Can you become a pilot if you are diagnosed with POTS?

Posted 1 February 2025

The aviation industry is often taking a super careful approach when it comes to medical aspects. We don’t personally know a pilot with POTS but our initial research found some promising evidence that it is not always black/ white. If you are diagnosed with POTS, we think it is important that the AME you are deciding to go with is experienced. WE have seen some posts dating back from 2020, where an AME named Aaron Florkowski posts about POTS.

Here is some copy-paste of what he wrote:

If you are diagnosed with POTS you will be required to prove to the FAA that you are not at risk for a cardiac event, which could involve stress testing, holter monitoring, and evaluation by a cardiologist. You would probably be given a special issuance certificate if everything checks out.

Our expertise is flying aeroplanes and while we would like to be helpful, we think the best option for you (if you are diagnosed with POTS) is to make contact with an AME like Aaron. In case you are planning to train under the FAA regime, Aaeron (FAA AME) might be able to help you. If you planning to train under EASA or another regime you probably need to find another AME than Aaron.

We have copied in the contact details for Aaron below

Aaron Florkowski, MD
FAA designated Aviation Medical Examiner
www.kansascityame.com

General information regarding POTS

POTS stands for postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome

Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) is a condition that causes your heart to beat faster than normal when you transition from sitting or lying down to standing up. It’s a type of orthostatic intolerance.

Each word of “postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome” has a meaning:

Postural: Related to the position of your body.
Orthostatic: Related to standing upright.
Tachycardia: A heart rate over 100 beats per minute.
Syndrome: A group of symptoms that happen together.

Happy landings

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