Air Canada Pre Employment Medical

[Flaperon]

Hi everyone

I'm currently working towards my CPL and likely like many, aspire to end up at Air Canada.

I realize its years away before I have the experience to apply to AC, but one thing I'm worried about is the pre employment medical, particularly regarding the visual acuity requirements. I got my TC CAT 1 with no issues. I have a prescription of -3.75 and I wear contact lenses and probably cant even read the big E on the chart without them. My corrected vision is 13/20 and so I'm not worried about corrected visual acuity.

I know that TCs cutoff in the past was +- 3.00 diopters, even though its not exactly enforced anymore. I'm just worried its something that AC still enforces.

I've heard the AC is pretty strict on their medical. I don't want to set myself up for disappointment in the future and thought that I'd ask here if anyone else has been in a similar boat and still passed the medical and gotten hired into AC or if anyone has been turned away because of it? Did they send you for additional testing or make it harder to get in?

Feel free to DM if you don't want to share publicly.

Thank you!

[4blue]

I can't speak to Air Canada's requirements, but know that there are thousands of career pilots in Canada earning great wages & supporting families that do not work at Air Canada.

Air Canada can be great, but don't let a fear of not "making it" to Air Canada hold you back from a great career.

Maybe you go work in Sudbury or Thunder Bay or Pickle Lake or Yellowknife or Iqualuit, etc. etc. and never want to leave.

[Admiral Benson]

20/20 corrected for each eye individually is Air Canada's requirement at the initial medical. I'm not sure about the uncorrected as that has been relaxed in the past. But your corrected vision has to be 20/20. However these days laser eye surgery is muscular more accepted in the industry. If you have the option to get a procedure done and then use glasses after that to achieve 20/20 that may be a way forward.

AB

[PilotSL93]

What are the exact medical items that AC look for during the medical apart from 20/20 vision? Is being overweight a problem for the medical even if all other criteria are met?

Asking for a friend who just got invited for an interview.

[CaptDukeNukem]

What are the exact medical items that AC look for during the medical apart from 20/20 vision? Is being overweight a problem for the medical even if all other criteria are met?

Asking for a friend who just got invited for an interview.

I don’t think being overweight on its own would be an issue. However that can lead to Cardio vascular issues so if high blood pressure is measured then it could necessitate further tests or a PFO letter. I think for the most part it’s a CAT 1 medical with a few little “extras”

[BTD]

I am -3.75 in one eye and -3.5 in the other. Have been for 20 years. I was hired years ago with this eyesight. Wear contacts. Without them or glasses I can’t read the big E. Wasn’t an issue.

[Flyboy736]

What are the exact medical items that AC look for during the medical apart from 20/20 vision? Is being overweight a problem for the medical even if all other criteria are met?

Asking for a friend who just got invited for an interview.

-7.75 on my bad eye and they didn't care as well. Just needs to be corrected to 20/30 like a typical medical.

Tell your friend not to eat a bunch of cookies the day before- I knew someone who got delayed due to cholesterol was too high and he attributed it to eating his gf's homemade cookies the night before

[co-joe]

Only problems I've ever hear of are if you get the fat east Indian lady for your medical, and there are lots of bad stories from her. Otherwise it's a straight forward medical exam. If you get her, she'll penetrate you with her finger, and continue bending you over for months afterwards with useless tests and hoops to jump through.

[rooster]

Only problems I've ever hear of are if you get the fat east Indian lady for your medical, and there are lots of bad stories from her. Otherwise it's a straight forward medical exam. If you get her, she'll penetrate you with her finger, and continue bending you over for months afterwards with useless tests and hoops to jump through.

Aren't you a Flair pilot? What would you know about the AC medical?

[CaptDukeNukem]

Only problems I've ever hear of are if you get the fat east Indian lady for your medical, and there are lots of bad stories from her. Otherwise it's a straight forward medical exam. If you get her, she'll penetrate you with her finger, and continue bending you over for months afterwards with useless tests and hoops to jump through.

Aren't you a Flair pilot? What would you know about the AC medical?

Enough to know you get a finger in the bum.

[EPR]

Does she have "small" fingers?

[lownslow]

Does she have "small" fingers?

Yeah, I saw them when she had a hand on each of my shoulders. Wait a minute…

[EPR]

...as long as she doesn't have "man hands"...and a "strap-on"!

[Inverted2]

Does she have "small" fingers?

Yeah, I saw them when she had a hand on each of my shoulders. Wait a minute…

[PilotSL93]

Thank you for all the replies.

Really appreciate it!

[co-joe]

Aren't you a Flair pilot? What would you know about the AC medical?

Are you kidding me? I've been in this industry for over 20 years, Flair isn't the only company that does interviews rooster.

[SMH]

I applied for a position with Air Canada Rouge. My initial ECG results were abnormal during that process, which was quite surprising. However, I was informed that the machine used for the test may have been faulty. When I went for a second ECG for my Air Canada application, the results were normal. I have already sent them my blood test report, which also came back normal, along with a note from my doctor confirming that I am fit for the job. Additionally, I was informed that some of the paperwork I initially submitted was never received. So, I failed the medical. I am fully committed to meeting all the requirements for this role and ensuring that my medical records accurately reflect my health status. I am more than willing to undergo all the required medical exams at my own expense. Can anyone, please let me know if I can retake the medical exam or how I need to proceed? Thanks

[Can Pilot]

I applied for a position with Air Canada Rouge. My initial ECG results were abnormal during that process, which was quite surprising. However, I was informed that the machine used for the test may have been faulty. When I went for a second ECG for my Air Canada application, the results were normal. I have already sent them my blood test report, which also came back normal, along with a note from my doctor confirming that I am fit for the job. Additionally, I was informed that some of the paperwork I initially submitted was never received. So, I failed the medical. I am fully committed to meeting all the requirements for this role and ensuring that my medical records accurately reflect my health status. I am more than willing to undergo all the required medical exams at my own expense. Can anyone, please let me know if I can retake the medical exam or how I need to proceed? Thanks

I'm assuming it's not for a pilot position that you are applying for? You can't apply for Air Canada Rouge if you are a pilot. You can get assigned either mainline or rouge after PIT. Unless you are an FA or another employee.
Do you hold a CAT 1 medical?

[altiplano]

I applied for a position with Air Canada Rouge. My initial ECG results were abnormal during that process, which was quite surprising. However, I was informed that the machine used for the test may have been faulty. When I went for a second ECG for my Air Canada application, the results were normal. I have already sent them my blood test report, which also came back normal, along with a note from my doctor confirming that I am fit for the job. Additionally, I was informed that some of the paperwork I initially submitted was never received. So, I failed the medical. I am fully committed to meeting all the requirements for this role and ensuring that my medical records accurately reflect my health status. I am more than willing to undergo all the required medical exams at my own expense. Can anyone, please let me know if I can retake the medical exam or how I need to proceed? Thanks

I'm not sure what you're applying for, but I suggest to be proactive.

Dozens of applicants slip through the cracks.

Call the Occupational Health office and follow up, make sure they have your reports or find out what else they need to move your file forward. Leave a message for the doctor you saw to follow up on your medical status.