USAF Policy on Pilots With DVT
When a blood clot forms deep in the leg or upper thigh, it's known as DVT or deep venous thrombosis. The clot be painful and cause the leg to swell. If the clot breaks apart and moves into the bloodstream, then it can be life threatening. To keep their flight crews safe, the United States Air Force (USAF) looked at the causes and risks of DVT before deciding whether to ground pilots who suffer from it.
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Findings
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The USAF looked at a number of DVT studies and noted that generally men are more apt to contract it than women, and that the risk of getting it rises as people age. Because USAF pilots are younger, they are less likely to suffer from DVT.
Risk Factors
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Air travel has been cited as one of the risk factors for DVT, especially flights more than eight hours long. However, studies have shown that passengers are at greater risk than flight crews.
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Importance
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DVT can cause pain and swelling, which could impact the pilot's ability to successfully complete in-flight responsibilities. In addition, DVT could lead to a pulmonary embolism, which could result in the pilot's death.
Waiver Possibilities
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Pilots with DVT can be disqualified from flying in the USAF because of the risks involved. The USAF does permit afflicted pilots to go before the Medical Evaluation Board to determine if a medical waiver can be granted. If you are not yet a pilot but are applying to the flying program, then you can be accepted even if you have a history of DVT. You may be granted a waiver if you can show that your risk factors can be controlled with diet, exercise and other efforts.
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References
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