Overview

• The DGCA’s new rule, effective early July, centralizes all commercial pilot medical assessments at IAF Boarding Centres and ends evaluations at civilian clinics.
• Only three IAF centres in Delhi, Jorhat and Bengaluru must handle the surge in pilot screenings, forcing aviators to book appointments during off-duty hours.
• Airline executives caution that military-grade requirements—such as advanced cardiac screenings, treadmill tests and detailed biochemical panels—exceed international norms and could disqualify more pilots.
• Pilot associations and carrier groups have formally urged the DGCA to revise the policy to avert deepening India’s existing pilot shortage and escalating insurance costs.
• The directive follows a fatal co-pilot cardiac arrest and revelations of concealed health issues, but stakeholders warn it may slow efforts to train over 30,000 new pilots.