Fitness To Fly

Cardiovascular:

• Contraindicated:
  • Unstable angina
  • Uncontrolled hypertension/arrhythmias
  • Decompensated heart failure
  • Severe symptomatic vascular disease – Post-MI:
  • Uncomplicated: No flying for 7-10 days
  • Complicated: No flying for 4-6 weeks
• Post-CABG: No flying for 10-14 days
• Post-PCI: No flying 5 days

Respiratory:

• Pneumonia: Can fly if clinically improved – Pneumothorax:
  • Can fly 2 weeks post-drainage
  • Requires chest X-ray at 1 week

Pregnancy:

• Single: No travel >36 weeks
• Multiple: No travel >32 weeks
• Certificate required to fly if >28 weeks

Surgery:

• Abdominal: No travel >10 days
• Laparoscopic: No travel >24 hours
• Colonoscopy: No travel >24 hours – Plaster cast:
  • Flights <2 hours: No flying >24 hours
  • Flights >2 hours: No flying >48 hours

Other Conditions:

DVT: No flying until 2 weeks on anticoagulation – Haematological: Safe if Hb >8 g/dL