Jocelyn Frank

Each of these tests has a cost and each has to be submitted to this special FAA doctor to review.

Each of these tests has a cost and each has to be submitted to this special FAA doctor to review.

What is that like?

What is that like?

What is that like?

You use the word elective, but it's required for you to come back to flying, right?

You use the word elective, but it's required for you to come back to flying, right?

You use the word elective, but it's required for you to come back to flying, right?

Right, yeah. The process can cost thousands of dollars, somewhere between $10,000 or $15,000 for most pilots. And like Finlayson was saying, it's uncommon for insurance to cover these kinds of expenses, and only a very small percentage of unionized pilots flying with legacy carriers which those are some of the biggest ones, they've negotiated for this process to fall under the disability coverage.

Right, yeah. The process can cost thousands of dollars, somewhere between $10,000 or $15,000 for most pilots. And like Finlayson was saying, it's uncommon for insurance to cover these kinds of expenses, and only a very small percentage of unionized pilots flying with legacy carriers which those are some of the biggest ones, they've negotiated for this process to fall under the disability coverage.

Right, yeah. The process can cost thousands of dollars, somewhere between $10,000 or $15,000 for most pilots. And like Finlayson was saying, it's uncommon for insurance to cover these kinds of expenses, and only a very small percentage of unionized pilots flying with legacy carriers which those are some of the biggest ones, they've negotiated for this process to fall under the disability coverage.

And that can offer pilots like Finlayson a partial paycheck, a partial paycheck to support two kids and a wife in grad school. But that is the best case scenario. And many other pilots and aspiring pilots who I interviewed for this story have had no stable income and no safety net during their process.

And that can offer pilots like Finlayson a partial paycheck, a partial paycheck to support two kids and a wife in grad school. But that is the best case scenario. And many other pilots and aspiring pilots who I interviewed for this story have had no stable income and no safety net during their process.

And that can offer pilots like Finlayson a partial paycheck, a partial paycheck to support two kids and a wife in grad school. But that is the best case scenario. And many other pilots and aspiring pilots who I interviewed for this story have had no stable income and no safety net during their process.

They're grounded from flying or they haven't received their pilot's license to begin with. So they're not getting any kind of base level paycheck while they're going through this process. And aviation is a very expensive field to begin with. I mean, a lot of pilots take on substantial debt just to get trained.

They're grounded from flying or they haven't received their pilot's license to begin with. So they're not getting any kind of base level paycheck while they're going through this process. And aviation is a very expensive field to begin with. I mean, a lot of pilots take on substantial debt just to get trained.

They're grounded from flying or they haven't received their pilot's license to begin with. So they're not getting any kind of base level paycheck while they're going through this process. And aviation is a very expensive field to begin with. I mean, a lot of pilots take on substantial debt just to get trained.

So this is what they're dealing with while trying to get this special medical certificate.

So this is what they're dealing with while trying to get this special medical certificate.

So this is what they're dealing with while trying to get this special medical certificate.