[The concept of risk factors and flight certificate examination].

Although much winning at first look, health predicting methods based on the use of risk factors (RF) are still low effective. Equally ineffective are forming and updating diagnosis with account of RF. At present, it is worthwhile to hold onto the system of periodic diagnostic evaluation of the health status. On the other hand, parallel longitudinal studies of RF of chronically ill flight personnel will be also imperative. These studies may be the only ground for the most reliable and accessible RF to enter the system of criteria applied in flight certificate examination. Yet, they will serve as criteria for choosing an appropriate depth of diagnostic examination rather than fitness for flight operations.