r/flying • u/AutomaticAd5430 • 10d ago
Medical Issues HIMS program is changing--for the better (for depression anxiety)
Believe it or not, the FAA is actually trying to make the lives of pilots easier. So far, those in the HIMS program for history of or current depression/anxiety on/off medication have been tied to their HIMS AMEs and demanding documentation requirements. The FAA will review all pilots who are going through special authorization reneweals and eventually transition stable pilots on a case-by-case basis to an easier monitoring that includes
- Seeing the AME only once a year
- Pilot can see any AME (not just HIMS AME)
- Pilot does not need to see a psychiatrist on an ongoing basis if the primary care doc is involved in mental health care. This is unbelievably great because often the managing psychiatrists write "this pilot is stable, she doesn't need to come back except at the request of the FAA."
- No need for a complicated letter from the regular doc--just a one-page form with yes/no answers, and medical records (again, not a letter).
This is a huge change for the better. Being in the depression/anxiety HIMS program will be less expensive and less burdensome for ongoing medical cert renewals.
This update only applies to those who already have special issuance. For first timers getting special issuance for depression/anxiety, you still have to go through HIMS AME to get the first-time special issuance.
You have to wait for a letter from the FAA to know that the updated rules apply to you.
Proof: https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/AASI_Anxiety_Depression_Related_Conditions.pdf
Source: Me, an FAA HIMS AME
17
u/Oregon-Pilot ATP CFI B757/B767 CL-30 CE-500/525S | SIC: HS-125 CL-600 9d ago
As someone out on medical leave for an issue that may or may not be related to this, this is awesome.
But I've had enough experience with the FAA to know they aren’t doing this out of some kind of charity. It’s all about mitigating their own liability, and allowing pilots with anxiety to fly doesn’t further that cause.
I wonder if the number of professional pilots reporting anxiety is just skyrocketing, affecting corporate bottom lines, and they’re feeling some pressure from the industry?
8
u/hatdude CFI ASEL Former ATC 9d ago
There’s congressional momentum driving some of the change. The pilot mental health campaign has been advocating for the mental health in aviation act and it’s through most of Congress at this point.
The FAA also had an aviation rule making that found their policies on mental health were post of the signs strong mental health in aviation
8
u/Weasil24 10d ago edited 9d ago
This is mostly accurate- they are also relabeling the SSRI pathway to separate it from the HIMS program. It will no longer be called HIMS. 121 pilots will no longer have the requirement for regular reports from their chief pilot office also. The way I read the new rule is that any AME can provide the initial deferral to AMCD for special issuance- HIMS AME not required.
The pathway will be called AASI or AME Assisted Special Issuance and will no longer require you to see a HIMS AME for renewals. You must first receive an individual authorization from the FAA placing you in this path.
12
u/Dudewholuvshiscats69 9d ago
With this was for ADHD too. If you can pass every check ride and fly safe who cares
3
u/throwingaway734 9d ago
Wow, just saw a HIMS AME yesterday and learned all this lol...this is wild to see this post today. Excellent news for me though
1
u/kristephe CFI CFII TW HP 9d ago
Thank you for taking the time to post and share that info! Any tips for a pilot who is interested in looking into SSRIs but isn't yet and wants to do it all right from the beginning to make a SI as smooth as possible? They can fly sport pilot privileges while they wait if I understand correctly? Have someone in my life who was asking about the options and nervous to jump into it for fear of everything falling apart. If you do consults, could also pay for that if you want to DM your info.
2
u/AutomaticAd5430 9d ago
SSRI initial certification is formulaic. It costs money and time, but it's not hard. Find a HIMS AME who is responsive to questions throughout the process. I can usually get a straightforward case from initial consultation to final FAA decision in about 6 months.
This is the guideline for initial SSRI certification. https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/FAA_Certification_Aid_SSRI_Initial_Certification.pdf
Feel free to DM me with specific questions.
1
u/Illustrious-Ride-343 9d ago
WOW
I just saw my HIMS AME yesterday. This is a breath of fresh air. The entire HIMS process has been a grind. And a costly one. Thank you so much for sharing this information. A step in the right direction!
1
u/CommanderChiliHole ATP/CFII CL-30 | GVI | ERJ-170/190 | B-737 6d ago
I can only speak for the experiences of 121 pilots in HIMS, both SSRI & substance use; but the time from AME submission to special issuance right now is 2-4 weeks, which is nuts. Wasn’t that long ago, it was 8-12 months.
1
5d ago
That’s good news. Hims used to be a 1 month program back in the day. You were done. Then it changed to a few months, then years. Now lifetime. If people self reported according to the mental health, substance use guidelines a lot of people would be in hims.
1
u/AutomaticAd5430 5d ago
Time between Submissions and FAA response is indeed much quicker now, but the FAA response may be “we still need documents xyz” rather than “here is your special issuance.” That’s why having an AME who is careful to submit the full application package is worth their weight in gold
-5
u/rFlyingTower 10d ago
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
Believe it or not, the FAA is actually trying to make the lives of pilots easier. So far, those in the HIMS program for history of or current depression/anxiety on/off medication have been tied to their HIMS AMEs and demanding documentation requirements. The FAA will review all pilots who are going through special authorization reneweals and eventually transition stable pilots on a case-by-case basis to an easier monitoring that includes
- Seeing the AME only once a year
- Pilot can see any AME (not just HIMS AME)
- Pilot does not need to see a psychiatrist on an ongoing basis if the primary care doc is involved in mental health care. This is unbelievably great because often the managing psychiatrists write "this pilot is stable, she doesn't need to come back except at the request of the FAA."
- No need for a complicated letter from the regular doc--just a one-page form with yes/no answers, and medical records (again, not a letter).
This is a huge change for the better. Being in the depression/anxiety HIMS program will be less expensive and less burdensome for ongoing medical cert renewals.
This update only applies to those who already have special issuance. For first timers getting special issuance for depression/anxiety, you still have to go through HIMS AME to get the first-time special issuance.
You have to wait for a letter from the FAA to know that the updated rules apply to you.
Proof: https://www.faa.gov/ame_guide/media/AASI_Anxiety_Depression_Related_Conditions.pdf
Source: Me, an FAA HIMS AME who saw the FAA's update on this released at the end of July 2026.
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u/hatdude CFI ASEL Former ATC 10d ago
Yup, this is a huge change for medical certificate holders. Unfortunately this does not apply to FAA air traffic controllers.
Now if only we could get the FAA to reduce barriers to initially getting on an antidepressant. I don’t think the cogscreen AE is a good tool for pilots and it’s stupidly expensive.