Expert Opinion
AINsight: Cardiac Calcium Scores for Pilots
Cardiovascular screening is important, so don’t put it off
Human heart
© AdobeStock

To no one’s surprise, pilots are often reluctant to seek medical screenings. The usual cliché (read: excuse) given is to avoid opening the proverbial “can of worms” with the FAA. After all, no good deed goes unpunished. I understand that fear from my own years as a professional pilot, but even back then I did not shy away from appropriate medical screening and care—damn the torpedoes!

As an AME, my opinion is that opening that can of worms sooner rather than later may save a pilot from a severe medical complication and the inherent roadblocks to their future aviation medical certification, let alone their health itself.

Loading…
Robert Sancetta, M.D.
AIN Contributor
About the author

Dr. Robert Sancetta is a former DC-10 captain with 11,000 flight hours. He has worked as a Senior AME since 1993 and is appointed as AME Consultant to the FAA Federal Air Surgeon.

See more by this author