Angioplasty - Fitness to fly

[Desk Flyer]

Hi
Having had angioplasty surgery and a stent fitted to an artery, are you able to take a backseat Pax ride in a fast jet?
DF

[MATELO]

If you can fly with a new heart and lungs, angioplasty shouldn't be a problem.

However, in today's 'elf n' safety, who knows what barriers would be put up.

[Herod]

I presume it would be a decision for your life assurance policy. They may want a medical with an AME, but I guess if they clear you that's it.

[tucumseh]

I'd say that there is no easy answer. For example, they'd want to know if you had a heart attack first, or was it a preventative procedure. You have to ask the decision maker, and he'll take specialist medical advice.

[alfred_the_great]

Are you forces or civ?

Civ - I very much doubt it.

Mil - possibly. It will depend upon your medcat, any permanent restrictions as a result of your surgery, and the mood of the aviation medical officer reviewing your file. I can fly as a pax in a FJ despite a heart condition, but it took about a month for the permission to come through. I suggest you engage early with your MO, and get the MO to liaise with which ever station MO you are flying from.

[tdracer]

Talk to your cardiologist first and see what he(she) says - then if necessary get them to talk to whoever is responsible for your flight status.
Although I'm not a pilot, I have personal experience - a heart attack 19 years ago when I was 42 - angioplasty and stint. I was really lucky - no meaningful heart damage and I was almost literally good as new two weeks later.
When I asked my cardiologist if I could resume auto-racing he responded that racing was dangerous and hence not something he'd recommend, but that my heart was fine and the condition of my heart should not be a factor...

[Pontius Navigator]

He is 61.

Want to fly, take the risk, say nowt. Perhaps tell pilot on the QT, no aeros, low G.

[Desk Flyer]

Thanks for the very useful advice guys, I do feel reassured now, but will take further advice from the MO.
DF

[alfred_the_great]

He is 61.

Want to fly, take the risk, say nowt. Perhaps tell pilot on the QT, no aeros, low G.

Professional.

Nice.

[tartare]

And it's never been done before Alfred?

[air pig]

Actually you are quite possibly a lower risk than anybody else, you know the state of your coronaries unlike everybody else.

[YellowTom]

Please check with the MO and if he clears you, which I hope he does, then give the pilot and approving officer copies of their clearance. That's the world we live in today.

[megan]

Friend was out for a walk and started getting chest pains. Saw the medico and a stent inserted. Returned to professional aviating. Of course, an individuals specific case may impact the outcome I presume, not being a medico.

[Pontius Navigator]

AtG, and aircrew never fly when unfit.

[tartare]

Precisely.

[YellowTom]

AtG, and aircrew never fly when unfit.

PN, times change. There's "feeling rough and wish I wasn't flying" and "unfit for flying". I know myself nor any of my rear crew colleagues would never step onboard these days if we were unfit to fly. That's a burden we could never justify putting on the captain and an easy way to end your career. The decision making process for the captain, or pilots in single seat aircraft, may well be different, I don't know but certainly these days the chances of being "caught out" medically before take off or after landing are a lot higher than ever ten years ago.

[57mm]

I was, shall we say, extremely economical with the truth with the MO, but it got me my Typhoon trip. And boy, was it worth it! :ok:

[alfred_the_great]

AtG, and aircrew never fly when unfit.


And when they kill people, that's all cool?

FML - you're a cowboy, and I don't say that admiringly.

[Pontius Navigator]

YT, true. Probably the ethos of the constituted crew and so some extent the pressure and the sortie.

My original point however is the OP has to bear the risk, doctor's opinion or not. He knows his own body and any day-to-day limitations. I was given 4-6 weeks for post-op recovery. Until day 28 I had issues. On day 28 I felt 100%. I waited until day 42 before resuming all my activities. What could my surgeon add had I asked him.

The OP's surgeon should have given him post-op life style advice, his GP will probably know no better.

[alfred_the_great]

YT, true. Probably the ethos of the constituted crew and so some extent the pressure and the sortie.

My original point however is the OP has to bear the risk, doctor's opinion or not. He knows his own body and any day-to-day limitations. I was given 4-6 weeks for post-op recovery. Until day 28 I had issues. On day 28 I felt 100%. I waited until day 42 before resuming all my activities. What could my surgeon add had I asked him.

The OP's surgeon should have given him post-op life style advice, his GP will probably know no better.

No he doesn't - the pilot and authorising officer as well will bear that risk.

Probably the Medical Officer who signed off his flight as well.

But that's all cool, isn't it?

[camelspyyder]

Will the SMO sign him off?
I seem to remember completing a formal pre-flight medical for my FJ pax ride a couple of years back, despite holding a current aircrew medical Cat at the time.