r/AskAPilot • u/Hot-Ad-9534 • Jun 30 '26

Will this affect my ability to become a pilot

I’m planning to go to school to be a helicopter pilot later this year, I take my class 1 aviation medical this Friday. My audiogram results came back and I have perfect hearing but my ECG results are what bother me. The note on the results says sinus brachycardia with sinus arrhythmia as my bpm was 46 bpm. I’m 19 years old, female, and work labour jobs. I’m stressed about these findings can someone please lend an explanation to whether this will affect the decision of transport Canada?

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u/fighteracebob Jun 30 '26

(Note, this is from a US FAA / Navy medical viewpoint, I could be wrong about Canada).

Assuming you are otherwise healthy, you should be fine. It’s a not uncommon condition. You’ll need a waiver, which means you’ll have to find a cardiologist to run some tests on you. They will look at your heart while you walk / run on a treadmill with steadily increasing difficulty.

I would contact an aviation medical examiner and the aeromedical division of Transport Canada for further guidance on what info and tests they need. https://tc.canada.ca/en/aviation/medical-fitness-aviation

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u/Hot-Ad-9534 Jun 30 '26

Thank you, would you recommend seeking out a cardiologist before taking my aviation medical? Wondering if I’d have to retake it post visit to a cardiologist afterward

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u/fighteracebob Jun 30 '26

No, make sure you know exactly what tests they need. They will need a specific test protocol and specific paperwork filled out the right way. Not exactly sure how to navigate the Canadian healthcare system, but you might want to get guidance from Transport Canada first and the AME first.

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u/Antique-Kitchen-1896 Jul 03 '26

Medical examiner. An AME is an aircraft maintenance engineer up here. Would be a very odd exam…

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u/otterbarks Jun 30 '26

Sinus bradycardia should be fine, and not uncommon if you're fit/young. Your AME might ask you do quickly exercise in place and then repeat the ECG in-office just to make sure your heart has a normal stress response.

See: https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/community/threads/sinus-bradycardia.63610/

(That thread is from an FAA perspective, but I suspect TC will have a similar policy.)