DGCA plans to relax weight-height ratio requirements for female cabin crew

NEW DELHI: India is planning to do away with separate weight-height ratio requirements for airhostesses on one hand and male and female pilots and male cabin crew on the other. A senior Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) official termed it a way of ensuring gender parity in the sky and the regulator has issued the draft rules for this.

"As of now, we have one body mass index (BMI) requirement for pilots (both male and females) and male cabin crew and a separate one for female cabin crew. We are planning to do away with the separate requirements and have one rule for both male and female cabin and cockpit crew," the official said.

He added that the move will not mean obese cabin crew being allowed as they need to be fit to take the required steps during emergencies. "It is not that we are allowing unhealthy BMIs, just that the requirement is very strict and that the same may be relaxes a bit. The draft rules have been issued and the final view will be taken after taking views of all stakeholders and public comments (on the draft civil aviation requirement (CAR) titled ‘medical requirements and examination for cabin crew’)," the official said.

In 2014, the DGCA issued possibly its first set of rules which are now sought to be amended. Under the existing rule, the range for normal, overweight and obese BMI of male cabin crew is 18-25; 25-29.9 and 30 and above. The range for normal, overweight and obese BMI of female cabin crew is stricter at 18-22; 22-27 and 27 and above.

The regulator is now planning to have a common range for all the three, which could mean opting for the existing male BMIs range for all flight personnel — male and female pilots and cabin crew. Regulatory sources insist that the relaxation will not mean allowing overweight or obese cabin crew in aircraft. Crew have to undergo regular medical tests to check their fitness and BMI.

These tests certify crew members as fit, temporarily unfit and permanently unfit. According to DGCA guidelines, overweight cabin crew is declared temporarily unfit. They then get three months to get back in shape followed by another extension of temporary unfit status for another three, six and then another six months. And if they do not meet the BMI requirements in a maximum of 18 months, they are termed permanently unfit.

Being given a ground job means loss of significant amount of flying allowance, that can range anywhere from Rs 35,000 to Rs 50,000 per month. Last January, Air India had grounded 57 cabin crew members, mostly airhostesses, for being overweight.

However, the regulator cautions overweight crew go in for gradual reduction of weight by a combination of diet, exercise and life-style change. "Drastic weight reduction plans, medication and surgery for weight reduction have drawbacks which may affect the cabin crew adversely and are to be avoided," it says.