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.

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.

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