MEDICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE AIR

Flight Doctor ©

Doctor on board-automatically detected. The cockpit and crew can see during boarding or as needed during the flight whether a licensed physician (all genders, hereinafter) is on board and what their specialty is.

Norman Faltus, Managing Director of Ärztefortbildungen GmbH · October 2026

Agenda

01

The Problem

Emergencies Above the Clouds

02

Status quo

Announcements and Airline Programs

03

The App

How It Works and Cockpit View

04

Technology

Tracking and Verification

05

Frame

Privacy and the Law

06

Outlook

Benefits, Roadmap, Discussion

The problem: medical emergencies on board

1 : 604

Flights with a medical emergency

48 %

the emergencies: help from a doctor traveling with you

7,3 %

the emergencies lead to a redirection

Quelle: Peterson DC et al., Outcomes of Medical Emergencies on Commercial Airline Flights, NEJM 2013; 368:2075–83.

Common emergencies: Why the field counts

Percentage of all in-flight emergencies (%)
0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45
Syncope / Presyncope
37.4 %
Respiratory
12.1 %
Nausea / Vomiting
9.5 %
Cardiac
7.7 %
Seizure
5.8 %

Consequences for the crew

In the event of a cardiac emergency, an internist is more valuable than a dermatologist.

If you know the specialty in advance, you can approach the right person directly-instead of waiting for the first volunteer to step forward.

 

Status quo: „Ist ein Arzt an Bord?“

Loss of time

Announcements, waiting, searching the hallway—precious minutes slip away.

Unclear Qualifications

The crew doesn't know whether a doctor, a nurse, or a layperson is calling.

No verification

It is difficult to verify a doctor's license and specialty while on board, and there is also a risk of delays for the patient (and the airline, as the flight may have to be rerouted).

No discretion

The announcement unnecessarily alarms all passengers and does not reach those who are asleep.

Existing Solution and Our Differentiation

Airline Programs Today

e.g., the Lufthansa Group's "Doctor on Board" program

  • Registration with Medical License and Specialty
  • Entry on the crew's passenger list
  • Only within an airline group
  • Linked to the frequent flyer account

Flight Doctor App

Across airlines and in real time

  • One profile for all participating airlines
  • Automatic detection upon boarding the aircraft
  • Direct display in the cockpit and on crew devices
  • Ongoing Verification of Medical License and Specialty

How the App Works

1. Register

Upload your medical license and board certification, exam

2. Link flights

Either save your reservation or boarding pass in the app, or, if neither is saved, a push notification will be automatically sent to the system

3. Boarding detected

Tracking reports: Doctor has boarded the plane

4. Cockpit Display

The department and seat number appear automatically

5. Emergency

Crew specifically reaches out to the right person

Key idea: The information is available before an emergency occurs-not just after the announcement.

What Cockpit and Crew See

  • Appears automatically as soon as a registered physician boards the plane
  • Just the department and seat number—no name needed
  • Sorted by relevance to emergencies
Sample View – Fictitious Data

Technology: How does the app detect boarding?

Airline Interface

Matching with the boarding scan in the handling system – the most reliable, requires airline partners.

Bluetooth Beacon

The smartphone recognizes the transmitter on the aircraft door when boarding.

QR / NFC at the Gate

A doctor actively scans passengers during boarding it's simple, but not automatic.

Geofencing

Location at the gate plus flight information no hardware required, but less accurate.

Verification: Only real doctors

Approval

Uploading the medical license; manual or automated verification

Physician ID / eHBA

Proof of identity via the electronic health professional ID card

Ärztekammer

Medical Association

Rehabilitation

Regular verification to ensure that data remains up to date

Context: Data Protection and the Law

Privacy Policy (GDPR)

  • Voluntary Registration with Express Consent
  • Data minimization: only department and seat number
  • Visible only for the duration of the flight
  • Automatic deletion after landing

Law and Liability

  • The general duty to render assistance (Section 323c of the German Criminal Code) applies regardless of the app
  • Clarify Liability Coverage Through the Airline's Insurance
  • Cockpit-Integration braucht Airline- und Behördenfreigabe
  • Check the international legal situation based on the flight route

Benefits for All Involved

Patient

Faster, technically appropriate help

Cockpit

Faster, technically appropriate help

Doctor

Targeted outreach, confirmation, recognition. If applicable, automatic, small mileage credit

Airline

Fewer unnecessary detours, greater safety. More relaxed passengers.

Roadmap

Phase 1

Concept

Law, Data Protection,
Trademark Protection,
Dating

Launched

Phase 2

MVP

App, Registration
WWW.FLIGHT.DOCTOR
+
APP: FLIGHT DOCTOR
Completed

Phase 3

Pilot

Trial with a partner airline on select routes

Phase 4

Rollout

Other Airlines, Cockpit Integration

We'd like to hear your opinion

  1. Would you sign up for an app like that?
  2. What incentives would be important to you—insurance, frequent flyer miles, or professional development?
  3. What concerns do you have about tracking?
  4. Which areas of expertise should the crew address first?

FAQs