Jocelyn Frank

So these are two pretty high-profile examples where people's lives were at stake. And in both cases, the pilots were not getting the care they needed.

So these are two pretty high-profile examples where people's lives were at stake. And in both cases, the pilots were not getting the care they needed.

So these are two pretty high-profile examples where people's lives were at stake. And in both cases, the pilots were not getting the care they needed.

I talked with William Hoffman. He's a neurologist and an aviation medical researcher. And he and his team have been trying to figure out how the FAA's protocols impact the decisions pilots are making about their health. In 2019, Hoffman and his team launched a survey of over 3,500 pilots across North America.

I talked with William Hoffman. He's a neurologist and an aviation medical researcher. And he and his team have been trying to figure out how the FAA's protocols impact the decisions pilots are making about their health. In 2019, Hoffman and his team launched a survey of over 3,500 pilots across North America.

I talked with William Hoffman. He's a neurologist and an aviation medical researcher. And he and his team have been trying to figure out how the FAA's protocols impact the decisions pilots are making about their health. In 2019, Hoffman and his team launched a survey of over 3,500 pilots across North America.

And he found that 56 percent of pilots reported a history of health care avoidance due to fear of losing their flying status.

And he found that 56 percent of pilots reported a history of health care avoidance due to fear of losing their flying status.

And he found that 56 percent of pilots reported a history of health care avoidance due to fear of losing their flying status.

Well, at first, Finlayson thought he might not have to go through the full process. The way the FAA system works is basically if you go on medication and then you get off of it for 60 days and your treating psychiatrist says, you're good, the FAA can consider this as all just like a little health blip. You're grounded. You're not flying for that period of time. No regular paycheck.

Well, at first, Finlayson thought he might not have to go through the full process. The way the FAA system works is basically if you go on medication and then you get off of it for 60 days and your treating psychiatrist says, you're good, the FAA can consider this as all just like a little health blip. You're grounded. You're not flying for that period of time. No regular paycheck.

Well, at first, Finlayson thought he might not have to go through the full process. The way the FAA system works is basically if you go on medication and then you get off of it for 60 days and your treating psychiatrist says, you're good, the FAA can consider this as all just like a little health blip. You're grounded. You're not flying for that period of time. No regular paycheck.

But after, you can potentially get fairly smoothly back into your job. So Finlayson was hoping for that when he went to see a nurse practitioner and he started taking a low dose SSRI for his anxiety.

But after, you can potentially get fairly smoothly back into your job. So Finlayson was hoping for that when he went to see a nurse practitioner and he started taking a low dose SSRI for his anxiety.

But after, you can potentially get fairly smoothly back into your job. So Finlayson was hoping for that when he went to see a nurse practitioner and he started taking a low dose SSRI for his anxiety.

He knew he couldn't stay off the medication and feel well enough to fly. If he stayed on medication, he'd have to pursue the longer path for his medical certificate. It's called requesting a special issuance. Even with that request, there's no guarantee the FAA would decide he could ever fly again. And he felt totally stuck.

He knew he couldn't stay off the medication and feel well enough to fly. If he stayed on medication, he'd have to pursue the longer path for his medical certificate. It's called requesting a special issuance. Even with that request, there's no guarantee the FAA would decide he could ever fly again. And he felt totally stuck.

He knew he couldn't stay off the medication and feel well enough to fly. If he stayed on medication, he'd have to pursue the longer path for his medical certificate. It's called requesting a special issuance. Even with that request, there's no guarantee the FAA would decide he could ever fly again. And he felt totally stuck.

And once Finlayson sort of let go of the possibility of that faster path back to his job, the fast path to that medical certificate, his health improved.

And once Finlayson sort of let go of the possibility of that faster path back to his job, the fast path to that medical certificate, his health improved.