Medals vs. Red Tape: Military's Duty and Honor in PTSD Disclosure & Recovery vs. FAA's Rules, Regrets, and Revocations

The aviation industry, particularly under the oversight of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), stands at a critical juncture in its approach to mental health. The urgent need for the FAA to realign its strategies more closely with the empathetic and effective standards seen in military mental health care, especially for conditions like PTSD, is more apparent than ever. This shift is crucial, as highlighted by the insights and recommendations from NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy, which emphasize the stark disparity between the FAA's current punitive practices and the more successful, compassionate military approach.

Military's Success in Treating PTSD

• Effective Treatment and Return to Duty: Most service members who receive treatment for PTSD can successfully return to duty. This success hinges on factors such as the severity of the disorder, the individual's response to treatment, and the support system provided by the military, family, and peers.

• Holistic Approach: The military’s strategy is comprehensive, involving early identification, a variety of treatment options (therapy, medication, counseling), and a supportive environment that includes peer and family support.

• Reintegration and Ongoing Support: Post-treatment, service members are evaluated for fitness for duty and are often reintegrated into their roles, with ongoing support and monitoring to ensure continued effectiveness and well-being.

FAA's Approach: A Critical Look

• Regulatory and Compliance Focus: The FAA's handling of mental health issues like PTSD is viewed as punitive, with a primary focus on regulatory compliance and aviation safety with no evidence, rather than on support and rehabilitation. This stance is perplexing, especially considering that there is no evidence of an airman who has received mental health treatment causing an accident. The lack of such incidents questions the FAA's stringent and seemingly harsh approach. As NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy pointed out at the Mental Health Summit, the real safety concern lies in the obvious non-disclosure of mental health issues due to fear of punitive actions.

• Consequences for Disclosure: Pilots and other aviation professionals face the risk of license suspension or revocation when dealing with mental health issues. This approach fosters a stigma around mental health and creates a fear of reporting such issues.

• Lack of Supportive Environment: In contrast to the military’s comprehensive support system, the FAA’s approach lacks a holistic support framework, potentially leading to untreated conditions that could affect flight safety.

• Career Impact: The punitive measures employed by the FAA, such as revoking or suspending pilots' licenses due to mental health concerns, can have devastating effects on careers and personal lives, often seen as an unnecessarily harsh additional punishment.

Urgent Need for Policy Reversal

• Dismantling Stigma, Building Trust: An immediate reversal of punitive measures like license revocations is essential. This would signal to aviation professionals the industry's commitment to their mental well-being and that seeking help won't jeopardize their careers.

• Recognition of Treatment Effectiveness: By reversing these decisions, the FAA would recognize that mental health conditions, when properly treated and managed, shouldn't be seen as permanent barriers to professional duties.

Core Issue in Disability Disclosure

• FAA's Stringent Requirements: The FAA's requirement for airmen to disclose VA-rated disabilities on medical questionnaires, particularly Question 18y on FAA medical form 8500-8, creates dilemmas for veterans who must choose between full disclosure or risking punitive action.

• Privacy Concerns and Over-Disclosure: This requirement often leads to the unnecessary disclosure of sensitive information irrelevant to flying abilities, raising privacy concerns, especially given the FAA’s access to VA medical records.

• Contrast with Other Aviation Sectors: Other sectors, like airlines, use forms like CC-305 for voluntary self-identification of disability, presenting a more flexible and privacy-respecting approach. This highlights the disparity in disclosure requirements across the industry.

Jennifer Homendy's Advocacy and FAA's Record

• Homendy's Stance: NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy's statement at the Mental Health Summit, “No one should be punished or be afraid of losing their career because of disclosing a mental health issue,” underlines the need for a more supportive approach in aviation mental health.

• Absence of Evidence Linking Treated Mental Health Issues to Accidents: The FAA has no records of accidents caused by airmen treated for mental health issues, challenging the justification behind punitive actions.

• Risks of Non-Disclosure: The prevalent fear of disclosure, due to potential punitive measures, may lead to untreated mental health conditions, posing greater risks than those conditions that are properly treated.

Join the Pilot Mental Health Campaign (PMHC) 

In light of these challenges, the Pilot Mental Health Campaign (PMHC) stands as a beacon of hope and change. As a non-partisan, grassroots organization, the PMHC is dedicated to advocating for legislative changes in the aviation industry's approach to mental health. Founded by a diverse group of aviators, healthcare professionals, and policy experts, our mission is to foster a supportive environment where pilots can seek the help they need without the shadow of professional repercussions. By joining the PMHC, you're supporting a movement that not only aims to protect pilots but also ensures the safety and integrity of the skies we all rely on. Together, we can champion a future where mental health is not a barrier to flight but a testament to the resilience and support of our aviation community.

Conclusion: Time for Empathetic Change

The FAA needs to emulate the military's effective non-punitive approach to mental health disclosure, focusing on the treatment and reintegration of airmen, including veterans, who face mental health challenges. Embracing an empathetic and supportive stance towards the non-disclosure of VA disabilities or any other mental health issues is crucial. This approach, which prioritizes treatment and recovery in a non-punitive framework, is essential for fostering a positive environment. Such a change would not only uphold the dignity and safeguard the careers of aviation professionals but also enhance the overall safety within the aviation industry. This shift towards a more compassionate and understanding approach aligns with the vision and advocacy of Jennifer Homendy and is a critical step towards creating a more trusting, supportive, and secure environment for all those in the field of aviation.