On Monday, 17 November, the Air Force Academy hosted the 9th Aerospace Medicine Conference, organised by the Health Directorate, the Aeronautical Medicine Centre and the Portuguese Aerospace Medicine Society.

 The opening session was chaired by the Deputy Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Lieutenant General António Nascimento, and was also attended by the Commander of Air Force Personnel, Lieutenant General Pilot-Aviator João Caldas, and the health directors of the three branches of the Armed Forces, among other entities.

This multidisciplinary and inclusive meeting brought together around 80 participants, including military and civilians, in a common space for technical and scientific sharing. The conference was accredited by the Medical Certification Directorate of the National Civil Aviation Authority for the purposes of continuing medical education, constituting a fundamental moment for the updating and qualification of professionals involved in Aerospace Medicine.

Throughout the programme, 14 speakers from the Air Force and other institutions were present, including aeronautical doctors, pilots, pilot-doctors and researchers in the fields of sport and physiological training, demonstrating the complementary nature of Aerospace Medicine. 

The panels dedicated to mission, certification and health, the central theme of these conferences, provided a structured framework for current topics in aeronautical practice, from operational challenges to fitness criteria, including the impact of physiology and individual health on aeronautical performance.

Among these panels, the debates on aeronautical medical certification and the discussion of clinical cases, some of which were developed as part of the final projects of the Postgraduate Course in Aeronautical Medicine, were particularly noteworthy, illustrating the link between advanced training, research and clinical practice.

During the conference, there was time for a scientific poster session, which added depth to the programme, bringing together contributions that reflected a diversity of approaches and reinforced the importance of applied research in supporting clinical and operational decision-making.
The 9th Aerospace Medicine Conference reaffirmed the value of continuous updating and knowledge sharing among professionals from different areas, reinforcing the Air Force's commitment to safety, scientific rigour and the sustained development of Aerospace Medicine in Portugal.