✈️ Entering the HIMS Program: What Every Pilot Needs to Know

If you’re a pilot facing entry into the FAA’s HIMS Program—whether due to alcohol use, drug history, SSRI prescriptions, mental health treatment, or even suspicion without diagnosis—the process ahead can feel overwhelming, opaque, and—in many cases—unfairly punitive. At Pilots for HIMS Reform, we believe that informed pilots are empowered pilots. That’s why we want to offer this clear-eyed overview of what you should know before taking your first steps into the system.

⚠️ Everything You Say Can and Will Be Used Against You

Let’s be clear: once you enter the HIMS system, anything you say—to anyone—can become part of your permanent FAA medical record. This includes conversations with:

• Your union HIMS representative
• Peer monitors
• HIMS-trained Aviation Medical Examiners (AMEs)
• Psychiatrists or addiction specialists
• Neuropsychologists
• Treatment center staff

These individuals often document your statements and forward them—formally or informally—to the FAA medical office.

🔍 Transparency ≠ Safety

While the HIMS Program is framed as a “supportive pathway” back to flying, the reality is far more complex. The FAA operates under a risk-averse and often adversarial model that assumes any deviation or uncertainty in your record is justification for further scrutiny or delay.

This results in a paradox: the more transparent and forthcoming you are, the more risk you may be placing on yourself. We do not advocate dishonesty, but we strongly encourage pilots to be extremely thoughtful about what they disclose and to whom.

📌 Your FAA File Is Forever

FAA medical records are not sealed, private, or temporary. Any statement, diagnosis, or treatment note can remain in your FAA file for life.

This means a mischaracterization made today may haunt your certification attempts for years or decades to come.

🧭 Be Strategic, Be Informed, Be Careful

We urge all new HIMS participants to:

• Document everything: keep your own records of every meeting, test, and email
• Vet your treatment team: not all providers understand FAA nuance
• Seek independent advice: legal, medical, or peer-based—but outside the FAA system
• Understand your rights and boundaries: know what’s optional and what’s not

The decisions you make now will shape your journey—and your career—for years to come.

🗓 What to Expect in Your First 90 Days

The first 90 days of entering the HIMS Program are critical—they often set the tone for your entire case. Here's what you can expect:

• 90 in 90: Many pilots are advised (or strongly pressured) to complete 90 AA meetings in 90 days, even without an official diagnosis of dependency.
• Initial psychiatric evaluation: Typically includes interviews, possible diagnoses, and FAA report submission.
• Neuropsychological testing: May be ordered to assess cognitive function and emotional stability.
• Substance use screening: Often required—even if the referral was for SSRI use, therapy, trauma, or suspicion without substance involvement.
• Peer monitor assignment: You may be matched with another pilot in the program who reports on your progress.
• Interaction with HIMS AME: Begins monitoring, establishes expectations, and sometimes coordinates testing.
• Treatment referrals: Some pilots are told to enter treatment centers regardless of medical necessity—this may be optional but framed as required.
• Initial FAA documentation: Your statements, treatment notes, and AME reports will begin forming your permanent FAA file.

Use this time to set boundaries, ask questions, and document everything. Don’t assume every step is required—get clarification in writing whenever possible.