A number of abnormalities or ailments which earlier rendered people unfit to gain entry into the Air Force or fly aircraft are soon set to go.
With no scientific evidence to back notions like spinal deformities affect flying, the Air Force will soon modify its medical norms for pilots and new applicants declared unfit due to this reason.
Also, with new medical technologies and better drugs available for treatment, several ailments like asthma, diabetes, coronary heart diseases, 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.
“After going through several national and international literature and various research we have done in our Institute Of Aerospace Medicine, we are trying to get some of the pilots, who are declared unfit for flying...
“We are looking into those issues and taking out a new order for commissioning, selection and flying purposes and they will be declared fit (for flying),” Air Marshal Pawan Kapoor, Director General Medical Services (Air) said referring to spinal deformities.