ECG & Cardiac Risk Routine Assessments Removed For NZ Pilots Below Age 40

NZ pilots undergoing their regular medical assessments in recent weeks, returning in preparation for the ramp up in mass commercial aviation activity, have been surprised by a significant change to ECG, cardiovascular risk estimation and blood lipids/blood sugar schedule requirements. Where these pilots were required to undergo ECG tests for cardiac function from age 30 onwards, and cardiovascular risk estimations & blood lipid/blood sugar tests from age 36, such tests are not required now until age 40.

This means that pilots that develop heart issues prior to age 40 will not have such issues detected as part of their routine medical assessments.

Schedule Change

The schedule prior to December 2021 was for Class 1 pilots to have ECG recordings every 2 years from age 30 onwards until age 70, then annually afterwards. Cardiovascular risk estimation was also required for all pilots aged 35 years and over, conducted at age 36 & 40, then every 2 years until age 70 and annually thereafter. All pilots for commercial airlines hold Class 1 licences.

Schedule for medical examinations prior to December 2021, showing ECG & cardiovascular risk assessment timing.

 

In mid November 2021, the NZ Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) issued a directive that changed the testing intervals for a few of the medical tests that pilots are required to undergo as part of their routine assessments.  The change to ECG recordings has been explained as “medical evidence generally does not support routine screening by ECG”.

It is notable then that the schedule for ECG screening has been in place for many years prior to this.

The Director of the CAA provided no other explanation for the change, which followed consultation with a standard list of interested parties.

 

The change to the ECG, cardiovascular risk assessment & blood lipids/blood sugar schedule is significant.

  • None of those assessments are now required for qualified pilots below age 40;
  • After age 40, all three assessments are required only every 5 years until age 50;
  • After age 50, cardiovascular risk & blood lipids/blood sugar assessments continue to be required only 5 years until age 60.

Note that prior to the change, cardiovascular risk & blood lipids/blood sugar assessments were required at age 36 & 40 then every 2 years thereafter until age 70, where the interval changed to annual assessments.

There is no change to the ECG & cardiovascular risk assessment schedules for pilots age 60 and above.

Source: aviation.govt.nz

 

Safety Concerns

Pilots have expressed concern to The Daily Examiner that such a change in policy may not be consistent with a “Safety First” culture, particularly when there has been a noticeable spike in heart issues among young men. The Daily Examiner is aware that several have failed their ECG assessments prior to the schedule change.

The Global Aviation Advocacy Coalition (GAA) has stated that “Safety must return to the fore”, as reported in our recent article. The GAA is calling for all pilots, regardless of age, to be assessed for cardiac health and a removal of vaccine mandates.

The latest available report from Medsafe clearly shows a significantly higher number of people in the age bands between 20 and 40 reporting heart issues after receiving the Pfizer product.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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