Sl No	Medical Category	Functional Capacity	Employability
1	A 1	Physically well developed. Capable of enduring severe physical and mental stress of service flying in any part of the world. Has normal hearing and binocular visual acuity.	Fit for full flying duties. Fit to fly any type of aircraft commensurate with anthropometric measurements.
2	A 2	Physically well developed. Capable of enduring physical and mental stress of service flying. May have minor impairment in hearing, visual acuity or functional capacity not interfering with flying. Fit for duties in any part of the world.	Fit for full flying duties with minor impairment well compensated by flying experience. May use glasses for correction of vision. May have limitations in flying certain types of aircraft (like Tpt/Heptrs only or ASF/attack Heptrs)/or performance of specific flying duties. May have restrictions for instructional duties.
3	A 3	Functional capacity impaired to the extent of interfering with unrestricted flying. Defect/disability controlled and adequately compensated for restricted flying duties only. Possesses hearing and visual acuity commensurate with restricted flying. Must be psychologically stable. Might have suffered from disease/injuries/operative procedures, which are now well stabilized to a degree, which will not interfere with safe operation of the aircraft.	Fit for flying duties with limitations specified by medical board. Unfit to fly as Captain of the aircraft. May have additional restrictions, which may be type of mission, type of ac, altitude restrictions, levels of 'g' stress and any other specific restriction as specified by the board. Fit to fly trainers/multicrew ac only. Such pilots will be allowed to fly only with other pilots possessing higher flying qualifications or experience than the individual him/her self.
4	A 4	Functional capacity impaired to the extent that it interferes with flying duties as an aircrew, but does not interfere of ground duties as a passenger. Officers of ground duties branches possess full functional capacity or impaired functional capacity not interfering with flying as a passenger.	Unfit to fly as an aircrew. Fit to fly as a passenger only.
5	A t	Functional capacity is not compatible with any form of military duties.	Temporarily unfit for flying. However, fit to fly as patient when so considered by the authorized medical attendant.
6	A P	Has gross limitation in physical/mental capacity without possibility of improvement in reasonable time.	Permanently unfit for military duties. However, fit to fly as a patient when so considered by authorized medical attendant.
7	G 1	Physically well developed. Possesses full functional capacity good eyesight and hearing. Capable of enduring severe physical and mental stress for prolonged periods.	Fit for all ground duties in any part of the world.
8	G 2	Physical capacity and stamina slightly less than G 1. Capable of enduring physical and mental stress at a standard slightly lower than G1. Free from active disease requiring treatment, but many have minor defects which do not restrict employment.	Fit for all ground duties, but slightly below G 1 standard, in any part of the world.
9	G 3	Has moderate physical capacity and stamina. Possesses reasonable degree of visual acuity, hearing and psychological stability as to withstand normal stress and strain. Suffered from disease/injury/operative procedure, which is now stabilized to a degree, which will not restrict employment.	Fit for all ground duties not involving unusual stress. May have restrictions in employment in area > 2, 700 meters ASL. Fit for PT/Parade/Sports/Night Duties
10	G 4	Has significant / major disablement with limited / restricted physical capacity and stamina. Capable of undergoing limited physical exertion. Suffered from disease/injury/operative procedure which is not fully stabilized. May have defect of limb corrected by well fitting prosthesis.	Fit for routine duties not involving severe physical and mental stress in areas below 2, 700 meters altitude.
11	G t	Temporarily incapacitated for any form of military duty due to sickness/injury.	Temporarily unfit for any form of military duties.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Explanatory Notes

Note 1

Each Officer and Airmen Aircrew shall be awarded appropriate Aerial (A) and Ground (G) category. As a rough guide A1 / G1 means full medical category with fitness to severe is any part of the world A2 / G2 would be appropriate for cases with mild disease or disability where there is minimal limitation of function and only requires periodic observation. Such persons are fit to perform duties in any part of the world. A3 would imply moderate disability fit for restricted flying as co pilot only. Similarly G3 / BEE would imply moderate disability fit for duties not involving severe stress. A4 (for aircrew) / G4 / CEE would imply severe disability: fit for sedentary duties only.

Note 2

Branch of the officer and airmen aircrew shall be indicated after the medical category e.g. Fit A1G1 F (P). Fit A4G1 AE (L). Aircrew other than pilots will continue to retain their aircrew category even when posted in ground tenures. They should be assessed as such and appropriate endorsement in the ACR be made accordingly.

Note 3

Only the following combinations are permissible with Aerial Medical Category A1, A2 and A3: - A1G1, A2G1, A2G2, A3G1, A3G2.

Note 4

Temporary medical category shall not be awarded for more than 24 weeks at a time. Normally, temporary medical category will not be awarded for more than a total period of two years.

Note 5

Medical category for Commissioning for Officers of Flying Branch must be A1G1 and for Officers of Ground Duties Branch A4G1 Minimum medical category for branch commissioning is A4G2 (P).In exceptional cases, on the request of Dte of Trg, DGMS (Air) may accord a specific waiver in accordance with para 5.4.13 for commissioning of aircrew in medical category A2 (P) / G1 or G2 (P) and for ground duties in medical category A4G2 (P). Final acceptance of such cases will be with the approval of AOP.

Note 6

When an officer of Flying Branch or airmen aircrew is found permanently unfit for flying duties as aircrew but is fit for ground duties and to fly as passenger the appropriate medical category will be recorded followed by an endorsement "Permanently unfit, A1, A2 and A3".

Note 8

Air categories will only be adjudged by competent medical board, which would necessarily include an Air Force Medical Officer well versed with Aviation Medicine. Any opinion given by specialist other than the air force may not be considered.

EQUATION OF GROUND MEDICAL CATEGORY ARMY, NAVY AND AIR FORCE

"SHAPE" system classifying functional capacity mainly relates to the "G" factor of Air Force Medical Category. Therefore as a general guide, the following are to be considered equivalent in the system of medical categorization in Army, Navy and Air Force.

SHAPE 'A' Factor 'G' Factor 'A' Factor
(Army) (Navy) (Air Force) (Air Force)

1. A 1 G 1 / G 2 A 1 to A 3
2. A 2 G 3 A 4
3. A 3 G 4 A 4
4. A 4 G (t) A (t)
5. A 5 G (P) A (P)