Can pilots have heart disease?

By some estimates, sudden cardiac death is responsible for 15 percent of all fatalities in the industrialized world [1] or about 450,000 annually in the United States [2]. Heart disease is a common problem among aging pilots and few medical conditions pose a more direct or devastating threat to aviation safety.



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Medical Problems
Unfortunately, some medical or health issues may cause you to fail the extensive medical examinations required to become a pilot. This includes certain heart diseases, conditions such as epilepsy, poor hearing, bad vision, and even common allergies, as certain allergy medications can make you drowsy.

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Who should not travel by air? Diseases that prevent you from boarding a plane
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • A recent stroke.
  • Infectious diseases, such as chickenpox, influenza or even COVID-19.
  • A recent surgery.
  • A pregnancy of over 28 weeks.
  • Angina (chest pain at rest)


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You may feel more breathless, your chest may feel tight. The longer your flight lasts, the more likely you are to experience symptoms. With the right medical advice and precautions, very few people experience problems when they fly.

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Some cardiovascular conditions may disqualify a person from becoming a pilot. Coronary Heart Disease: Pilots with a history of myocardial infarction, coronary artery bypass surgery, or angioplasty may be disqualified. Cardiac Arrhythmias: Irregular heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation, may disqualify a pilot.

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Unfortunately, some medical or health issues may cause you to fail the extensive medical examinations required to become a pilot. This includes certain heart diseases, conditions such as epilepsy, poor hearing, bad vision, and even common allergies, as certain allergy medications can make you drowsy.

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In the U.S., there are no FAA age limits for pilots except for commercial airline pilots employed by airlines certificated under 14 CFR Part 121. These airlines cannot employ pilots after they reach the age of 65. However, these pilots may stay on with a Part 121 carrier in some other role, such as flight engineer.

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This is known as the '1% safety rule'. To fly as a pilot after cardiac surgery is possible; however, special attention to perioperative planning is mandatory.

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Both heart valve replacement and permanent heart pacemaker insertion are “specifically disqualifying medical conditions.” This means that if you hold any class of medical certificate you should self-ground (FAR 61.53) until you obtain a special issuance (waiver); if you see your aviation medical examiner (AME), he or ...

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The short answer is yes. Having a pacemaker should not automatically mean you can't fly.

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Severe episodes (massive embolism) present with collapse, severe breathlessness, and central chest pain. Symptoms of VTE commonly develop during or immediately after a flight, often while still in the airport.

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