Originally Posted by
aa73
All correct, except for the "astronaut physical", which was no more when AA started hiring in Jan '98. The physical after that was pretty much a walk in the park - hearing, eyesight, pee in a cup, and that's about it. Nothing like what it used to be.
I must have imagined that chest and abdomen X-Ray, as well as that EKG! This was in the summer of 2000, so maybe they "tweaked" it from when they started the first hiring. It wasn't a no-go item as they legally couldn't do it until after the interview, but it was a lot more than an FAA First Class. It was also not nearly as bad as it was in the "old days" - two or three-stage physicals, playing with your poo, etc. At least that's what I heard from Captains I flew with!
Ah, memories!