Airline Pilot Central Forums - Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome WPW

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Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome WPW

Hello All, I took my Discovery Flight today and I'm hooked. Before I go down this awesome road there is 1 thing I'd like clarification on. I'm 33 now and when I was 17 I was diagnosed with Wolff-Parkinson White Syndrome/WPW a form of SupraVentricular Tachycardia/SVT. I've had 2 Ablations to fix it. Those being in 2007 and 2011. I have been symptom free ever since 2011. Has anyone been diagnosed with this, had it treated, and still granted a 1st Class Medical? I don't want to go thru the time, money, and effort just to be denied a medical.
Thank You
Zach

I have a buddy who had similar heart issues, due to excessive cardio exercise, and also needed two ablations. He got his medical back fairly quickly, airline guy so 1C.

You'll definitely want a medical in hand before you spend money on training. If you're even thinking of maybe professional aviation get a a 1C, otherwise a 3C.

You can try using google or the forums to find a good AME in your area, and then reach out to him *before* you fill out the FAA form. Some AME's are just "box checkers" and won't be very helpful with complicated issues which get referred FAA aeromedical for analysis and adjudication.

Alternatively, contact a medical consulting service which specializes in helping with this sort of issue (there will be a fee). AMAS is one, and there are others.

https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org...d/arrhythmias/

Quote:

Radio Frequency Ablation * If performed for atrial fibrillation AFib/A-Flutter(PDF), see that section first.
All 3-month wait, then 24-hour Holter If Holter negative for arrhythmia, no recurrence - Issue Otherwise - Requires FAA Decision

Unlikely to be a problem, but yeah - get a Class 1 before you start.

Ask Pilot here for a FAA Medical Examiner (AME) in your home town.

One of the Pilots here will be able to point you to a helpful Doctor - as some AMEs are not helpful, or will quickly/inaccurately document your issue as career ending.

Have that AME to give you a FAA Class I medical certificate (or even better, screen you for those items before applying for the certificate).

you don’t need the Class I to be a student Pilot, but if you can’t get one it doesn’t make any sense to spend any money training for a job you might not be able to hold.

Quote:

Originally Posted by zmotto89 (Post 3511627)

Hi Zach,

I also had WPW and had a successful ablation surgery around 2014. I’ve held a first class medical ever since. It’s not problematic with the FAA whatsoever. I was issued a special issuance medical for the first five years post ablation just so the feds could monitor me. After five years that SI requirement went away and I’m issued a standard medical. Feel free to pm with any questions.