Just to be sure we have rational input here, the numbers above were 4800 **commercial** pilots found not to have reported VA disability declarations (often generating 0 benefits, some injuries/disabilities are rated 0%, not unusual). So they did not report something to the FAA that they reported to the VA.
1) The sequence of pilot license is Private, Commercial (usually with Instrument rating) and Airline Transport. There are an enormous number of Private and Commercial pilots that don’t drive airliners around the sky.
2) Commercial pilots are cropdusters, pipeline patrol pilots, and the majority . . . the vast majority of non ATP commercial pilots are flight instructors. You could note Fedex and UPS pilots too, not carrying much in the way of passengers, but they likely are ATP rated so they don’t count in that number evaluation.
3) The primary claimed VA injury/disability from military service is tinnitus. Ringing in the ears. It is a 10% rating, max. It will have zero impact on flying airplanes. It likely will affect sleep patterns, but any such that are dangerous would be revealed in the periodic proficiency checks.
4) Only 1/3 of commercial pilots (not ATPs, commercial) are ex military.
5) When you get through understanding all the details, this sensationally presented article becomes clearly insignificant. There will be one of two guys drawing 60% benefits for mental illness of some sort. That’s 2 out of 4800. And as noted the cases are quickly resolved. Likely with the VA informing the FAA the pilot in question is treated adequately and safe, must as they address blood pressure being high with a doc’s assurance of being treated and safe.
This article is needless hype. There is nothing here, and what little there was there has already been addressed.
Thank you! Very good points, from my perspective as a former WSO with tinnitus. Haven’t had my private license in years and won’t ever again, but my “disability” would have ZERO to do with my ability to safely fly an airplane!
Near the end of my military career, my flight physical revealed I had poor depth perception. The doctor asked how I ever got on flying status. I told him I didn’t know because I’ve had terrible depth perception since grade school - but since I was at the end of my career, and any flights in the future would be with a fully qualified test pilot flying while I observed how certain systems performed in flight - and that maybe once a year - I didn’t think it mattered any more. He sighed, agreed, and signed me off.
I had one flight after that, in the rear seat of an F-16 flown by a test pilot. They logged it as an incentive flight to make the paperwork easy so it never showed up on my official flight records. Then I was transferred, did paperwork for a couple of years and retired.