Story at-a-glance
- October 24, 2022, the FAA changed the EKG requirements necessary for pilots to fly — but not to make them safer
- With no public announcement or explanation, the agency expanded the allowable range for PR, a measure of heart function
- Widening this parameter means those with potential heart damage are now allowed to fly commercial aircraft, potentially putting passengers at risk, should they suffer a heart attack or other event while in the air
- Evidence suggests that pilots’ worsening heart health is due to adverse effects of COVID-19 shots
- An estimated 20% of pilots screened may have suffered heart damage due to COVID-19 shots, and the FAA may have been forced to widen the EKG parameters so pilots could continue to fly
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires first-class airline pilots to receive an electrocardiogram (EKG) starting at age 35, and continuing annually after age 40.1 EKGs record the heart’s electrical activity to provide a measure of heart health and certain parameters must be met in order for pilots to be deemed fit to fly.
Continue reading “Why Are the EKGs of Pilots No Longer Normal?”
