Since there is no scientific evidence to support notions such as spinal deformities affect flying, the Air Force will soon modify its medical norms for pilot selection for new applicants.
A panel has been formed by IAF comprising spinal surgeons, neurosurgeons, physicians, radiologists and it was concluded that there is no evidence to show spinal deformities can affect flight safety and physical capability and conditioning of the pilots.
This means, taking medication for blood pressure or undergoing a laser eye surgery will no longer make an IAF pilot ineligible for flying.
Also, with new medical technologies and better drugs available for treatment, several ailments such as asthma, diabetes, coronary heart diseases and hypertension may also go off the list.
The Medical Board of the Air Force has also removed 19 drugs like anti-diabetics off the list, which were earlier considered as a “taboo” for flying.
. Rest are in the pipeline and decision is likely in 7-10 days.
Certain abnormalities, however, like disk degeneration will be taken up on a case-to-case basis.
These norms are said to have been relaxed to increase the number of pilots in the Air Force, which is suffering not only from a depleting squadron strength, but also from manpower crunch.
The pilot-cockpit ratio in IAF was only 0.81 for fighter jets as compared to the sanctioned ratio of 1.25 for fighters, 1.5 for transport planes and 1 for helicopters.
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