by Dr. Bill Blank, MD
Published in Midwest Flyer Magazine April/May 2023 Digital Issue
Recently I have been getting questions from airmen about changes in the PR interval which the FAA will accept on an electrocardiogram (ECG). The PR interval is the time of electrical transmission during part of each heartbeat. The approved increase is 100 milliseconds (0.1 seconds). Some were concerned that this might indicate a health problem ignored by the FAA. They found this somewhere on the Internet. I discovered that this came from a biased, skewed, internet posting which attacked the Federal Air Surgeon, Dr. Susan Northrup, and advocated her resignation or removal from office. Some questioned whether the increased PR interval was due to the covid vaccine. The change in the acceptable PR interval was instituted in October 2018, well before the first covid vaccine was approved (December 2020). As I investigated this further, I realized that this was part of a long, venomous, vindictive posting with many errors.
The change in the PR interval was made upon the recommendation of a panel of cardiologists who felt that this change would be of no aeromedical significance. The idea was eliminating the need for a full cardiac work up in the absence of any other cardiac issue, thus reducing delays in certification and cost to the airman. This decision was made by the Federal Air Surgeon on the recommendation of cardiologists.
The author of the Internet post also discusses the covid vaccine and blames Dr. Northrup for mandating the requirement for covid vaccination. This was required before she ever became the Federal Air Surgeon. This is part of the author’s justification for demanding her resignation or removal. He blames the covid vaccine for killing several pilots. I don’t believe this. I know of several pilots who had severe covid and were on respirators but recovered. I know of none who died from the vaccine. Neither do any of my Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) colleagues.
I attended several ZOOM meetings with well-respected AMEs to discuss this issue. Covid cases are over-counted. There is a recent Wall Street Journal article on the subject. This makes the disease seem worse than it is. I am not underestimating how serious and deadly it can be, but many people who test positive have mild or no symptoms and recover without treatment. From my point of view, as a physician, that’s a good kind of disease to have! I wish more diseases were like that.
The author of the Internet posting is an MIT graduate, millionaire, and entrepreneur. According to Gary Crump of AOPA, this individual formed a company to identify existing medications to treat Covid-19. He apparently claimed there was a conspiracy against one of the medications causing all of the firm’s scientific advisors to resign. More recently he is reported to have stated that the covid vaccines are toxic. The publication “MIT Technology Review 2021” reported that this individual claimed at a Federal Drug Administration (FDA) public forum “that the vaccines kill more people than they save.” I understand that the board of his most recent startup company, told him he would have to stop making public anti-vaccine statements to remain part of the company. He resigned as CEO and gave up his board seat. This certainly explains to me his point of view and his extreme statements.
I have been an AME for 45 years. In my opinion, Dr. Northrup has been the most forward-looking Federal Air Surgeon we have had since I have been an AME. There have been many improvements in the certification process in the two years she has held this post. She is a pilot and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. She was a medical officer at Delta Airlines before working for many years as the Regional Flight Surgeon in Atlanta. Her husband is a retired airline pilot. It would be a shame to lose her. I doubt there is anyone more qualified who would be appointed as her replacement. Sadly, she has been “doxed.” For those of you who don’t know the term, it means her home address and phone number have been given out for purpose of harassment. It’s a shame anyone should be subjected to this abuse. She needs our support. One of my patients told me, “Anyone can post something on the Internet and some idiots will believe it.” Unfortunately, this is sometimes true.
For those of you interested in reading more on the subject, here are two links:
https://www.aopa.org/news-and-media/all-news/2023/january/25/federal-air-surgeon-takes-on-tough-issues
https://www.avweb.com/uncategorized/are-covid-vaccines-injuring-pilots-you-tell-us/
EDITOR’S NOTE: Columnist William A. Blank is a physician in La Crosse, Wisconsin, and has been an Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) since 1978, and a Senior AME since 1985. Dr. Blank is a retired Ophthalmologist, but still gives some of the ophthalmology lectures at AME renewal seminars. Flying-wise, Dr. Blank holds an Airline Transport Pilot Certificate and has 6000 hours. He is a Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) and has given over 1200 hours of aerobatic instruction. In addition, Dr. Blank was an airshow performer through the 2014 season and has held a Statement of Aerobatic Competency (SAC) since 1987. He was inducted into the Wisconsin Aviation Hall of Fame in 2021.
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this column is the expressed opinion of the author only, and readers are advised to seek the advice of others, including their own AME, and refer to the Federal Aviation Regulations and FAA Aeronautical Information Manual for additional information and clarification.
