The need for aeromedical support to the aircrew was recognised in 1942, when modern aircraft of the RAF and Allied Air Forces were inducted in the Indian Air space for the first time. By 1944, a comprehensive training programme was implemented by the IAF Medical branch for its medical officers and medical assistants. New aeromedical units were created and simulators added, to meet the requirements of the growing Air Force.

In October 1952, the Air Force Medical officers stationed in Delhi area formed the Aero Medical Society with the following objectives:

• To advance the science and art of Aviation Medicine 
• To establish and maintain co-operation between medical and other sciences concerned with aeromedical development and progress.
• To promote, protect and maintain safety in Aviation.

Over the years the membership, scope and functions of the Society have advanced and today it can boast of over 850 members from the Air Force, Army, Navy, Civil Aviation, Scientists from DRDO, civil doctors, Bio-medical engineers and members from abroad. Aerospace Medicine being multi-disciplinary, requires integration of not only the biological sciences such as physiology, psychology, and clinical medicine but also requires direct help from basic sciences such as physics, chemistry, mathematics and engineering. With this end in view, the society has been establishing symbiotic relationships with Institutes of repute working in these allied fields.

The first meeting of the Society was held on 22nd and 23rd January 1954, in a small cinema hall near Air Headquarters, New Delhi. Group Captain P.P.Chowdhury, DMS (Air) was elected the founder President and Squadron Leader S.D.Basu the Honorary Secretary. Air Marshal G.E.Gibbs, CAS declared open the first meeting of the society.
The scope and functions of the Society advanced rapidly.

The President of the Society in 1974 instituted an oration in the memory of late Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, the father of "Indian Air Force", who worked indefatigably for the establishment of the Air Force Medical Service.

The late Air Marshal Subroto Mukherjee Memorial Oration has become a prestigious scientific oration at the annual sessions of the Society. Many distinguished foreign and Indian scientists, including Professor J.B.S.Haldane and Sir. C.V. Raman, Nobel laureate, have delivered the oration in the past. The Society held its Silver Jubilee meeting at Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi in December 1977. In view of the expanding role of the Society in Space Medicine, it was renamed as the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine in 1987.

The 42nd International Congress on Aviation & Space Medicine (ICASM) was successfully hosted by the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine at New Delhi from 25th to 29th of Sep. 94. This meeting coincided with the 42nd year of formation of Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine. The Congress was held under the aegis of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine, which allots the Congress to various countries. It was the first time that the Congress was held in South East Asian country and only the second time in Asia. The occasion was a great success academically and scientifically. About 140 delegates from 40 Foreign countries attended the congress apart from a very large contingent of scientists and doctors from India. The inaugural session was attended by nearly 800 delegates. This has placed India on the world map of recognised countries in the field of Aviation & Space Medicine.

The Society successfully hosted the 54th International Congress on Aviation & Space Medicine (ICASM) at Bangalore from 10th to 14th of Sep 2006, under the aegis of the International Academy of Aviation and Space Medicine. The Congress was inaugurated by Air Chief Marshal SP Tyagi PVSM AVSM VM ADC Chief of the Air Staff, Indian Air Force and the Patron of the Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine. There were nearly 750 delegates attending the inaugural session; and a large participation from the delegates from all across the world. The Congress in the IT and the Aerospace Capital of the country affirmed the standing of Indian Society of Aerospace Medicine amongst the countries active in the field of Aviation & Space Medicine.

The Journal of Aeromedical Society of India was first published in 1954. It was initially published once a year, and is now being published twice a year. The remarks of its first editor quite aptly put forward the aims of the Society," To make the IAF a hard hitting and efficient service, it is our duty to ensure the airmen are physically fit and mentally alert to use their aircraft and weapons to their best advantage with deadly accuracy. Let us not forget that man is the architect of victory in battle; machines and weapons are his bricks and mortar. It is the 'man' who flies and fights in air,we look after.