Ministry of Health proposes regulations on chest measurement and BMI standards for pilots and flight attendants

The Ministry of Health is seeking comments on a draft circular regulating standards and health examinations to classify students, workers and jobs requiring specific health requirements such as: driving, piloting airplanes, driving trains and ships... This circular is expected to be issued in 2024.

In this draft, the Ministry of Health details the health standards for drivers of all classes of cars, railway staff directly serving train operations, crew members working on Vietnamese ships, aviation staff (commercial and private pilots; flight attendants; air traffic controllers, etc.).

Bộ Y tế đề xuất quy định số đo vòng ngực với phi công, tiếp viên - Ảnh 1.

To become a civil pilot, one must go through rigorous health screening rounds. Illustrative photo

The draft stipulates health standards for aviation staff with a body mass index (BMI) greater than or equal to 18 and less than 30, and an average chest circumference (cm) of more than 50% compared to height.

According to the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO), a person's BMI is calculated by the formula: body weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m). According to WHO classification, adults, except pregnant women, if BMI is from 25-29.9 are considered overweight, BMI from 30 or more is obese.

If BMI is between 23 and under 25, it is considered overweight; BMI from 25-30 is grade 1 obesity; from 30-35 is grade 2 obesity and over 35 is grade 3 obesity.

In addition to the general criteria for aviation staff mentioned above, for specific occupational groups, the draft sets out standards such as: Male commercial pilots must be 1.65 m tall and weigh over 52 kg; females must be 1.58 m tall and weigh over 50 kg.

For flight attendants, men need to be 1.62 m or taller and weigh 52 kg or more, while women need to be 1.54 to 1.58 m tall and weigh 45 kg.

For flight attendants working in other job departments, men need to be 1.60 - 1.62 m tall and weigh 52 - 53 kg.

The draft also sets out health standards for drivers in specialties such as neurology, ophthalmology, respiratory, cardiovascular, endocrine, musculoskeletal, etc.

In particular, people with one of the following mental health conditions (acute and chronic mental disorders that cannot control behavior...), eyes (disorders in recognizing the 3 basic colors: Red, yellow, green)... are not qualified to drive a class A1 vehicle (issued to drivers of two-wheeled motorbikes with a capacity from 50 cm³ to under 175 cm³).

People who do not meet the health requirements to drive a class B1 vehicle (issued to drivers of automatic cars carrying up to 9 people, including the driver's seat; some types of trucks, cars for the disabled, not issued to professional drivers) if they have one of the following neurological conditions or disabilities: Dizziness due to pathological causes...; eyes (disorder in recognizing the 3 basic colors: Red, yellow, green...

People who are not qualified to drive class A2, A3, A4, B2, C, D, E... if they have one of the following problems: Epilepsy, paralysis of one or more limbs; cardiovascular problems such as low blood pressure with a history of symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, drowsiness or fainting...); amputation or loss of function of 2 or more fingers of 1 hand or amputation or loss of function of 1 or more feet...

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