What Health Factors Are Considered During a Pilot Medical?

Aspiring pilots have to consider multiple factors related to their health and fitness prior to training. The ability to communicate and interact effectively with crew and/or passengers is vital in performing the tasks required for the operation of an aircraft. It is also essential that pilots are able to concentrate and make decisions during the entire duration of a flight. For these reasons, it is necessary to undergo a medical assessment to validate health and fitness to fly.

Undertaking a pilot medical assessment for the first time can be nerve-racking. It is beneficial for a student to be aware of medical requirements during the early stages of their training to give them a clearer idea of the demands of a career in aviation. A local medical practitioner may be unable to perform a comprehensive assessment required for aviation medicals. A number of examinations may be required and are dependent on the category of the medical and the situation of the applicant.

Students at 70Knots Aviation are encouraged to raise any questions they may have regarding their medical assessment and other aspects of their training. Authorized Medical Practitioners and the DGCA ultimately determine a student’s medical fitness to fly.

The Responsibilities of Flying

It can be dangerous and unpredictable; conditions can change in no time. The individual flying the aircraft must ensure that passenger and crew safety is never jeopardized at any point in time. They need to effectively communicate with other aircraft and the air traffic control system, as well as safely take the aircraft to the desired destination by following the flight plan.

The DGCA lays down certain medical standards for pilots and flight crew, namely Class 1 and Class 2 medical examinations. Class 2 medical examination is necessary to start flight training, including for Student Pilot Licence, whereas Class 1 medical examination is necessary for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL).

While joining a pilot training program, students must have an idea of the medical standards and undergo the necessary examination according to the class. It is especially so because pilot training is an expensive process, and knowing the medical standards beforehand will help in planning the training process.

Those interested in 70Knots Aviation can also acquaint themselves with these standards while planning their pilot training program.

What Medical Conditions Will Affect a Person’s Ability to Fly?

The health conditions of an individual are assessed by a medical practitioner appointed by the DGCA. The assessment is decided by the medical category and individual circumstances.

Vision is assessed by determining the acuity of the eyes as well as the health of the eye. A person need not be free of eye conditions to be eligible to be a pilot as each individual case is assessed by the DGCA.

It is best to consult a medical practitioner appointed by the DGCA to assess a student’s eligibility to become a pilot, as informal assessment or assumptions will not provide the student with an accurate answer.

Hearing is assessed by determining the health of the ear and the individual’s ability to perceive sounds. The threshold for an individual to be eligible to be a pilot may be set lower depending on various conditions.

Communicating with air traffic control during flight and responding to cockpit emergency procedures requires clear and instantaneous interaction. This becomes even more critical during periods of high workload and in noisy environments.

Cardiovascular Health

Assessment of cardiovascular health is also relevant to the application process. Factors related to the cardiovascular system may be examined based on the applicant’s medical category and history.

The purpose is not to assess cardiovascular health by association. The aviation medical process allows qualified doctors to evaluate potential impacts on cardiovascular health and other systems, and determine if further assessment is warranted.

It is important that all relevant information including previous cardiovascular health concerns, be provided during the assessment.

Respiratory Health

Respiratory health is as important to aviation as cardiovascular health. The DGCA-empanelled medical examiner will review and assess an applicant’s respiratory health and medical history to determine whether any condition could affect their ability to safely perform aviation duties.

Applicants with respiratory conditions are required to disclose these conditions to the medical examiner and provide any relevant medical documentation. Having a respiratory condition does not automatically determine the outcome of an aviation medical assessment, as the applicant’s condition is assessed based on the applicable DGCA medical requirements.

General Physical Health

Other areas of the exam assess general health and wellness pertinent to performing the duties of an aviator.

Certain aspects of a pilots’ health are emphasized more than others. Vision is perhaps the most critical sense for a pilot. However, medical evaluations for pilot certification look more holistically at the applicant.

There are many things an individual can do to improve their health. These include exercise, diet, and sleep. Improving one’s health through these means, however, does not release an individual from the requirement to undergo a medical examination.

Mental Alertness and Concentration

Alertness is one of the main things a pilot needs to be for the duration of a flight. Throughout a flight, a pilot is required to pay attention to numerous instruments and signals and be aware of the flight status and the status of other aircrafts in the vicinity. Alertness can be affected by many factors including illnesses and medications.

Concentration and the ability to pay attention to pertinent stimuli is also very important for a pilot. Factors that may negatively affect a person’s ability to maintain adequate level of attention to be safe while performing the duties of a pilot may also be considered in a medical examination.

Medications and Medical Conditions

Illnesses, surgeries and injuries can be relevant to a pilot medical examination. The same is true for treatment and medications. While an individual may be required to stop taking a medication that could affect their ability to perform their duties as a pilot, they should consult with an aviation medical examiner to ensure the medication would not be affecting their performance in a way that could be relevant to other duties of an airline staff member. Honesty is the best policy in these situations.

There are many misconceptions about pilot medical examinations. One of the most prevalent misconceptions is that a routine medical examination is the same as an aviation medical examination.

General health checkups help in assessing the health status of an individual. A medical assessment conducted as per the norms of aviation, however, helps in assessing the health status of an individual for flying as a crew member. Many factors, including the category of the medical assessment and the doctor conducting the assessment, are of importance here.

The Categorization, procedure and doctors authorized to conduct the medical assessment, by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of India, are explained in detail on the official website.

It is advisable that students undergo the medical assessment as required by aviation, and not solely rely on medical certificates issued by local clinics.

Students preparing with 70Knots Aviation should understand that medical fitness is an important part of the overall pilot training process.

When to undergo the medical assessment?

In our opinion, medical assessment should be done at the outset, that is, prior to commencement of training. Trainee pilots need not undertake a detailed training in aviation before assessing their medical fitness.

While short-listing institutions in Delhi offering pilot training courses, prospective students must assess the medical eligibility of the course. Other factors that need assessment are training and flying schedules, course contents and examination syllabus.

Earlier assessment of medical eligibility will help the student plan his finances in an effective manner.

Medical Fitness and Assessment

Prior assessment of medical guidelines by DGCA, and confirmation of the same with the medical officer will help the student navigate the medical assessment process with ease.

It may also be useful to organize medical records, reports, and prescribed medication. Candidates should be truthful with their responses and disclose their material medical history. They should not speculate about the expectations of the evaluating official.

For those enrolled in Best DGCA Ground Classes, Located at Dwarka, beginning medical preparations is suggested at this stage along with the other preparations. As stated earlier, both the suggested preparations and training arrangements are parallel and designed to achieve the professional goal of flying.

The official publications and online systems of DGCA are the principal and updated sources of procedures and practices that may change from time to time. The DGCA website has secure online facilities for pilots and other professionals allied to Aviation.

Some of the questions that are regularly made regarding Pilot Medicals are:

1. What is the right time for me to get a pilot’s medical?

It is suggested that aspiring candidates should get acquainted with the medical process early in their career before making bigger financial commitments. Students should determine this from the latest DGCA directives.

2. Is it necessary to get a medical assessment before starting training?

It is always good to get a medical assessment done to get a fair idea regarding the training and the costs involved. Determining this would depend upon the stage of training and the license requirements. One should check latest DGCA requirements regarding the process.

3. What happens if I have a vision problem?

Vision problems don’t necessarily prevent someone from undergoing pilot training. Each case is assessed individually considering relevant medical standards.

4. Do you have any pre-existing medical conditions?

The conditions might affect your medical assessment. A decision will be made considering the medical condition and the connection to DGCA medical standards. It will be the student’s responsibility to supply the relevant documents on request.

5. What do I need to take to my medical assessment?

Check with the medical assessor for his/her requirements. In case you need, take your ID and all necessary medical documents and/or prescriptions with you.

A Student and a Counsellor Talking about Pilot Training

Student: Now that I have commenced my pilot training, what is the right time to schedule my medical assessment?

Counsellor: Get acquainted with the medical standards as early as possible. Contact the DGCA and a medical assessor for more details.

Student: Is it possible for someone with a minor medical condition to become a pilot?

Counsellor: Of course, don’t make that kind of assumption, the medical assessor will look at your case specifically to determine if you meet the standards.

Student: What should I do to prepare for the medical examination?

Counselor: Read the instructions of the examiner and keep the relevant medical records. It is always advisable to give true and correct information about your medical condition and the medicines you are taking. It is always better to give correct information because there is a risk of making assumptions about your condition that can affect the outcome of the evaluation.

Student: So, I should disclose my medical condition as early as possible in my training?

Counselor: Yes. You should know your medical condition and its implications as early as possible to plan the rest of your training to become a pilot.

Importance of Medical Fitness in Pilot Training

Being a commercial pilot is a dream for many. Aspiring pilots should be aware of the academic, medical and practical aspects of being a pilot. Some of these aspects include the various examinations conducted by the DGCA, different trainings and licensing procedures, and the medical tests.

At 70Knots, we give aspiring students insight on all of these aspects. Medical fitness is best assessed by an independent practitioner. We encourage students to know the different medical categories and obtain professional advice pertaining to the same.

70Knots Aviation provides students with an opportunity to understand different aspects of pilot training, including the importance of medical fitness and preparation.
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