Information for pilots & air traffic controllers

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and aviation safety fact sheet

In coronary artery disease (CAD) there is a slow build-up of fatty deposits on the inner wall of the blood vessels that supply the heart muscle with blood (the coronary arteries).

These fatty deposits gradually clog the arteries and reduce the flow of blood to the heart. This process, called atherosclerosis, begins when people are young and can be well advanced by middle age. The condition, left untreated, can lead directly to coronary heart disease.

There is no single cause for coronary artery disease, but there are 'risk factors' that increase your chance of developing it, including smoking and exposure to second hand smoke; high blood cholesterol ; high blood pressure; diabetes; physical inactivity; being overweight; and depression, social isolation and a lack of social support. Other risk factors include being male, advancing age and having a family history of coronary heart disease.

While some of these risk factors (such as age and gender) can't be changed, the good news is that there are many steps that you can take to reduce your risk of developing coronary artery disease.

Effect of aviation on condition

Stressful phases of flight can force the cardiac system to work harder.
The sedentary nature of aviation can be detrimental to this condition.

Effect of condition on aviation

Coronary artery disease is associated with:

distracting pain
acute shortness of breath
arrhythmia
sudden death.

Effect of treatment on aviation

Some drug therapies can limit your G-tolerance.
Antiplatelets (medicines that stop blood cells from clotting) can cause bleeding in the brain.

Implications for Pilots and Controllers

Pilots and controllers who have been diagnosed with CAD are required to ground themselves and notify this condition to their DAME and CASA AvMed.
A minimum of six months grounding is required following a heart attack or coronary artery intervention except in some cases of stent implant or coronary by-pass surgery.
There is an increased risk of another event during this time, even in those cases that have been successfully treated.
Annual review will be required as a minimum.
Multi-crew restriction may be required for pilots.
The risk of future events is greatly reduced by lifestyle modification and the use of preventative medications.

Approach to medical certification

You will need to be grounded for at least six months after experiencing either myocardial infarction (a heart attack) or after most coronary artery procedures (stents, balloon angioplasty, coronary artery bypass etc.) before CASA can conduct a risk assessment.

If you have been given a stent, CASA may be able to consider recertification any time after six weeks after the procedure, depending on your cardiologist’s reports and DAME evaluation.

You will need to see a cardiologist before seeking certification or recertification. Please see the CASA Clinical Practice Guidelines for more information.

More likely to be certified

You are more likely to be certified or recertified if:

There is an absence of significant symptoms during the grounding period
Your doctor reports you are effectively managing risk factors such as smoking, lipids, glucose, appropriate medication
Ongoing anticoagulation / antiplatelet therapy as advised by specialist
Successful surgical management e.g. Percutaneous angioplasty and stent or coronary artery bypass grafting

Less likely to be certified

You are less likely to be certified or recertified if:

Persisting angina or ongoing requirement for angina medications
Exertional dyspnoea
Evidence of reversible ischaemia (note: findings on coronary angiogram do not negate the prognostic significance of reversible ischaemia)
Evidence of rhythm disturbance
LV ejection fraction <50% or significant abnormality of wall motion on echocardiogram

You are unique

Every patient is different. Each person affected by coronary artery disease will face unique problems and have different needs.
You should seek medical advice about this condition.

Further information

For further information see:

Australian Heart Foundation