It is with great sadness that we share the news of the sudden passing of Dr Stuart Mitchell, a much respected colleague and friend who spent much of his working life with the CAA.

Stuart joined the Authority in 2000 after completing his general professional training in internal medicine and spending some time at the Royal Air Force Institute of Aviation Medicine, where he undertook high altitude and other physiological research to support military aircrew.

His early years at the CAA were spent in the occupational health and aeromedical centre. Following a short period away, he returned to senior appointments, including Head of the Aeromedical Centre, Head of the Aeromedical Section, Head of Aeromedical Safety Systems and Emerging Technologies, and finally as Head of Medical Policy.

In 2022, Stuart left the CAA to become the Medical Director at Qatar Airways, a role he fulfilled for over 2 years before returning to the UK. He continued his work as a senior aeromedical examiner for Heathrow Medical Services and for NATS, where he was also involved in developing medical policy for air traffic controllers.

Stuart will be remembered for his gentle intelligence that proved authority need not be shouted to be effective. He championed aeromedical research both nationally and internationally, particularly in the area of assessing acceptable medical risk, and was the driving force behind the CAA’s work on insulin treated diabetes and passenger health considerations for space travel.

His warmth, dry sense of humour and quick wit will be missed by us all and Stuart’s legacy will be felt across the aerospace medicine community for many years to come. Our condolences go out to his wife Philippa and his children.