Medical examination of civilian aircrew suspended at most IAF centres

Vijay Mohan

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 10

The Indian Air Force has suspended medical examination of civilian aircrew at most of its medical centres in view of the prevailing nationwide measures to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

The restrictions will remain in force till December 31, 2020 unless revoked earlier, according to orders issued this week.

Only two centres, the Institute of Aerospace Medicine (IAM), Bengaluru, and the Air Force Central Medical Establishment (AFCME), New Delhi, will now conduct specified civilian aircrew medical examinations, sources said.

The IAF has 22 medical centres across the country where civilian aircrew can go for initial and renewal medical examinations. They will not be entertained at 17 medical centres and three boarding centres till further orders.

During the past about three months period several civilian operators undertook flights to evacuate stranded Indian nationals as well as ferry essential supplies to different parts of the country. Several cases of civilian aircrew testing positive for COVID-19 have emerged.

Medical examination for civilian aircrew is conducted either at Air Force medical centres or at civilian establishments empanelled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). These include two private hospitals in Munbai and Chennai and a number of other certified medical practitioners.

According to new orders, Class-1 initial medical examination for civilian aircrew will only be conducted at the two DGCA empanelled hospitals, while Class-1 re-initial medical examination will only be conducted at AFCME or IAM.

The periodic medical examination like age mandatory renewals between the age of 25 years up to age of 60 years and periodic Class-1 renewal medical examination of pilots above 60 years of age can now be conducted by the DGCA empanelled medical practitioners as a one-time measure.

AFCME and IAM will conduct only special medical examination, post temporary unfit review medical examination or any other examination if recommended in the previous medical assessment.

As part of the measures to combat COVID-19, the IAF had implemented several measures to mitigate the risk of corona infections to its aircrew and contamination of aircraft. These include screening of all passengers, debarring symptomatic persons from boarding IAF aircraft, advising not to come out of the cockpit during the flight, aircrew to maintain only minimal and essential contact with travelers and disinfecting aircraft interiors at the end of the day.