Reminder: You are viewing our sharing site. Content may differ from our live site.
Skip to main content

# Air crew and air traffic controllers - Whole blood and components

## Essential information

Includes

  Air crew:

  - Flight crew
  - Cabin crew
  - Military aircrew
  - Military supernumerary crew

  Air traffic controllers:

  - Civilian controllers
  - Military controllers
Obligatory

  Air crew and air traffic controllers:
  (except military)
  Must not donate if:
  On duty within the next 24 hours.

  Military air crew:
  Must not donate if:
  On duty within the next 36 hours.

  Military controllers:
  Must not donate if:
  On duty within the next 12 hours.

Discretionary

  Non-military crew/controllers holding Class 3 medical certificates:

  If not on duty within the next 12 hours, accept.

## Supporting information

Additional information

  The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) guidelines state:

  "In order to prevent the very slight risk of post-donation faintness or syncope, donating blood or plasma should be avoided during the 24 hours before duty for holders of Class 1 and 2 medical certificates, and during the 12 hours before duty for holders of Class 3 medical certificates."

  There is no CAA guidance for crew that are not required to hold these types of medical certification. Donors to whom this applies, including cabin crew and some private pilots, should be advised not to donate if they are on duty within the next 24 hours in line with commercial pilots and other flight crew.

  The Ministry of Defence (MOD) guidelines state:

  "Aircrew and Supernumerary Crew should not fly until 36 hours have elapsed after donating blood."

  and

  "Military and MOD Contracted Civilian Controllers should not control until 12 hours have elapsed after donating blood."

Reason for change:
  Updated Civil Aviation Authority advice for holders of Class 3 medical certificates has been added.
Version details:

  WB-DSG Edition 203 Release 69 (04 July 2023)

BETA

We recently updated this website. Help us improve it – give your feedback (opens in new tab)