Airlines have raised concerns regarding the Directorate General of Civil Aviation’s (DGCA) new medical examination rules for commercial pilots. According to the latest rules issued by the civil aviation watchdog, the medical examinations for commercial pilots will be conducted only at centres of the Indian Air Force (IAF). Airlines flagged issues with the new rules, including differences in requirements for military pilots as compared to commercial, and the examination process might take longer than usual and is likely to impact flight schedules, the Economic Times reported.
“Worldwide, India remains the only country which has not severed the cord from the defence establishments for civil pilot medicals; the philosophy and requirements in clearing the pilots for both the civil and defence are very different, hence the need to separate from defence was felt by all countries,” the Economic Times reported, citing an airline official.
The airline executives reportedly highlighted that if commercial pilots are examined based on the standards of the military pilots, many of the former will be declared medically unfit. This might result in a shortage of pilots and increased insurance coverage for air carriers.
Apart from the airlines, the latest rules have become a concern for pilots as well. The Federation of Indian Pilots, which has a membership of over 5,000 pilots, reportedly said that due to higher standards followed by the military doctors, the commercial pilots might be asked for extensive secondary medical tests via external agencies, which are time-consuming and costly.
“Military doctors follow their standard and the practical aspects of commercial operations and therefore, pilots are often evaluated to the same demanding standards as required of mission-ready fighter pilots,” ET reported, citing the Federation of Indian Pilots.
Earlier Indian airlines, including Air India and IndiGo, had flagged concerns regarding the DGCA’s introduced revised pilot duty norms, which came into effect from July 1 this year. The rules raised the rest hours for pilots from 36 to 48 hours and capped the number of landings to two. However, airlines argued that these changes will impact operations and had moved to the Delhi High Court. But their petition was rejected, the Hindu reported earlier.
How are the New Rules?
The rules issued by the regulator last week are different from the procedure followed by commercial pilots earlier. Prior to the latest rules, the pilots could go to private hospitals and medical examiners enlisted by the DGCA.
According to the new rules, the tests will be conducted only at the IAF hospitals, and additional examinations, which cannot be carried out at such hospitals, will be done at the other empanelled IAF boarding centres.
“All the required investigations for medical examinations at IAF Boarding Centres will be conducted at IAF Boarding Centres only,” DGCA said in an order on July 2. “The additional investigations, which are not available at Boarding Centres, are to be conducted at NABH/NABL/ISO accredited Laboratories and the original investigations bearing OR code along with ID verification shall be produced at IAF Boarding Centres by the applicants,” the order stated.
What Triggered the New Rules?
The latest rules have come just a few months after an Air India Express pilot passed away due to cardiac arrest shortly after landing in Delhi. A group of pilots later accused that the co-pilot was fatigued, raising concerns regarding pilots' working conditions.
Following the unfortunate incident, the DGCA had ordered an investigation to find the underlying cause behind the death. The report has yet to be submitted.
“...I hereby order an investigation of sudden cardiac arrest to M/s AIXL First Officer while operating Flight IX-1153 from Srinagar to Delhi on 09.04.2025,” the regulator had said in its order.
