AFCAT Medical Standards 2026: Flying, Ground Duty & Weapon Systems

AFCAT Medical Standards by Branch

The first step is to identify the branch. The same candidate may be medically unfit for Flying Branch but fit for Ground Duty, because AFCAT separates A1G1 flying standards from A4G1 ground standards.

Branch / role	Medical category	Key standard
Flying Branch - Pilots, WSO, flying cadets	A1G1	Strictest standard: NIL myopia, CP-I colour vision, 162.5 cm standing height and cockpit anthropometry.
Administration / Weapon Systems Branch (ground)	A4G1	Ground standard with CP-II colour perception and correctable 6/6 each eye.
AE(M) / AE(L) Ground Duty Technical	A4G1	Corrected visual acuity 6/9 each eye, CP-II colour perception.
Meteorology	A4G1	6/6 better eye and 6/18 worse eye, CP-II colour perception.
Accounts / Logistics / Education	A4G1	6/6 better eye and 6/18 worse eye, CP-III colour perception.

Practical meaning

Do not read a Flying Branch eyesight rule and assume it applies to Accounts, Logistics or Education. Branch decides the medical category.

Height, Weight and Body Build

AFCAT height standards are branch-sensitive. The Flying Branch has a non-negotiable cockpit-fit standard. Ground Duty entries have separate male/female minimum heights and limited regional relaxation.

Branch / entry	Male	Female
Flying Branch - pilots / FTE / WSO Su-30 MKI	162.5 cm	162.5 cm
Flying Branch - other aircrew	157 cm	157 cm
Ground Duty branches	157.5 cm	152 cm
Ground Duty relaxation: North-East / Uttarakhand hills / Gorkhas	152.5 cm	147 cm
Ground Duty relaxation: Lakshadweep	155.5 cm	150 cm

Flying anthropometry	Minimum	Maximum
Sitting height	81.5 cm	96.0 cm
Leg length	99.0 cm	120.0 cm
Thigh length	Not specified	64.0 cm

Weight is checked against the AFCAT height-weight chart. Underweight below the minimum chart value is not accepted. Overweight may be considered only in exceptional documented national-level body-building, wrestling or boxing cases, with BMI below 27, waist-hip ratio within limits, waist within limits and normal biochemical parameters.

Eyesight, Spectacles and Colour Vision

This is the highest-intent AFCAT medical search cluster because Air Force Flying has no myopia allowance. Ground Duty branches can allow spectacles within branch-specific correction limits.

Branch / medical category	Refractive limit	Visual acuity	Colour perception
Flying Branch A1G1	Hypermetropia +1.5 D Sph; manifest myopia NIL; retinoscopic myopia NIL; astigmatism +0.75 D Cyl within +1.5 D max	6/6 in one eye and 6/9 in the other, correctable to 6/6 only for hypermetropia	CP-I
Admin / Weapon Systems ground A4G1	+3.5 D hypermetropia; -3.50 D myopia; +/-2.50 D Cyl	Correctable to 6/6 each eye; glasses compulsory when VA below 6/6	CP-II
AE(M) / AE(L) A4G1	Same as A4G1 limits	Corrected VA 6/9 each eye	CP-II
Meteorology A4G1	Same as A4G1 limits	6/6 better eye, 6/18 worse eye	CP-II
Accounts / Logistics / Education A4G1	Same as A4G1 limits	6/6 better eye, 6/18 worse eye	CP-III

Flying Branch rule

For AFCAT Flying Branch, manifest myopia and retinoscopic myopia are NIL. Hypermetropia is allowed only up to +1.5 D Sph, and colour perception must be CP-I.

What Happens in the AFCAT Medical Test

After AFSB recommendation, candidates are sent to a Special Medical Board at a designated Armed Forces Medical Services hospital. The board records findings on AFMSF-2 and declares Fit or Unfit. Unfit candidates can apply for an Appeal Medical Board; Review Medical Board is at DGAFMS discretion.

Questionnaire and truthful declaration of medical history on AFMSF-2.
Complete medical and surgical examination, including dental examination.
Ophthalmic examination and ENT examination.
USG abdomen and pelvis for all candidates before commissioning.
Complete hemogram, liver function tests, renal function tests, urine RE/ME and ECG.
X-ray chest PA view and lumbosacral spine AP/lateral views.
For flying duties: cervical spine and dorsal spine X-rays; EEG when indicated by history or examiner judgement.

Female Candidate Standards

Female candidates have the same branch-based Air Force standards, plus female-specific examination rules. Examination is conducted by a Lady Medical Officer or Lady Gynaecologist. Speculum or per-vaginal examination is not done in unmarried candidates. USG lower abdomen and pelvis is mandatory.

Pregnancy causes temporary rejection.
Re-examination is 24 weeks after uncomplicated vaginal delivery.
After Caesarean section, the candidate remains unfit for 52 weeks before re-examination.
Single small fibroid uterus up to 3 cm without symptoms may be fit; larger or cavity-distorting fibroids are unfit.
Unilocular clear ovarian cyst below 6 cm may be fit; complex cyst or simple cyst 6 cm or more is unfit.

Common AFCAT Medical Rejection Traps

Asthma / allergic rhinitis

Repeated bronchial asthma, wheezing or allergic rhinitis is a cause for rejection.

Knock knees

Intermalleolar distance above 5 cm in males or 8 cm in females is unfit.

Flat feet

Flexible painless flat feet may be accepted; rigid or painful planovalgus feet are unfit.

Hyperhidrosis

Mild nervous sweating is physiological; significant palmoplantar hyperhidrosis is unfit.

ACL reconstruction

ACL reconstruction surgery is permanently unfit under AFCAT lower-limb rules.

Thalassaemia trait

Beta Thalassaemia Minor / Trait and Alpha Thalassaemia are unfit.

AFCAT Medical Pages

Flying BranchA1G1 pilot medical standard, cockpit anthropometry, NIL myopia, CP-I colour vision and aircrew-specific checks.EyesightBranch-wise vision limits, spectacles, myopia, hypermetropia, colour perception and ocular muscle balance.Height & WeightFlying and Ground Duty height limits, anthropometry, chest, weight chart logic and overweight rules.For Female CandidatesFemale height/weight, gynaecological examination, pregnancy rules, USG pelvis and branch-specific standards.Ground Duty TechnicalAE(M) and AE(L) medical category, eyesight standard, height, dental and system-wise medical checks.Ground Duty Non-TechnicalAdministration, Weapon Systems ground, Accounts, Logistics, Education and Meteorology standards.Colour BlindnessCP-I, CP-II and CP-III requirements, branch consequences and colour vision decision rules.Medical Test DetailsSMB procedure, mandatory investigations, specialist checks, appeal medical board and practical preparation.Dental14 dental points, functional opposition, implants, orthodontic appliances and common rejection reasons.LASIK & PABTLASIK/PRK/SMILE rules for Air Force branches and how medical eligibility remains separate from PABT.Tattoo PolicyConservative IAF tattoo rule, permitted locations, risky tattoo cases and documentation approach.

Medical board decisions are made by Armed Forces medical specialists. This page is a structured preparation guide, not a substitute for an official medical board opinion.

FAQs

Are AFCAT Flying and Ground Duty medical standards the same?

No. Flying Branch is A1G1 and is stricter, especially for vision, colour perception and anthropometry. Ground Duty branches use A4G1 standards.

Can I join AFCAT Flying with spectacles?

Only plus-power hypermetropia within the Flying limit may be correctable. Any manifest or retinoscopic myopia is unfit for Flying Branch.

What is the minimum height for AFCAT Flying Branch?

For pilots, FTE and WSO Su-30 MKI standards, the minimum standing height is 162.5 cm for both male and female candidates, plus sitting height, leg length and thigh length limits.

Can women apply and clear AFCAT medical?

Yes. Women are eligible for AFCAT entries subject to the same branch standards and female-specific medical examination rules, including mandatory USG pelvis.

Is LASIK allowed in AFCAT?

Yes, if all Air Force refractive surgery conditions are met. Flying duties require NIL residual standard for Pilot / Observer duties.