Air India Extra Medicals for Expat Pilots
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Air India Extra Medicals for Expat Pilots
More harassment! In addition to six monthly licence medicals of the individual pilot’s issuing authority, DGCA of India now requires each expat to additionally go through the following performance every six months, to rack up four medicals per year. All part of the anti-expat, ultra-nationalist service that comes with the territory.
An Air India Express pilot reports. Should be of special interest to any contract pilot considering a spell with Air India/AI Express or, indeed, any other Indian carrier. Enjoy!
An Air India Express pilot reports. Should be of special interest to any contract pilot considering a spell with Air India/AI Express or, indeed, any other Indian carrier. Enjoy!
Being on the pointed end of the stick so to speak, as I was told I am the first Expat to do the medical in Delhi, just thought I would pass along my experience. I arrived in Delhi and was promptly put in the Hyatt, which came as a surprise, but I wasn’t going to question it (normal hotel is the pestilential Ramada – vermin sighted in both restaurants. Ed). Medical is scheduled for 0700 at the AFCME in Subroto Park, New Delhi. The wake up was set for 0500 and a 0600 pick-up, the facility is 15 minutes from the Hyatt, so I wouldn’t recommend leaving the hotel before 0630. As per normal operations your medical is scheduled for 0700, but no one shows up until about 0730. The Air India contacts here for arranging things are Mr. xxx and Mr. yyy. I was met at the AFCME by Mr. xxx at about 0740, to help make my way through the process. If you have a chance to complete the required items before arriving you will save yourself a few hours and hassles. I wasn’t so lucky, as they informed me Friday afternoon what was required, and offered no way to get it done, go figure.
I proceeded to wait in line for the blood test, followed by refreshments (glucose drink), and then off for a chest x-ray. After the x-ray, I had an abdomen ultrasound, followed by an eye check. This is one of two rough spots I encountered. I wear contact lenses and was told that I needed to have them out for 24 hours, and then return the following day for another exam with my glasses. This is one of those things that would have been nice to know ahead of time. From here I proceeded to auditory testing, and ear, nose, and throat check. I then went back for another blood test, the first was so much fun, so why not. After this I was able to go to the canteen and get some food, but I would stay away from the samosa’s in the display, as they had multiple leg guests roaming the display case. After a quick bite, we proceeded back to wait for a general medical exam. This took 3 hours of waiting to complete, as all Air Force and Army personnel have priority, so they squeeze you in when they can. This was pretty straight forward standard stuff (heart, lungs, blood pressure, etc.). After this is where the second rough spot happened. They then needed me to complete a TMT (tread mill test), but they don’t have the facilities to complete this there. So I had to rely on Air India to find a hospital and schedule one, which I will complete tomorrow.
The email from the Expat cell, has you bringing 2000 rupees for the exam. If you are having the blood test, chest x-ray, and ultrasound done at the facility, it will be an additional cost (around 1500 rupees). I am scheduled for the treadmill test tomorrow, so I will pass along the cost once I have completed it. You will be better off if you can get the blood tests, chest x-ray, ultra sound, and treadmill stress tests done before arriving. That would make this a half-day adventure instead of 2 days. Good luck to all.............
..............As promised just a quick update of today’s events in Delhi. Was met at the hotel by the Air India driver who then whisked us away to the “Army Medical Center”. After several phone calls and getting us pointed in the right direction, we arrived for day 2. I went in for the follow up eye exam, which took three hours to complete. They checked my glasses and then put drops in my eyes to dilate my pupils, they then have you sit in the waiting room with your eyes closed for at least one hour, mine was an hour and a half. This is truly a case of the blind leading the blind. You will go back into the eye doctor, whom I can only describe as something resembling a third world Dictator. I believe he is a Colonel, and wears the full uniforms for your exam, very ornate. You know you are done when he points at the door and says “go”.
After this I attempted to quickly go to the hospital for the TMT test. Between the issues of getting release by the AFCME to leave, and the speed of the transport, I took over an hour to get underway to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital to complete the TMT test, another adventure all on its own. There is nothing like being told that your test initially looked positive and you might have to be further evaluated, and then left to ponder your fate while they prepared the report. Luckily, the report came back clean with no problems, talk about a stress test! I was told that my TMT report needed to be submitted by 1400, or I would be unable to finish today. Needless to say I was unable to get back to the facility by 1400, so I was unable to complete and receive my certificate today. I hope everyone else has better luck, and I will let everyone know the outcome when I return from my leave.
So in closing, if you do nothing else get the TMT test done before you come to the AFCME, for me this has been the biggest thorn in my side. Everything else it seems you can do at the AFCME, for an additional cost. I would suggest bringing about 3500 rupees to cover the medical and any additional testing, at least 1 passport photo for the application, a pair of sunglasses for after the pupil dilation, a book. I would also plan on 2 days minimum, the 2 express pilots today were unable to finish, primarily due to a bottleneck caused by the Dictator in the eye department. I hope this at least helps some of you get through this as pain free as possible. I am leaving Delhi tonight for home, but if anyone has any questions, I’ll be more than happy to try and help. Good luck to everyone, you will need it.
I proceeded to wait in line for the blood test, followed by refreshments (glucose drink), and then off for a chest x-ray. After the x-ray, I had an abdomen ultrasound, followed by an eye check. This is one of two rough spots I encountered. I wear contact lenses and was told that I needed to have them out for 24 hours, and then return the following day for another exam with my glasses. This is one of those things that would have been nice to know ahead of time. From here I proceeded to auditory testing, and ear, nose, and throat check. I then went back for another blood test, the first was so much fun, so why not. After this I was able to go to the canteen and get some food, but I would stay away from the samosa’s in the display, as they had multiple leg guests roaming the display case. After a quick bite, we proceeded back to wait for a general medical exam. This took 3 hours of waiting to complete, as all Air Force and Army personnel have priority, so they squeeze you in when they can. This was pretty straight forward standard stuff (heart, lungs, blood pressure, etc.). After this is where the second rough spot happened. They then needed me to complete a TMT (tread mill test), but they don’t have the facilities to complete this there. So I had to rely on Air India to find a hospital and schedule one, which I will complete tomorrow.
The email from the Expat cell, has you bringing 2000 rupees for the exam. If you are having the blood test, chest x-ray, and ultrasound done at the facility, it will be an additional cost (around 1500 rupees). I am scheduled for the treadmill test tomorrow, so I will pass along the cost once I have completed it. You will be better off if you can get the blood tests, chest x-ray, ultra sound, and treadmill stress tests done before arriving. That would make this a half-day adventure instead of 2 days. Good luck to all.............
..............As promised just a quick update of today’s events in Delhi. Was met at the hotel by the Air India driver who then whisked us away to the “Army Medical Center”. After several phone calls and getting us pointed in the right direction, we arrived for day 2. I went in for the follow up eye exam, which took three hours to complete. They checked my glasses and then put drops in my eyes to dilate my pupils, they then have you sit in the waiting room with your eyes closed for at least one hour, mine was an hour and a half. This is truly a case of the blind leading the blind. You will go back into the eye doctor, whom I can only describe as something resembling a third world Dictator. I believe he is a Colonel, and wears the full uniforms for your exam, very ornate. You know you are done when he points at the door and says “go”.
After this I attempted to quickly go to the hospital for the TMT test. Between the issues of getting release by the AFCME to leave, and the speed of the transport, I took over an hour to get underway to the hospital. I arrived at the hospital to complete the TMT test, another adventure all on its own. There is nothing like being told that your test initially looked positive and you might have to be further evaluated, and then left to ponder your fate while they prepared the report. Luckily, the report came back clean with no problems, talk about a stress test! I was told that my TMT report needed to be submitted by 1400, or I would be unable to finish today. Needless to say I was unable to get back to the facility by 1400, so I was unable to complete and receive my certificate today. I hope everyone else has better luck, and I will let everyone know the outcome when I return from my leave.
So in closing, if you do nothing else get the TMT test done before you come to the AFCME, for me this has been the biggest thorn in my side. Everything else it seems you can do at the AFCME, for an additional cost. I would suggest bringing about 3500 rupees to cover the medical and any additional testing, at least 1 passport photo for the application, a pair of sunglasses for after the pupil dilation, a book. I would also plan on 2 days minimum, the 2 express pilots today were unable to finish, primarily due to a bottleneck caused by the Dictator in the eye department. I hope this at least helps some of you get through this as pain free as possible. I am leaving Delhi tonight for home, but if anyone has any questions, I’ll be more than happy to try and help. Good luck to everyone, you will need it.
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Indians surely hates expats...so don`t go there, nobody likes you
for sure there`s nobody who`ll like you expats in India, so don`t go there.. let them strike to death..
Second pilots? union also alleges partiality to expats - Hindustan Times
Air India prefers to hire foreigners, Indian pilots? union complains - Hindustan Times
Second pilots? union also alleges partiality to expats - Hindustan Times
Air India prefers to hire foreigners, Indian pilots? union complains - Hindustan Times
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What would be your course of action be if you failed this examination? Would you inform the issuing licence authority of this, as you are required to do by law?
If you sit this examination and fail you will not only be without a job but you will also have a medical history attached to your licence.
Maybe worth the risk to sit the examination if you are eligible for the issue of an Indian licence. That will be impossible of course as you are not Indian.
What would be your course of action be if you failed this examination? Would you inform the issuing licence authority of this, as you are required to do by law?
If you sit this examination and fail you will not only be without a job but you will also have a medical history attached to your licence.
Maybe worth the risk to sit the examination if you are eligible for the issue of an Indian licence. That will be impossible of course as you are not Indian.
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Thankyou so much for this report - it has finally laid to rest any lingering ideas I had about working in India .
I am over 60 , looking for a job that involves a lot more time off before I finally close the hangar doors. There is one offering 2 months on 1 month off but that is the only good thing . Pay not wonderful , hotel / accom a bit dodgy , and so on . This whole medical thing is the final straw .
Korean have been anal about medicals for years and routinely fail expats who have held a Class 1 Jar / FAA medical their whole careers ( They are chronically short of pilots and will remain so ) If China and India go down this route then their pilot-shortage problems are only just beginning.
I am over 60 , looking for a job that involves a lot more time off before I finally close the hangar doors. There is one offering 2 months on 1 month off but that is the only good thing . Pay not wonderful , hotel / accom a bit dodgy , and so on . This whole medical thing is the final straw .
Korean have been anal about medicals for years and routinely fail expats who have held a Class 1 Jar / FAA medical their whole careers ( They are chronically short of pilots and will remain so ) If China and India go down this route then their pilot-shortage problems are only just beginning.
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Every 6 months, in addition to your own licence medical requirements.
Like all third world countries in SEA, they are in the process of reinventing the wheel. However this will not stop their aircraft crashing. In fact on the contrary, as their shortage of experienced pilots will become greater as pointed out previously.
Like all third world countries in SEA, they are in the process of reinventing the wheel. However this will not stop their aircraft crashing. In fact on the contrary, as their shortage of experienced pilots will become greater as pointed out previously.
Well, I arrived in the US of A to work for a Part 121 carrier.
Despite my CAA Class One, the medical went on for five days.
Apart from a fairly normal Aviation Medical, I went through a stress ECG (treadmill), a barium enema, a barium meal, God only knows how many xrays, a morning with a psychiatrist in SFO and a whole day with the psychologists at Stanford University.
Mind you, what do you expect from a third world country?
The aviation medic who was in charge of this epic got me into his office at the end of the five days and asked me if I had any life insurance?
I said "Yes".
"Well don't get any more because you ain't going to die"!
It was a pain in the arse (literally) but that was also nice to know.
Despite my CAA Class One, the medical went on for five days.
Apart from a fairly normal Aviation Medical, I went through a stress ECG (treadmill), a barium enema, a barium meal, God only knows how many xrays, a morning with a psychiatrist in SFO and a whole day with the psychologists at Stanford University.
Mind you, what do you expect from a third world country?
The aviation medic who was in charge of this epic got me into his office at the end of the five days and asked me if I had any life insurance?
I said "Yes".
"Well don't get any more because you ain't going to die"!
It was a pain in the arse (literally) but that was also nice to know.
