“It is a prestigious project for us. The DGCA approached us some three months back to conduct Class I medical tests and inspected our hospital for it. We signed an MoU with the DGCA for the same on December 26 and we will start conducting the Class I medicals tests for CPLs in the second week of January,” says Dr Dilpreet Brar, Chief Administrator, Max Super Specialty Hospital (MSSH), Delhi.

He adds that what is involved is a basic fitness examination, including blood test, eye check-up and EEG. Brar says they already have applicants approaching them and, given the response, they may have facilities for the test at more than one branch.

Nanavati Hospital is in the process of putting together a team and some infrastructure to handle CPL applicants. “There will soon be online integration of the data with the DGCA so that applicants can access us through the DGCA as well as the hospital’s website,” says Dr Hiral Sarin, Manager of OPD at Nanavati Hospital.

The hospitals will be setting up a special panel of doctors to conduct the tests, while a DGCA specialist will be on board to clear the test reports.

The Federation of Indian Pilots (FIP) has long been demanding easing of licensing rules, complaining of the long waiting period at Air Force medical centres.

“This step should have been taken years back to prevent the shortage of pilots we face now. The FIP has been demanding this for years and the Kaw Committee, taking it into account, even made a recommendation for it. But the Government has simply been dragging its feet. The move will definitely help shorten the current waiting period,” FIP vice-president Capt V K Kukar says.