerospace Medicine forward.
But perhaps more importantly to the readers of this publication, I’m a private pilot.
A Family in Flight
But perhaps more importantly to the readers of this publication, I’m a private pilot. My husband is a former U.S. Air Force F-16 and retired airline pilot and both of our sons are private pilots. So I not only understand the concerns of GA airmen from an academic standpoint, I live them and I am surrounded by them. My husband also holds a flight instructor certificate and continues to instruct in his post-airline aviation career. In addition, he holds an Airframe and Powerplant aviation maintenance technician certificate. That last one has come in handy in maintaining our Harvard MkIV (better known as a T-6 Texan) from circa WWII. We’re also restoring a Stearman biplane to add to the family fleet. So our family clearly understands the critical role GA plays, not only as the foundation that much of aviation is built on, but also as an avocation to be aspired to. You might even say it’s become something of a family business.
So while my primary objective as FAS is to ensure that we have the safest National Airspace System in the world, I remain firmly committed to the policy of getting as many airmen into the air as safely as possible. I truly understand just how important a medical is to most pilots.
