Though modern aircraft operate mainly at altitudes between 25000-45000 ft, the cabin is pressurized to maintain an altitude between 5000-8000 ft, thereby overcoming most of the physiological problems encountered at such high altitudes. This is one of the features of air travel that makes it so suitable for the rapid transport of seriously ill patients. However, one should realize that the environment of flight is unnatural to man and thereby imposes considerable demands on the body systems.
Guidelines for assessing guest's firness for travel
When assessing a patient's fitness for air travel, the effects of reduced atmospheric pressure and consequent reduction in oxygen tension must be considered. Even in pressurized aircraft, the cabin pressure will be equivalent to an altitude of 5000-8000 feet. Although each case will be considered on its merit, the following guidelines are laid for the treating physician's reference:
Critical heart and respiratory conditions (e.g. decompensate cardiac patients / patients with severe valvular disease / unstable angina / significant cardiac arrhythmias / severe asthma) are usually not permitted to fly. Patients with recent coronary occlusion with myocardial infarction are normally not permitted to fly within 3-6 weeks of onset. Patients who have undergone angioplasties are usually allowed to fly only after 4-7 days. Cases of uncontrolled severe hypertension are not allowed to fly. Patients with severe bronchitis, emphysema, and other conditions where respiratory exchange is compromised or may be affected by the hypoxia are permitted to fly only if arrangements are made for supplemental oxygen for inflight use and are accompanied by a medical escort. Patients with active open tuberculosis / untreated pneumothorax are not permitted to fly. Cases with tracheostomies are permitted to fly only if accompanied by medical escort and suitable equipment.
Introduction of air into body cavities for diagnostic / therapeutic purposes are allowed to fly only after 7 days following the procedure.
Cases of psychiatric disorder are allowed to fly only if sedated and accompanied by medical escort.
Mentally challenged / Autistic patients are permitted only with medical clearance and medical attendant.
CVA / Head injury - permitted only after 2-3 weeks
Severe cases of acute otitis media / Sinusitis / post middle ear surgery permitted to fly only after 2-3 weeks.
Patients with acute contagious / communicable diseases are not allowed to fly
Patients with fractures of the Mandilble with fixed wiring of the jaws are not allowed to fly
POP casts should be bivalved in case flying is required within the first 48 hours of their application
Peptic ulceration with hemorrhage - not permitted within 2-3 weeks of onset, except when permitted by the treating consultant. Flying may be permitted after 2-3 weeks of a MINOR laparoscopic procedure.
Post-operative cases are usually not permitted to fly within:
10 days of abdominal operations
21 days of chest surgery
Domestic sectors: Pregnant ladies can travel up to 36 weeks if no complications. At the end of 36 weeks to 38 weeks, they require a fitness certificate from a gynecologist and at least an MBBS doctor to accompany. Beyond 38 weeks, flying is not permitted.
International sectors: In cases of uncomplicated single pregnancy, medical clearance (specifying the number of weeks of pregnancy) is required from the start of the 29th week. Flying is not permitted beyond 35 weeks. Cases of multiple pregnancy / complicated single pregnancy are accepted only till the end of the 32nd week, provided they have medical clearance from the treating obstetrician and are accompanied by an MBBS doctor.
Guests are allowed to fly after 48 hours of normal delivery provided they have medical clearance. Newborns are not allowed to fly in the first 7 days of life, unless they are medically cleared by the treating neonatologist and are accompanied by at least an MBBS doctor
Patients with Deep Vein Thrombosis should not fly till patient is stabilized on anticoagulant therapy and there are no pulmonary complications
Patients with severe Anemia (Hb
Patients with uncontrolled Diabetes Mellitus are not permitted to fly
Patients with impaired mobility should be provided with diapers / condom / indwelling catheters
Flying is not permitted for 3-6 weeks following surgery for Retinal detachment
In all cases where your fitness to fly is in doubt, please consult your treating physician prior to making the reservation. Full consultation with the airline's medical department well before the flight is important, if inconvenience / health risk to the patient / others is to be avoided. Knowledge of the principles involved & the facilities available, combined with co-operation between the guest, his / her treating physician and the airline's medical department will ensure that almost all such guests travel safely & with minimum inconvenience.
Special Note: Duly completed MEDIF Forms should be forwarded to our Regional Medical Dept. 24-48 hrs prior to the date of flight. A MEDIF Form that has been filled more than 2 days prior to date of flight will usually not be accepted. Jet Airways’ doctor's decision regarding fitness of guests to fly / requirement of medical escort will be final. If at time of embarkation the condition of the guest has further deteriorated, carriage may be refused. Any case, which Jet Airways feels might jeopardize the safety or operation of the aircraft, will not be accepted. Patients with symptoms likely to worsen during flight / cause distress or inconvenience to other guest will not be accepted. MEDIF Forms for all medical cases will have to be sent to our Medical Dept for approval.
Guests are requested to carry all medications that they may require inflight in their hand luggage. Guests who have a medical condition are also requested to carry all details regarding their illness (including hospital discharge cards, treatment details, relevant medical history details, doctor's certificates, etc) as well as the recommended treatment in case of an anticipated emergency, in their hand luggage. It is not possible for cabin crew to refrigerate guest’s medications, & if this is required, guests should carry their own cool bag or vacuum flask.
The attendant should ensure that all items / medical equipment brought on the aircraft by the patient (needles, syringes, unused medication) are removed at the time the patient is disembarked from the aircraft.
Inform our reservation staff at the time of reservation that the guest traveling is a medically ill guest. The MEDIF Form has to be filled by the doctor treating the guest. Click here to down load the MEDIF form.
The completed MEDIF Form and a detailed certificate from the doctor, certifying other relevant medical information of the patient's illness / condition should be faxed/emailed to our Jet Airways doctors at the following numbers:
For your information Jet Airways doctors are stationed at:
Approval of the MEDIF FORM is to be obtained from our doctors at the nearest office as mentioned above. E.g. for a guest travelling Bhuj-Mumbai-Cochin, MEDA clearance should be obtained from the Jet Airways doctor in Mumbai.
Only after obtaining clearance from our Jet Airways doctors can the guest be booked and then accepted for travel Click on the relevant form to download them:MEDIF Form
MEDA passengers will be accepted for travel only if found "fit to travel" at the time of check-in. Prior clearance does not guarantee carriage if the condition of the guest has deteriorated after clearance has been obtained.
Click here for the frequently asked questions on medical emergencies.
Cases requiring uplift of additional oxygen cylinders should submit the duly filled MEDIF form at least 48 – 72 hours in advance, so that the necessary arrangements can be made. Ventilators and personal oxygen cylinders / oxygen concentrators are not permitted on the aircraft. However FAA approved Personal Oxygen Concentrators may be carried on flights to / from the USA.
Limited number of oxygen cylinders are available in the aircraft for use in emergencies. Additional therapeutic oxygen can be provided on request only if 72-96 hours advance notice is given. Note: However, the aircraft oxygen cylinders can deliver oxygen only at fixed flow rates of 2 or 4 litres / minutes.
Due to security reasons, personal oxygen cylinders will not be carried on board the aircraft.
Cases requiring oxygen should be accompanied by an escort who is familiar with the procedure of administering oxygen, or by a qualified nurse / doctor.
The attendant should ensure that all items / medical equipment brought on the aircraft by the patient (needles, syringes, unused medications) are removed at the time the patient is disembarked from the aircraft.
Jet Airways accepts guests traveling on a stretcher on 9W / S2 operated flights only, on domestic, Gulf and SAARC (Colombo, Dhaka and Kathmandu) routes operated with the aircraft type Boeing 737. Travel on a stretcher is subject to prior approval.Reservations
Minimum reservation time for stretchers is 24 hours from metro cities, 48 hours for other stations and for Gulf 72 hours including domestic connections.
Cases requiring uplift of additional oxygen cylinders should submit the duly filled MEDIF form at least 24–72 hours in advance for domestic and 72-96 hrs for Gulf flights, so that the necessary arrangements can be made. Only one stretcher case per aircraft will be permitted in the Economy Class Cabin.FaresDomestic:
Nine times the adult basic one-way highest adult Economy Class fare plus one time charge of all applicable taxes, surchages and fees for the guest traveling on the stretcher.
Guest accompanying the stretcher passenger (maximum of 3) will pay only the applicable taxes and surcharges.
Any additional accompanying guests are not included in the stretcher party and must purchase separate tickets with the applicable fare.
Six times the adult basic one-way highest adult Economy Class fare plus one time charge of all applicable taxes, surchages and fees for the guest traveling on the stretcher.
Any accompanying guests must purchase separate tickets with the applicable fare.
The Checked Baggage Allowance for Domestic flights is the applicable baggage allowance for six seats plus that of any attendants in the same PNR. E.g. if there are two attendants, then the applicable checked baggage allowance is for 6 seats + 2 attendants = 8 persons (i.e. 8 X 20 kgs =160 kgs).
The Checked baggage allowance for Gulf flights is the applicable baggage allowance for 6 seats (i.e. 6 X 30 kgs = 180 kgs).
Each guest will be allowed to carry only the single entitlement of hand baggage and personal articles.
MEDIF clearance for all stretcher cases will be done by the Medical Department of Jet Airways at Mumbai / Delhi / Kolkata / Chennai
Guests traveling on a stretcher must be accompanied by a medical escort (doctor, with minimum MBBS) or paramedical escort (registered nurse) or non-medical escort, as per the decision of the medical department.
A fresh MEDIF form on the day of travel may be asked for in select cases. If the guest’s medical condition has deteriorated at the time of departure, permission to fly may be refused. In all cases, the decision of the Jet Airway's medical department regarding the fitness of guest to fly and the type of escort required will be final.
The MEDIF Form should be complete, accurately and legibly filled by the patient's treating doctor and faxed / emailed to the appropriate Jet Airways Medical Department at least 24-48 hours prior to the flight for domestic and 72-96 hours for Gulf. All medical details asked for must be completed. The guest must produce a certificate from his/her treating doctor certifying that he is fit to travel by air and is free from any contagious disease as well as a detailed medical report from the treating doctor. These documents should be also faxed / emailed to the Medical Department for approval.
Jet Airways doctor on duty will certify that the guest is fit to travel and fax / email the MEDIF form back to the departure station
On the day of travel a fresh MEDIF form may be asked for in certain cases. If the guest’s medical status is noted to have deteriorated, as compared to the details provided in the MEDIF form, permission to fly may be refused.
1 hour prior to departure of the flight
Relatives and guest must also request their treating physicians to refer to the 'GUIDELINES' printed on the MEDIF Form. Kindly note the following:
Due to safety reasons, personal oxygen cylinders will not be carried on board the aircraft
Cabin Staff are trained in first aid only and are not expected to render special nursing care to critically ill cases. Cabin crew is not permitted to administer injections or open physician kits, which contain life saving drugs and equipments. These kits can be opened only under instructions of Registered Medical Practitioners.
No medical support will be provided by Jet Airways. The guest will have to be accompanied by a qualified medical escort, i.e. a doctor (minimum Indian degree equivalent MBBS or US degree equivalent MD). A registered nurse or non-medical escort may be permitted in rare cases, solely at the discretion of the medical department.
Guest needs to liaise with respective Airport Manager for ambulift facilities well in advance
Ground and Transit oxygen arrangements are to be made by the guest in conjunction with the Airport manager or ground staff in liaison with AAI or the local airport governing authority.
The attendant should ensure that all items / medical equipment brought on the aircraft by the patient (needles, syringes, unused medications.) are removed at the time the patient is disembarked from the aircraft.
Jet Airways would be responsible only for the transport of the guest by air from one sector to another. Arrangements for and cost of all equipment / medications / accompanying medical escorts / ambulift facility, urine bags, diapers etc., would have to be borne by the guest. Note
Stretcher cases will be accepted on all non-stop, direct and connecting flights provided all the flights involved are in the same ticket and are operated by 9W and S2.
Interline travel is not permitted on any other carrier except S2.
The distance between the cabin overhead panel and stretcher top cushion is 2 feet and the height of the stretcher from the floor is 3.39 feet.
The stretcher is installed as per the manufacturer's recommendations and we regret that individual requests for any alteration in installation cannot be met.
JPMiles for only one seat will be credited for the guest using stretcher, as per the booked class of travel on domestic and Gulf flights.
All equipments are battery operated (dry, non-spillable, sealed batteries only).
The battery does not need to be recharged in-flight (no recharging facilities are available onboard)
The equipment is life-saving and will be required in-flight.
It will not emit any electromagnetic radiation which could interfere with the communication/navigation of the aircraft or aircraft equipment.
There is an adequate supply of fully charged batteries, i.e., sufficient for 150% of maximum expected flight duration. Additional batteries must be packed as per IATA DGR.
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