Expat pilots to undergo med tests in India

Mumbai: In a major amendment to rules, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has now done away with the disparity in medical standards for Indian and foreign pilots employed with airlines in the country. Expatriate pilots will now have to undergo medical tests in India and get certified in accordance to Indian medical standards.
Till now, foreign pilots employed by airlines in India didn’t have to undergo numerous medical tests prescribed by India for its pilots as the DGCA accepted the medical certificate issued by their home country. Under the amendment, foreign pilots will now have to undergo medical tests in India which are carried out for Class I medical renewals. Class I medical certificates are issued by Indian Air Force doctors and these are mandatory medical tests that pilots who hold either a Commercial Pilot Licence or an Airline Transport Pilot License undergo to keep their license valid. A Class I medical renewal involves lesser number of medical tests as compared to an initial Class I medical.
Sources said disparity in medical standards of Indian and foreign pilots was one of the priority issues taken up by the air safety advisory council which was formed in the aftermath of the Mangalore air crash last month.
19/06/10 Manju V/Times of India

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Categories: Foreign Jun 2010, Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2010