Indian First Class Medicals for Expats
Join Date: Nov 2005
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OK, I have now done my Indian Fata medical and I have to say , there is no big deal and problem with it at all. I went in thinking it was going to be an astronaut medical, but its far from it and wasnt over the top or ridiculous at all. It was surprisingly easy!
It did take all day, and I mean all day from 7am to 4.30pm, a lot of waiting for the next examination, but there are nice waiting rooms (take reading material, newspapers etc is my suggestion, there are a lot of coffee table magazines around though).
The Officers are super nice , friendly and helpful. You respect them they respect you, dress respectfully also, I suggest in your work pants, a button up shirt and leather lace up shoes.
I have had JAA, FAA, CASA and Sth African CAA medicals, and I think the JAA and Sth African medicals are harder than this one. It was also nice of them to suggest ways to lower your cholesterol and help you with any problems which we all get in our Captain era years!
I did see a totally disgraceful display from a JAA license holder today, and I distanced myself from his shocking behavior as far as I could, he really was giving us expats a bad name. Thankfully he left and wont be in India much longer.
So go on do it , its no big deal, its a long day(your getting paid to sit and do nothing all day so who cares!), and like they told me they are not there to fail us they are there to help us get medically fit, the IAF Officers understand the need for expats .
I did do mine in Bangalore, I do know a fact that Bangalore is much more realistic and practical than Delhi, but saying that people are getting through in Delhi also.
It did take all day, and I mean all day from 7am to 4.30pm, a lot of waiting for the next examination, but there are nice waiting rooms (take reading material, newspapers etc is my suggestion, there are a lot of coffee table magazines around though).
The Officers are super nice , friendly and helpful. You respect them they respect you, dress respectfully also, I suggest in your work pants, a button up shirt and leather lace up shoes.
I have had JAA, FAA, CASA and Sth African CAA medicals, and I think the JAA and Sth African medicals are harder than this one. It was also nice of them to suggest ways to lower your cholesterol and help you with any problems which we all get in our Captain era years!
I did see a totally disgraceful display from a JAA license holder today, and I distanced myself from his shocking behavior as far as I could, he really was giving us expats a bad name. Thankfully he left and wont be in India much longer.
So go on do it , its no big deal, its a long day(your getting paid to sit and do nothing all day so who cares!), and like they told me they are not there to fail us they are there to help us get medically fit, the IAF Officers understand the need for expats .
I did do mine in Bangalore, I do know a fact that Bangalore is much more realistic and practical than Delhi, but saying that people are getting through in Delhi also.
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Well done indeed and congratulations.
Agree with you, there is no need for misbehaviour at the medical centre and the AME's are only doing their job.
Why did those 6 patients get blown out down there at BLR in the course of a 2 week period? Wax in their ears, eyesight imperfections, etc., etc., I hear. They had ICAO medical certificates one would guess, so why fail them? Why not blacklist the whole authority FAA, CASA, JAA, for e.g.., rather than select one aspect of their licencing requirements, as the DGCA think that authority doesn't know what they are doing? I makes no sense at all to me. I walked before i was pushed and I haven't learnt anything from down there that has made me regret my decision.
After passing the military medical will that make you immune from an accident? Of course it wont.
Just out of interest, are you required to sit an IAF medical every 6 months?
Agree with you, there is no need for misbehaviour at the medical centre and the AME's are only doing their job.
Why did those 6 patients get blown out down there at BLR in the course of a 2 week period? Wax in their ears, eyesight imperfections, etc., etc., I hear. They had ICAO medical certificates one would guess, so why fail them? Why not blacklist the whole authority FAA, CASA, JAA, for e.g.., rather than select one aspect of their licencing requirements, as the DGCA think that authority doesn't know what they are doing? I makes no sense at all to me. I walked before i was pushed and I haven't learnt anything from down there that has made me regret my decision.
After passing the military medical will that make you immune from an accident? Of course it wont.
Just out of interest, are you required to sit an IAF medical every 6 months?
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Yes you must do it every 6 mths if you want to stay in India, BUT you dont have to do it at Delhi or Bangalore. You can do it at any of the other 4 centers... still IAF centers.
I dunno about the dirty ears etc, I just new to make sure my ears were cleaned as that stupid audiometry testing I have done before and got into trouble with dirty ears in Australia. I also went to an optomitrist and got my eyes tested and got a really weak pair of specs made and I took them as I know that eyesight test is stupid and you have to read a eyechart about 30 feet away.
One weird thing is all the stamps they put on your medical certificate like "You must monitor your weight and lose weight", one guy had a stamp that said he always had to wear hearing protection devices... I got a hand written note to go back in 6 mths to get my liver blood work tested again to see if its improved.... ie Kingfisher beer is bad for you liver it seems... who knew!
I dunno about the dirty ears etc, I just new to make sure my ears were cleaned as that stupid audiometry testing I have done before and got into trouble with dirty ears in Australia. I also went to an optomitrist and got my eyes tested and got a really weak pair of specs made and I took them as I know that eyesight test is stupid and you have to read a eyechart about 30 feet away.
One weird thing is all the stamps they put on your medical certificate like "You must monitor your weight and lose weight", one guy had a stamp that said he always had to wear hearing protection devices... I got a hand written note to go back in 6 mths to get my liver blood work tested again to see if its improved.... ie Kingfisher beer is bad for you liver it seems... who knew!
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indian medicals....
itsbroken...
Congrats on the medical and another six months of hassle free flying.
It's good to see a fair and objective post from an expat on the medical situation.
Weido, the DGCA have nothing to do with the medical in India other than keeping the files(PMR) and issuing of an assessment once the medical is done. It's the IAF all the way. If it's any consolation, the IAF are equally tough on us Indians as they are on expats. That's the air force way , they can be a bit quirky but that's how forces work ,btw the medical we all do is not the medical required of the air force pilot, which is much more strict in requirements...especially the fighters...makes sense.
Throwing fits at them will not help either . They have their requirements and u're either fit/ unfit. The one time I was TMU for eosonophilia , the doctor was quite good at explaining the requirements and no big deal really...came back after 3 weeks and got the fitness certificate. Also, the tests that you do outside before the medical are more a company requirement to ensure you should pass the AF medical but it's no guarantee. Our company requires us to do the tests outside and get it certified by the company doctor...but the IAF will not over-ride their findings unless they've asked you to bring these results from outside.
Can it be made simpler , for eg. the FAA or JAA way? Sure, but I guess the big worry for DGCA is the corruption that we Indians love to practice will quickly seep in to it and there's always the unscrupulous doctor who'll clear you for a few thousand in the civil world. So it's going to be the airforce for the foreseeable future .I sometimes wish the forces take over running the country for a while...they can do a better job than these &^%$ .....
Congrats on the medical and another six months of hassle free flying.
It's good to see a fair and objective post from an expat on the medical situation.Weido, the DGCA have nothing to do with the medical in India other than keeping the files(PMR) and issuing of an assessment once the medical is done. It's the IAF all the way. If it's any consolation, the IAF are equally tough on us Indians as they are on expats. That's the air force way , they can be a bit quirky but that's how forces work ,btw the medical we all do is not the medical required of the air force pilot, which is much more strict in requirements...especially the fighters...makes sense.
Throwing fits at them will not help either . They have their requirements and u're either fit/ unfit. The one time I was TMU for eosonophilia , the doctor was quite good at explaining the requirements and no big deal really...came back after 3 weeks and got the fitness certificate. Also, the tests that you do outside before the medical are more a company requirement to ensure you should pass the AF medical but it's no guarantee. Our company requires us to do the tests outside and get it certified by the company doctor...but the IAF will not over-ride their findings unless they've asked you to bring these results from outside.
Can it be made simpler , for eg. the FAA or JAA way? Sure, but I guess the big worry for DGCA is the corruption that we Indians love to practice will quickly seep in to it and there's always the unscrupulous doctor who'll clear you for a few thousand in the civil world. So it's going to be the airforce for the foreseeable future .I sometimes wish the forces take over running the country for a while...they can do a better job than these &^%$ .....
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IAF Med
Thanks kindly "Itsbroken" for the feedback as I await my turn. The only thing I don't understand is what tests/exams are done there all day? I spent two days at a separate Hospital getting all the prelim tests completed, which were comprehensive for an over '60 guy, and all were OK including stamped by company doctors.
Do I go there again to repeat all these tests or do they review results with different specialists? I am confused as I don't understand why it takes all day.
Thanks.
Do I go there again to repeat all these tests or do they review results with different specialists? I am confused as I don't understand why it takes all day.
Thanks.
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OK here is how the day progressed, typing quickly excuse the spelling and grammar......
Get there for start at 0745, go in with your Indian escort (from your company)... make sure your company has confirmed your PMR file is there and you have a security clearance.. You sign in your cell phone and leave it at the gate, you can bring in a bag, but no computers allowed or cellphone or cameras.
0745 to 0830, get the forms and fill them out in duplicate, present your tests for the company or local lab doctor, they are inserted into your PMR file. This guy also did the hearing tests, and helped me and the other Indian pilots throughout the whole day
0830-0900 Now you go across the hall to get your documents rechecked and then they are witnessed and verified. this guy is a paramedic and really nice. I didnt have a chest xray, no problem they can do it there for Rs105!!!
You get told where to go and what to do next.
0900-0945 We go to the pathology lab, after a wait of about 20 minutes for the lab tech to arrive we all pee in a test tube , give it back and they take more blood. The results from this lab test are given before the day ends and seem to just backup the test results you got outside.
0945-1015 Pay the 1060 bill for the medical and the missing chest xray
1015-1100 Get chest xray done, there was about 9 coast guard pilots in front of me, super modern equipment used or the chest xray, and the tech is really professional.
1100-1130 Wait for and conduct the hearing tests in the silent room, luckily the guy does the airforce pilots first, then me as the expat. He then walks me up to the 1st floor for the rest of the testing, and gets me in the line
1130-1300 Lots a waiting now....
First go into the head surgeon, he does the quick physical, strip to your undies, he pokes and prods your stomach, makes you breath a lot, does a weird hold you hands out exercise and follow his finger whilst standing, without falling over test. Super nice guy, put clothes on , back to waiting room.
About 20 min later go to the ear nose and throat lady, within 5 minutes she processes the 3 of us, looks in our ears, looks up our noses and we say ahhhh and stick out our tongues.
At each step you see the test results also and if there is a issue the doctor says so.
20 min more and into the eye doctor, there is 2 Dr's in the same room, its like a factory processing everyone. First is the eye chart on the wall, about 30 ft away ! Then the easy color blindness cards . In the FAA world I dont need glasses, but I went and go my eyes checked and found I have one slightly weak eye, I am telling you to do the same. Its cheaper and easier to carry a set of glasses with you( if you have a ipad or iphone download the eye test app 'EYE CHART PRO' and "COLORTEST", it will let you know, also the hearing app for free called "uHEAR" replicated the same test they give, my results were the same as the ipad app!!). They also check your focus etc They dilate your eyes, this takes about 15 min to take, then he looks inside your eyes. I noticed the junior guy was strict and questioning things but the senior guy was like ...its ok no problem.... I did see the other Indian civil pilots got a easier eye test than me, I had to read the whole chart, after they read 3 letters if was ok to go... the IAF pilots got a really really full on eye exam, one guy was actually crying as his eyesight had deteriorated.... was really sad.
After this, a 15 min wait for the heart peoples.
In the heart lab, they take your blood pressure. No ECG as you already had a stress test I am told. You take off your shoes, he weighs you less your clothes weight, then measures your height. This guy now goes thru your test results, transcribes them into your application file, highlights the bad things and tells you how to fix them. He uses the paremeters of the hospital to figure out whats good and bad. My total cholesterol at 230 to me is bad, to them it was ok. Then he calls the pathology lab, no blood work results back yet, so he says go have lunch and come back for 2pm. Its not 1pm. We went down to 100ft road and get some super nice italian food.
1400-1530 We wait for the head surgeon to complete your file and give the OK. You know its going to be ok, as throughout the day you have seen your file progress and mostly the doctors have talked to you about it. You also carry it between places and can read it , they dont care.
1530-1600 We wait for the same guy we saw to start with to finish his work and return to the starting office, he then goes thru the paperwork tidies your file, gives you a copy of the receipt and prints your medical certificate.
1600-1630 Wait for the head of the whole department to see you and sign your medical form, she is really really casual and nice. Talks to you about your health and how to fix it before it kills you... give you a medical certificate and its done.
Get there for start at 0745, go in with your Indian escort (from your company)... make sure your company has confirmed your PMR file is there and you have a security clearance.. You sign in your cell phone and leave it at the gate, you can bring in a bag, but no computers allowed or cellphone or cameras.
0745 to 0830, get the forms and fill them out in duplicate, present your tests for the company or local lab doctor, they are inserted into your PMR file. This guy also did the hearing tests, and helped me and the other Indian pilots throughout the whole day
0830-0900 Now you go across the hall to get your documents rechecked and then they are witnessed and verified. this guy is a paramedic and really nice. I didnt have a chest xray, no problem they can do it there for Rs105!!!
You get told where to go and what to do next.
0900-0945 We go to the pathology lab, after a wait of about 20 minutes for the lab tech to arrive we all pee in a test tube , give it back and they take more blood. The results from this lab test are given before the day ends and seem to just backup the test results you got outside.
0945-1015 Pay the 1060 bill for the medical and the missing chest xray
1015-1100 Get chest xray done, there was about 9 coast guard pilots in front of me, super modern equipment used or the chest xray, and the tech is really professional.
1100-1130 Wait for and conduct the hearing tests in the silent room, luckily the guy does the airforce pilots first, then me as the expat. He then walks me up to the 1st floor for the rest of the testing, and gets me in the line
1130-1300 Lots a waiting now....
First go into the head surgeon, he does the quick physical, strip to your undies, he pokes and prods your stomach, makes you breath a lot, does a weird hold you hands out exercise and follow his finger whilst standing, without falling over test. Super nice guy, put clothes on , back to waiting room.
About 20 min later go to the ear nose and throat lady, within 5 minutes she processes the 3 of us, looks in our ears, looks up our noses and we say ahhhh and stick out our tongues.
At each step you see the test results also and if there is a issue the doctor says so.
20 min more and into the eye doctor, there is 2 Dr's in the same room, its like a factory processing everyone. First is the eye chart on the wall, about 30 ft away ! Then the easy color blindness cards . In the FAA world I dont need glasses, but I went and go my eyes checked and found I have one slightly weak eye, I am telling you to do the same. Its cheaper and easier to carry a set of glasses with you( if you have a ipad or iphone download the eye test app 'EYE CHART PRO' and "COLORTEST", it will let you know, also the hearing app for free called "uHEAR" replicated the same test they give, my results were the same as the ipad app!!). They also check your focus etc They dilate your eyes, this takes about 15 min to take, then he looks inside your eyes. I noticed the junior guy was strict and questioning things but the senior guy was like ...its ok no problem.... I did see the other Indian civil pilots got a easier eye test than me, I had to read the whole chart, after they read 3 letters if was ok to go... the IAF pilots got a really really full on eye exam, one guy was actually crying as his eyesight had deteriorated.... was really sad.
After this, a 15 min wait for the heart peoples.
In the heart lab, they take your blood pressure. No ECG as you already had a stress test I am told. You take off your shoes, he weighs you less your clothes weight, then measures your height. This guy now goes thru your test results, transcribes them into your application file, highlights the bad things and tells you how to fix them. He uses the paremeters of the hospital to figure out whats good and bad. My total cholesterol at 230 to me is bad, to them it was ok. Then he calls the pathology lab, no blood work results back yet, so he says go have lunch and come back for 2pm. Its not 1pm. We went down to 100ft road and get some super nice italian food.
1400-1530 We wait for the head surgeon to complete your file and give the OK. You know its going to be ok, as throughout the day you have seen your file progress and mostly the doctors have talked to you about it. You also carry it between places and can read it , they dont care.
1530-1600 We wait for the same guy we saw to start with to finish his work and return to the starting office, he then goes thru the paperwork tidies your file, gives you a copy of the receipt and prints your medical certificate.
1600-1630 Wait for the head of the whole department to see you and sign your medical form, she is really really casual and nice. Talks to you about your health and how to fix it before it kills you... give you a medical certificate and its done.
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My experience was very much the same with one exception. I am over 45 and was required to have an ultra sound. Unfortunately they found a gall stone that was causing me no problems so I had no clue it was there. I was told that I would be declared medically unfit and that I would be unable to fly for 12 weeks after the surgery. I really don't have a problem with the Indian medical as a gall stone would be a grounding item anywhere in the world. I also thought that the IAF people were friendly, competent and wanted me to pass. This was in BLR. I can't say what DEL is like.
Jet
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We all do the ultrasound, and the blood work, the Indian Pilots have to do this also. I just missed the chest xray requirement. Its all written on the forms under medical on the DGCA website. This guys website has a lot of the information about it all in one place is you want to read about it, DGCA Medicals & Aeromedical Consultancy
I think one of the reasons for the tests outside the IAF center is to make the testing quicker, and get you the results and passed on the same day, plus to find out any medical conditions like gall stones. In my case I have a fatty liver, thats passable but needs corrective action before it kills me.
My company doctor went through all the results with me before I came here and put me on Cholesterol drugs and told me all about the diet/lifestyle changes to fix my fatty liver. I also am in the obese BMI range , but they didnt really care about that.
I think one of the reasons for the tests outside the IAF center is to make the testing quicker, and get you the results and passed on the same day, plus to find out any medical conditions like gall stones. In my case I have a fatty liver, thats passable but needs corrective action before it kills me.
My company doctor went through all the results with me before I came here and put me on Cholesterol drugs and told me all about the diet/lifestyle changes to fix my fatty liver. I also am in the obese BMI range , but they didnt really care about that.
