✈ Fit To Fly? A No-Nonsense Guide To DGCA Medicals

Why Medicals Matter: It's Not Just Paperwork

Before you’re trusted with 40 tonnes of aluminium at 35,000 feet, you need to prove you’re not just passionate, but physically and mentally fit to fly.

Pilots must remain physically and mentally sharp when things go off-script, such as sudden turbulence, cabin depressurization, or that one passenger who refuses to turn off their phone. In aviation, safety starts with the pilot. That’s why the DGCA (Directorate General of Civil Aviation) has a strict, multi-layered medical evaluation process in place.

Whether you’re chasing your PPL, CPL, or already holding a job offer from an airline, your license may earn you the cockpit, but your medical lets you stay there.

New DGCA Rule: In-House Testing at IAF Centres

Before we delve in, it is important to know that as of July 2, 2025, DGCA issued fresh instructions on Class 1 medical assessments done at Indian Air Force (IAF) boarding centres

• All core medical investigations, vision, ECG, blood tests, etc. must now be conducted in-house at one of the IAF boarding centres. Costs are to follow CGHS rates and be paid through BharatKosh.
• Any additional tests not available at the IAF centre (e.g., specialized scans) must be done at accredited labs (NABH/NABL/ISO).
• You'll need to submit original, QR‑coded lab reports and undergo ID verification onsite

Read the new circular here to find out about the costs of the tests and other information.

First Things First: The DGCA File Number

Once you clear your Class 2 Medical, you're assigned a DGCA File Number (PMR Number).
This is your permanent aviation ID, used for:

• Registering for DGCA exams
• Booking your Class 1 medical
• Enrolling in a flying school
• Applying for licenses in eGCA

Tip: Write down your file number and keep it both safe and accessible. You’ll need it at every step of your pilot journey.

Class 2 Medical: Your First Aviation Checkpoint

If you’re starting in aviation, this is your first formal hurdle.

You’ll need your Class 2 medical before enrolling in any flight school or sitting for DGCA exams. The good news? You can get this done at any DGCA-approved private doctor (known as a DGCA-empanelled Class 2 examiner) across India.

You’ll go through a standard set of tests:

• Physical examination
• Blood tests, including CBC, Liver and Kidney Function Tests
• Urine test
• ECG and chest X-ray
• Eye check (you must have 6/6 vision with or without glasses)
• Color vision testing
• Audiometry (hearing test)

After completion, the doctor uploads your results to eGCA. With an average processing time of 6-8 weeks, DGCA issues you a Class 2 Medical Assessment (digitally).

You’re now eligible to book your Class 1 Medical, which is needed for the CPL issue. You’re also issued your DGCA File Number (PMR No.).

The Class 2 medical is generally valid for two years if you’re under 50, and one year if you’re older.

Check the latest list of approved Class 2 examiners here.

Important note: Contrary to a common misconception, you can still be issued an approved Class 2 (and Class 1) if you need spectacles to correct your vision, as long as it is within the limits. Consult your examiner for more information on this.

Class 1 Medical: The Final Fitness Barrier

You’ll need a Class 1 medical before your Commercial Pilot License can be issued. This comprehensive examination is conducted exclusively at DGCA-approved Class 1 medical centres, including AFCME (Delhi), IAM (Bengaluru), MEC(E) (Jorhat), and Apollo Hospital (Hyderabad).

Class 1 includes everything from Class 2 plus a long list of additional checks:

• TMT (Treadmill Stress Test)
• Ultrasound of the abdomen
• Pulmonary function testing (PFT)
• Dental and ENT evaluations
• Ophthalmology including slit lamp and fundus exams
• Neurological Assessment (mental health, memory, coordination)
• Stricter BMI standards (ideally under 27)

If you’re under 60 and operating in a multi-crew environment, the Class 1 is valid for 12 months. If you're over 60 (Multi-crew) or under 40 (Single-crew), it needs renewal every six months.

Click here to check available slots and instructions.

Procedure for obtaining the medical:

• Get Class 2 done first.
• Create/Log in to your eGCA account and apply for Class 1 Medical.
• Choose your centre and upload documents.
• Show up with:
  • Medical summary
  • Previous assessments (if re-initial)
  • Valid ID, glasses (if used), prescriptions, etc.
  • Undergo 1–2 days of testing.
  • Results are uploaded by the doctor to eGCA.
  • DGCA Medical Directorate issues the final Assessment. (Wait time is anywhere between 4-8 weeks)

Note: First-timers usually have to do it at AFCME or IAM. Renewals can be done at approved civil/private centres.

When Should You Apply for a Class 1 Medical?

Short answer? Right after you clear your Class 2 Medical. The sooner, the better.

Class 1 Medicals are only done at DGCA-approved centres like AFCME (Delhi) or IAM (Bengaluru) and these places are always packed.
Getting a slot can take 30 to 45 days, sometimes even longer during peak admission season.

Now imagine this:
You're excited to start CPL ground school but get temporarily unfit for a small issue like low haemoglobin, high BMI, or a minor ECG variation.
Fixing it takes time. If you've waited too long to apply, it could delay your entire training.

Applying Early = Less Stress

Getting your Class 1 done early gives you:

• A buffer for any retests or corrections
• Freedom to choose ground school without rushing
• Time to focus on DGCA subjects and mentally prepare for flying
• Bonus: It shows instructors and interviewers you’re serious and well-organized.

What’s the Ideal Timeline?

If you’re in Class 12 or just finished boards:

• Class 2 Medical: Right after the 12th exams
• Class 1 Medical: As soon as Class 2 is cleared
• CPL Admission: Only after you have a valid Class 1 in hand

This way, you're always ahead of schedule, not chasing it.

A Common Mistake to Avoid

“I’ll do my Class 1 once I join an academy.”

Bad idea. If you're declared unfit, all the money you pay for ground classes might go to waste.
Without a valid Class 1 medical, you simply cannot obtain a CPL. There's no plan B.

Start early.
Get your Class 2 and Class 1 Medicals sorted before you commit to ground school or pay any fees.
It’s the first real test of being a pilot; staying sharp, planning and thinking like a pro.

Renewals and Reinitials

If your current medical is still valid, you simply need a renewal, which is a check-up to confirm nothing has changed. You should plan this at least 30–45 days before your expiry date. Once you’ve cleared your initial Class 2 or Class 1 medical, you’ll need to renew it periodically to keep flying.

Class 1 : For Multi Crew operations, 1 year up to 60 years; 6 months thereafter.

For Single Crew operations, validity is 6 months above 40 years of age.

Class 2 : 2 years up to the age of 50 years, One year thereafter.

• Where:
  • Class 2 renewals → any DGCA Class 2 examiner
  • Class 1 renewals → DGCA-approved Class 1 examiner
• Tests done: Basic physical, ECG, blood sugar, vision/hearing, TMT (if over 40)

If your medical has expired beyond the grace period (2 years), you’ll need a reinitial, which means redoing the full set of tests as if it were your first time. A Re-initial Medical is a special Class 1 medical examination that a pilot must undergo if:

• Your Class 1 medical assessment has expired for a long period (more than 2 years).
• You were declared permanently unfit in the past and are now seeking re-evaluation.
• You’ve had a long medical grounding due to illness, injury, or personal reasons, and you’re returning to flying after that gap.

If you're planning to undergo a Re-initial, Delayed, Early, Post-Temporary Unfit (TU), or Special Medical examination, you must first obtain a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the DGCA Medical Directorate in New Delhi.

The complete step-by-step guide for requesting this NOC is available on the eGCA portal under the medical section here.

Your Medical Map: Every DGCA-Approved Centre for Class 1 Exams

Class 1 medicals, whether for initial issue or renewal, must be done only at DGCA-authorised centres. These include Indian Air Force Medical Boards, Civil Medical Centres, and empanelled Class 1 Medical Examiners. Depending on your situation, here’s where you go:

For Initial Class 1 Medicals (First Time)

• AFCME, New Delhi
• IAM, Bengaluru
• MEC (East), Jorhat
• Command Hospital Air Force, Bengaluru (CHAFB)
• 11 Air Force Hospital, Hindon
• 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur
• Dr. Balabhai Nanavati Hospital, Mumbai
• Apollo Heart Centre, Chennai

For Renewals Every 5 Years (From 45 to 60 Years of Age) and All Medicals After 60

• AFCME, New Delhi
• IAM, Bengaluru
• MEC (East), Jorhat
• Command Hospital Air Force, Bengaluru
• 11 Air Force Hospital, Hindon
• 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur

For Class 1 Medicals That Have Lapsed by More Than 2 Years (Re-initial)

• AFCME, New Delhi
• IAM, Bengaluru
• MEC (East), Jorhat
• Command Hospital Air Force, Bengaluru
• 11 Air Force Hospital, Hindon
• 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur

For Post-Temporary Unfitness Review

• AFCME, New Delhi
• IAM, Bengaluru
• MEC (East), Jorhat
• Command Hospital Air Force, Bengaluru
• 11 Air Force Hospital, Hindon
• 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur

For Special Medicals (If You Were Unfit for More Than 60 Days)

• AFCME, New Delhi
• IAM, Bengaluru
• MEC (East), Jorhat
• Command Hospital Air Force, Bengaluru
• 11 Air Force Hospital, Hindon
• 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur

For Appeal Medical Examinations

• AFCME, New Delhi
• IAM, Bengaluru
• MEC (East), Jorhat
• Command Hospital Air Force, Bengaluru
• 11 Air Force Hospital, Hindon
• 7 Air Force Hospital, Kanpur

Routine Renewals at Age 25, 30, 35, 40 (and Others Not Listed Above)

• Any Air Force Medical Boarding Centre listed in Appendix B
• Or with a DGCA-empanelled Class 1 Medical Examiner

What Changes After You Turn 40?

Once you hit 40, DGCA rules become a bit stricter.

You’ll need to do TMT (Stress Test), ECG, and PFT during every renewal, not just the initial. Your lipid profile, blood sugar, and other cardiovascular markers will be under more scrutiny.

Your Class 1 medical validity drops to 6 months for Single crew ops. However, for Multi crew operations, it drops to 6 months after 60 years of age.

If you’re 60 or older, you’ll also require clearance from a cardiologist, ENT specialist, and ophthalmologist, often arranged at the Class 1 centre itself.

Pro Tips from Fellow Pilots

• Book your Class 1 early. IAM and AFCME are notoriously overbooked, so plan months in advance.
• Don’t wait until the last minute. Renew your medicals 30–60 days before expiry since the assessment takes time to be approved.
• Keep all medical records handy. Especially old prescriptions, surgical reports, glasses prescriptions, and any medication history.
• Hydrate, rest, and avoid caffeine/smoking before tests.

If you’d like to read the official document outlining the medical procedures, click here to access the Civil Aviation Requirement (CAR) Table and select Part 1 from Series C to access the relevant document.

Flying Abroad? Here's What to Know About Medicals Before You Pack Your Bags

Dreaming of chasing clouds over Florida, Cape Town, or Christchurch? Great. But let’s talk about something far less glamorous: medicals.

If you're heading out of India for your CPL , to places like the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, or Europe, here's the honest breakdown:

You don't need a DGCA medical to start flying abroad.

Yep, that's right. Most foreign flight schools just want you to clear their country’s aviation medicals:

• USA: FAA Class 1 or 2
• Canada: Transport Canada Category 1
• Australia & NZ: CASA / CAANZ Class 1
• Europe (EASA): EASA Class 1
• South Africa: SACAA Class 1

So technically, you can start your flying journey overseas without ever stepping into a DGCA medical centre.

But here’s where things get interesting.

Planning to convert your license back to DGCA after training?

Then DGCA medicals, specifically Class 1, are non-negotiable. No medical, no Indian CPL. Simple as that.

And here’s the kicker: some students only realise this after finishing training abroad, when they’re back home, license in hand and find out they have to wait for DGCA medical appointments, or worse, they run into unexpected issues during medical clearance.

So what’s the move?

Even if you’re training abroad, it’s smart (and safe) to do your Class 1 DGCA medical early, just to be sure you’re fit by Indian standards.

Because imagine this: you’ve clocked hundreds of hours abroad, spent a small fortune, and then boom! Your Indian medical throws a red flag. Not ideal.

Common Reasons for Rejected Medical Assessment

Here’s what often gets pilots temporarily or permanently deemed unfit:

• High blood pressure
• Obesity (especially BMI over 30)
• Colour vision deficiencies (can be a show-stopper for Class 1)
• Poor hearing
• Undeclared surgeries or past illnesses
• Incomplete documentation on eGCA
  

What If You’re Found Unfit?

• You’ll be marked Temporarily Unfit (TU) and advised of tests or treatment.
• Once cleared, you’ll undergo a post-TU medical and may regain your fit status.
• If permanently unfit, you can’t fly commercially but may explore non-flying aviation roles.

But remember, being temporarily unfit is not the end. You can recover, get clearance, and return for re-evaluation.

At 6Pistons, we’re here to keep your aviation journey smooth and informed, from Medicals to Mach speeds. Got questions or doubts? Reach out to us on Instagram or Twitter @6pistonsmedia, let’s explore the skies together.

Image credit: Indiatimes