Hi guys.
Just an update for all potential joiners.
We, like all Chinese airlines are constantly having issues with the medical renewal here. Every month if not week, we have guys failing renewal and most of the time for something petty.
Recently we have 2 guys off for 'high' blood pressure. Their limit seems to be 140/90 despite official CAAC paperwork saying 155/95 is the limit.
140/90 sounds ok you probably think.....
When you factor in that most guys going for medical here have 'white coat syndrome' due to the high pressure and stress they put you under here then 140/90 can be quite hard to meet.
'White coat' can put your systolic up immediately by about 15 mm HG so that means that your 'normal' reading needs to be in the region of 125 to get through.
That and imaginary kidney stones also catch alot of guys out. That can take 3 months to 'fix' or to get the correct person to review your file.....
Anyway during all this time you drop to 100USD per day even if the 'failure' turns out to be incorrect!! No reimbursement of lost pay. Imaginary kidney stones prime example.........
Just wanted to make you guys aware of this as LOL specific to CAAC medical is very hard to find.
Many many Chinese Airlines still pay you full or slightly reduced pay after a medical failure and not 15% salary like here.
Cheers all,
FWIW, it sounds like the CAAC Southern region standards and CSA policy are indeed more stringent than elsewhere.
When I was at CA we went through a period of medical terrorization by the CA doctors (CA has its own hospital) similar to the above, but after a re-organization they've toned it down a bit and there are fewer failures. CA was not as draconian as CSA, but they would stop pay once your medical had expired and you'd burned off your days off and vacation owing.
Fo those with BP problems the worst part was that the option of using a BP medication to manage the situation was pretty much off the table as it would require a min of 2 weeks off duty for twice daily observation in hospital followed by tests and etc before a medication could be approved and a medical certificate could be issued. Unpaid, natch. We were strongly advised not to go this route. 7 years of that sort of treatment left a mark and I now do have a high BP and a healthy dose of white coat syndrome to boot, which only makes matters worse.
Imagine my surprise then when I did my first medical at the CAAC Eastern region hospital for CES (China Eastern) and was told "We think you've been suffering from long term elevated BP. Please start taking medication for it. Here's your medical certificate and see you in 6 months." At the next medical nothing more was said other than "Are you taking medication? Which one? Your BP is normal, see you in 6 months."
They do look you over pretty carefully at the CAAC Eastern region hospital, but they appear to be a lot more sensible in how they deal with things. Stress wise it's quite a difference from CA and northern region.
Same goes for CES the company. They've been helpful and supportive when guys have run into problems. Cutting off pay has not been their first course of action at all.
Cheers,
ELAC