March 15: Directorate General of Civil Aviation earlier on Tuesday has announced that no pilots and cabin crew members will be allowed to fly an aircraft for 48 hours after getting the vaccination against coronavirus.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) in its circular stated, “If there are no symptoms after 48 hours, the air crew (which includes pilots and cabin crew) is fit to resume ‘unrestricted’ flying duties.”
It also claimed that the air crew members will be monitored for 30 minutes after taking the vaccination shot at the COVID-19 vaccination centre itself in order to check any anaphylactic and idiosyncratic reactions in them.
Also read: Alliance Air launches flights from Bilaspur connecting to Delhi under UDAN scheme
DGCA said, “Air crew will be ‘medically unfit for flying’ for 48 hours after vaccination.” It also quoted that if, after 48 hours, the pilot experiences any symptoms, he or she will be reviewed by treating physician or his or her authorised medical attendant.”
Such pilots can be declared fit for flying duties provided they are asymptomatic without any medications and ‘medical care certificate’ to this effect to be obtained,” it added. The DGCA said if the medical unfitness period post-COVID-19 exhibition is more than 14 days, then a ‘special medication examination’ will be required to ascertain fitness for flying.