Fitness to fly guidance summarised by MIMS

By Chloe Harman on the 20 December 2019

Healthcare professionals can now consult a helpful MIMS summary of Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidance when assessing a patient's fitness to fly.

Airlines may ask patients to provide letters or medical certificates confirming that a person’s medical condition is stable and the patient is 'fit to fly'. | GETTY IMAGES

Patients planning to fly must notify the airline of any medical condition that could affect their fitness to fly.

The patient’s doctor may be required to send information to the airline including: the nature of the patient's condition and its severity/stability; medication being taken; and any pertinent information regarding mobility.

The MIMS summary explains how this information can be submitted and the factors to consider when assessing fitness to fly for patients with conditions including cardiovascular disorders, diabetes and respiratory disease and for women who are pregnant.

The full CAA guidance provides additional information to consider including the effect of decreased air pressure in the cabin, immobility, timings of medication, the mental and physical effect of navigating through airports and the need for health insurance.

MIMS also provides a quick-reference summary of DVLA guidance on fitness to drive.