In 1926, the Civil Aeronautics Act marshaled the talents of the medical profession to certify that all aviators are physically fit to fly.

The Institute's people— scientists, engineers, physicians, medical specialists, educators, pilots, technicians, communicators, and others — all merged as a team.

CAMI is organized into five divisions: Develops, recommends, administers, and evaluates standards and procedures for all FAA airmen medical certification activities and associated recordkeeping systems.

[5] The Division manages a national repository of airmen medical records and a system for processing such records; it administers review systems for the professional evaluation and disposition of applications for medical certification; and makes recommendations to the Federal Air Surgeon on the disposition of requests for special issuance certification.

Research includes assessments of human performance under various conditions of impairment, human error analysis and remediation, agency work force optimization, assessing the impact of advanced automated systems on personnel requirements and performance, human factors evaluations of performance changes associated with advanced multifunction displays and controls in general aviation and air traffic control, and the psychophysiological effects of workload and shift work on job proficiency and safety in aviation-related human-machine systems.

At the Bioaeronautical Sciences Research Laboratory, personnel study and analyze chemical, physiological, and medical factors in aircraft accidents/incidents and define relationships between those findings and the safe, secure, and healthy operation of aerospace craft.

This laboratory also supports the FAA and the National Transportation Safety Board in the collection and disposition of autopsy data resulting from aircraft accident investigations.

It also serves as the CAMI Clinic, providing primary care level of medical services for domestic and international students attending the FAA Academy in OKC.