How to get DGCA Class 1 Medical, Initial and Renewals

 Introduction:

DGCA Class 1 Medical for a commercial pilot license which is a higher category, comes with its own set of validities and we will know the stuff and requirements for the medical. Once you get class 1 medical you don't need a class 2 medical.

Class 1 medicals are much more rigorous they check you thoroughly from head to toe, but once again not to get worried they are not difficult there is nothing to get scared off once again if you are healthy in day-to-day life then most probably you are good to go.

 

Who needs DGCA Class 1 Medical:

Category 1 medical is for pilots engaged in commercial air operations; everything from instructing on light aircraft to flying for an airline. Of necessity, the medical standards for this group are quite high as the traveling public is putting their lives in their hands.

Procedure to get DGCA Class 1 Medical:

Talking about class one let's quickly look at how you get a class 1, what is the procedure etc.

Now back in the days when you get your class 2 medicals done for the first time and the doctor sends your reports to the DGCA and the DGCA has a medical cell that will open up a file on your name, it's known as the PMR file number.

It's an alpha numerical code, you need to remember to note it down in an important book because this is your permanent file number, that file will be opened up and it will be having all the history of your medicals. (Class 2, class 1, Renewals, etc.)

So that is one of the other reasons why you need to have a class 2 in the first place to get a class 1 medical because that file will be opened up when you apply for your class 1 medical. 

Get an Appointment for Class 1 Medical Initial: 

Now the very first time that you get your class 1 medical initial done you will be doing it from one of these medical centers that are shown below:

As you can see that most of them are air force stations and two of them are private hospitals that are Nanavati hospital in Mumbai and Apollo hospital in Chennai.

So one of these centers will do your Class 1 medical for the very first time and if you are getting your first medical done from one of the air force stations mentioned above then you need to make your appointment from DGCA directly there is an email for that, you just need to fill up a form, print it out, fill it up, scan it and then forward it on that E-mail ID that will notify them to give you your slot for the first-class medical.

If you want to get your class I medical done from one of these two private medical hospitals then it's a straightaway take an appointment

from the hospitals directly, go there and get your class 1 medical done but in most cases, it will cost you more to get your class I medical done from the private hospital than the air force stations.

Renewal of DGCA Class 1 Medical:

Now we come up to the next important point which is renewals, the class 1 renewal is a little bit different from the class two renewal because it's a bit tricky, it's dependent upon your age.  So irrespective of what age you are at the first time that you get your class 1 medical done you'll get it done from one of the below centers that are listed:

DGCA Class 1 Medical Examiners:

DGCA Class 1 renewals can be done from a whole list of DGCA authorized class 1 medical examiner as listed below: 

So check the list to find out the class 1 medical doctor in your city and these class 1 renewals are not rigorous. There are not many tests that will be done. It will be just a basic checkup of your height and weight and blood urine tests and some basic general checkups.

Tests for DGCA Class 1 Medical Assessment:

These are some tests that will be done while your Class 1 Medical:

·       BLOOD TEST (fasting & after)

·       URINE TEST

·       EYE TEST

·       EAR AUDIOMETRIC TEST

·       ENT

·       GENERAL FULL-BODY INSPECTION

·       ECG

·       BP

·       CHEST X-RAY

·       USG (abdomen and pelvis)

 Note: The renewals that are at the ages of multiples of five that is 20, 25, 30, 35, 40. At these ages, your class 1 medical will be only done from one of the centers that were previously mentioned above.

So only those centers can do your class 1 medical renewal at these ages and you cannot go to the class 1 authorized medical doctors, so just to understand this better let's take an example:

You are at an age of 24 years, so you will get your first medical done from one of the above seven or two centers and that will be your DGCA Class 1 initial medical, and the next year you would be done with your Class 1 renewal from the class 1 list of medical examiners.

But when you will be at the age of 25,  which is a multiple of five then this time again you'll have to get your medical done from one of those centers, and then subsequently, you can get your medical renewed from one of that class 1 medical empanelled doctor.

So from that list, you cannot go to none of the hospitals or the Apollo hospital, so at the age of 45, 50, 55, and 60 at these ages, you can only get your renewals done from one of the air force stations and in continuation once you pass the age of 60 years all your class 1 medical renewals every year will only be done at one of the air force stations as mentioned before.

Cost/Fee of Class 1 Medical:

So you are only in hands of the air force from then on and now similar to the class 2 renewals, for the class 1 medical assessment, renewals also you can get the certain tests that you require you can get those tests done yourself from a NABL or a NABH certified labs carry the reports with you for the renewal.

The cost that you are looking to pay is 2,000 rupees for the renewal of class 1 medical and 3,000 for the very first time issue of your class 1 and then the cost towards the test separately varies somewhere between 5,000 to 10,000.

 At the most and once an airline hires you all of these costs and taking appointments for your class 1 medicals etc are most likely going to be taken care of by the airline itself and you need not worry about them.

Happy landings!