India's First Trans Pilot Declared 'Unfit' To Fly, Forced To Work As Food Delivery Agent
In 2019, Adam Harry shot to fame for being India's first transgender pilot, set to receive support from the Kerala government to become a commercial pilot. Cut to 2022, he complete his training and as he was about to achieve his dream to fly, his wings were clipped.
Three years later, Adam is working as a delivery agent for the food ordering app, Zomato. Yes, you read that right. And that's because the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) deemed him 'unfit' due to hormone therapy.?
Why was he denied a clearance?
After an extensive medical examination, the DGCA rules that Adam who identifies as transgender is "temporarily unfit" to receive a license to fly because of gender dysphoria, according to a report in The Hindu.
According to UKĄ¯s National Health Service (NHS), the publicly funded healthcare system in England, gender dysphoria is a term that describes a sense of unease that a person may have because of a mismatch between their biological sex and their gender identity.
"This sense of unease or dissatisfaction may be so intense it can lead to depression and anxiety and have a harmful impact on daily life," as per NHS.?And it is this definition that DGCA chose to go by.
In his application form, Adam was forced to take the test as a female person ¨C the gender he was assigned at birth ¨C as DGCA's medical examination form did not include options for non-binary genders.
The youth was assigned female at birth but grew up to identify as a man. He received sex hormone therapy that helps people with gender dysphoria to transition from their biological gender to their desired gender.? ?
So as per the Civil Aviation body, Adam cannot be cleared to become a pilot till he is on hormone therapy. He was apparently told by the officials to first get his hormonal therapy completed and then apply again for the medical test. Why not wait, one may ask. Only because, for transpersons like Adam, hormonal therapy is lifelong.
What is his back story?
The 23-year-old got a private pilot license (PPL) from a university in South Africa but had to return due to a lack of financial support from his parents owing to his gender identity.?A PP license allows its holder to fly an airplane as a hobbyist, whereas a commercial pilot can make a career in flying.?
A native of Ernakulam, Kerala, Adam took up various jobs from working for food delivery apps to restaurants to support himself. That is when the Kerala government offered him a scholarship?to pursue his pilot training with the Rajiv Gandhi Aviation Academy in Thiruvananthapuram in January 2020?under the transgender persons' welfare fund.
What's next for him?
Adam is currently taking "cross-sex hormone therapy". Officials have now advised Adam to finish his hormone therapy and then apply again for the medical test. However, transpersons need medical support for their entire life.
The DCGA has told him that he will not receive clearance until he is on medication, The Hindu reports.
Adam has alleged that?he was asked unpleasant personal questions bordering transphobia. He said he was asked about his physicality and how he would marry someone.
Now, Adam plans to file a writ petition in the High Court against DGCA for denying him his medical certificate. Until then, he rides bikes delivering you food till he is able to fly planes and live his dream again.
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