The Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM) is a premier institution of the Indian Air Force (IAF), functioning as the central hub for aerospace medicine activities in India. It is an institution dedicated to the study of the physiological and psychological well-being of aircrew members and astronauts operating in high-altitude and flight environments. The IAM's origin dates back to May 29, 1957, when it was established as the School of Aviation Medicine with Wg Cdr R Arunachalam as the first Commanding Officer. The school was created to solve the problem of ensuring the health and operational efficiency of aircrew by imparting training in Aviation Medicine to medical officers of the Armed Forces, indoctrinating aircrew, and conducting research on aeromedical problems.
The institution was re-designated as the Institute of Aerospace Medicine in 1989 due to its expanding role, which included research into the realm of space. The IAM's current mechanism revolves around three broad areas: Training, Medical Evaluation of Aircrew, and Aeromedical Research and Development. It is the nodal agency providing human engineering and human factors support for the design, development, and evaluation of indigenous aircraft. The Institute operates advanced training simulators like the Human Centrifuge and Altitude Chamber to help pilots counter high-G forces and low-oxygen environments.
The IAM is affiliated with the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, Bangalore, since 1997, and offers a three-year residency program in Aerospace Medicine. It connects directly to the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), having been involved in shortlisting candidates for the Gaganyaan programme. Recently, the IAM collaborated with ISRO on Mission MITRA in April 2026, a team behavioral study designed to examine the physiological and psychological dynamics of the Gaganyatris and ground teams in a high-altitude environment. The Institute was awarded the Presidential Colours on November 21, 2005, and was accorded the 'Centre of Excellence' status by the Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences on September 8, 2015.