PILOT CET 2025

A Class 1 medical certificate represents the highest level of medical fitness required for professional pilots either commercial pilots or airline transport pilots (ATPL). Both the Indian DGCA and the U.S. FAA adhere broadly to international ICAO standards but there are several practical differences in process validity and details.

1. Regulatory authority and applicability

The DGCA Class 1 medical certificate is issued under Indian aviation regulations and is required for aspiring commercial pilot (CPL) trainees or working airline pilots operating under DGCA licensed frameworks.
The FAA Class 1 medical is issued under U.S. Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR Part 67) and is required for pilots exercising ATP privileges in U.S. airspace or under FAA oversight.

2. Medical standards and examinations

Both systems look at vision hearing cardiovascular health (ECG possibly echo) pulmonary function general laboratory tests (blood urine) ENT checks and overall physical and psychological fitness.
The FAA lays out very specific vision requirements (e.g. 20/20 distance and 20/40 near vision intermediate vision if over 50) hearing standards (conversational level at 6 ft or audiometry) and mandates ECGs starting at age 35 and annually after age 40.
DGCA exams similarly focus on vision hearing pulmonary ENT lab work ECG/ECHO and psychological screening, with potentially additional local procedural requirements or approved examiner (AME) protocols in India.

3. Validity periods and renewals

Under DGCA a Class 1 medical certificate is valid for 12 months for candidates under 40 and 6 months for those above 40.
The FAA uses essentially the same validity schedule: 12 months for under age 40 pilots and 6 months for older pilots.
One difference: after expiration in the FAA system the certificate may downgrade automatically to second or third class privileges, depending on the pilot’s activities.

4. Application procedure

In India you apply via the DGCA’s e-GCA portal book an appointment with a DGCA approved medical examiner bring required documents (previous medical paperwork ID spectacle prescriptions pilot license-related forms) and undergo the full battery of tests.
For the FAA the process generally begins with a MedXPress online application scheduling a medical exam with an FAA designated Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) and then having the AME issue or upload the certificate electronically.

5. Key practical differences

Even though both follow ICAO standards subtle differences in paperwork local procedural norms examiner accreditation medical-form requirements and administrative processing can mean that a DGCA issued Class 1 medical certificate might not automatically satisfy FAA requirements (or vice versa) without additional steps.
If you plan to train or fly across jurisdictions (e.g. Indian-licensed pilots flying under FAA regulations or vice versa), you’ll want to check the reciprocal acceptance or conversion policy for medical certificates in each jurisdiction, or possibly undertake a separate medical process.

1. Regulatory authority and applicability

2. Medical standards and examinations

3. Validity periods and renewals

4. Application procedure

5. Key practical differences

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What is the difference between DGCA and FAA class 1 medical certificate?

1. Regulatory authority and applicability

2. Medical standards and examinations

3. Validity periods and renewals

4. Application procedure

5. Key practical differences

Commercial Pilot License (4)

Commercial Helicopter Pilot License (2)

Private Helicopter Pilot License (3)

pilot (344)

PPL (1)

SPL (4)