Panel says FAA should end mandate pilots disclose talk therapy sessions | Hacker News Reader

Panel says FAA should end mandate pilots disclose talk therapy sessions

reuters.com

I don't necessarily disagree with the idea here.

But isn't it inevitable that pilots would know that ANY reporting would be intended to avoid situations where the pilot presents a risk, and a possibility always remains that some action may be to prevent the pilot from flying?

I feel like that's an inevitable understanding / fact...

So plans to

>The FAA should develop a non-punitive pathway for reporting previously undisclosed mental health conditions, treatments, or medications

Seem like it would be difficult to pull off.

As a pilot, yes, your conclusion is correct - it’s widely known “tribal” knowledge among most American pilots that any reporting on the FAA medical certificate application is ammunition that the FAA can then use to probe for additional information, request further medical tests/notes (which, by the way, likely have to be paid out of pocket), or outright deny the medical certificate, effectively grounding them indefinitely. Appealing that process is long, arduous, and filled with many headaches.

With that said, the application for a medical certificate is a federal form, and willingly lying/omitting information on it is a felony - the FAA has also been known to pull medical records where they can - typically for veterans receiving VA benefits (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/27/faa-pilot...) - pilots don’t want to get caught in a lie, so many just outright don’t seek treatment for some conditions - particularly mental health ones.

I see this panel ruling as a positive thing because it’s one less thing pilots have to worry about when applying for a medical certificate - knowing they can see a therapist without fearing potential ramifications (because it won’t have to be reported to the FAA in the first place) is a huge step in de-stigmatizing mental health conditions in aviation.

They suggest to remove existing rule that makes pilots to avoid therapy sessions, for fear of punishment.

So yes, pilots are aware and react.

It's not clear to me that they're removing all reporting though:

>The FAA should develop a non-punitive pathway for reporting previously undisclosed mental health conditions, treatments, or medications

A friend of mine, who is transgender (this matters here), tried to get their pilots license. Initial paperwork was fine... UNTIL they get to the require mental health disclosure.

Basically, this person was born with the "wrong" genitalia. Frankly, it doesnt matter. But you have to go through mental health counseling for sex change operations. Which, given the changes it does to a human body, needs to make sure they understand it. I get this and it sounds reasonable and sane (this needs to be a well thought out change, and not just some whim).

But then, the FAA sees "mental health" listed, and they assume that you're wacko who's going to crash a plane full of people, or go full-on 9/11. Doesnt matter that its over a sex change to be in parity with what your brain is. You're a nutter.

They took 5 years getting the requisite "im not insane" paperwork from all the doctor etc. It was such a waste of time and money on everyone's part.

This whole debacle also is why pilots REFUSE to get mental health help, because getting it an lying is a federal crime. So the better answer is to never get it, go full burnout city, and hope nothing bad happens. Doubly so if you're a man - the FAA expects women to get mental health before a man does. If a man does, you're seen as suicidal/homicidal and defective. But to be fair, trans is viewed as even worse by the FAA.

Normalize mental health, for everyone. There's NOTHING bad about getting help. A little bit of help now solves a bigger problem later.

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