disability benefits.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/08/27/faa-pilots-health-conditions-va-benefits/

..

FAA knew for decades and refused to update policies or acknowledge the needs of their pilots. They caused this  as far as I'm concerned. Hopefully Oklahoma sees some meaningful change rather than just going after a bunch of pilots and then back to burying their heads in the sand.

Quit trying to get hand outs...or trying to justify lying. Either scenario is not good. 

we've given ukraine over a 110 billion dollars. you could give every veteran that ever served in the middle east, 3 million at the highest count, $30k cash with that money and still have 20 billion left over. i'd say the veterans deserve that money more.

we could give the money we're using to fight a nuclear weapon terrorist state and give it to...game

if you actually thinik that money isn't just lining pockets i have a seaside home in Nevada to sell you

You lie you lie.  Period.  If you can't fill out the medical application correctly, you shouldn't even be a pilot. It asks flat out if you receive VA medical disabilities yes or no and then an explanation below it. If you're not putting an explanation, then you're trying to hide something. Many veterans are exaggerating the injuries or illness to get more money, but then downplay it on the FAA's part.  Well you got caught 

I'm 100% civilian, I'm not lying on any form. But there's a huge mental health crisis in this country to the point that there are shortages of medication. Mental health awareness has come a long way and the FAA is still using the same list of approved medications from 20 years ago. It's understanding of medication and the needs of Americans is severely outdated. Pilots who legit need medication for depression have had to lie because the FAA has been too lazy to adopt any self awareness of the needs of normal people. That's what I'm angry about. The article references these problems being brought to their attention over a decade ago and they never did anything. They could have updated their understanding of mental health and medication effects or created a more efficient system than one that required them to lie. I've had students who took a medication once, ten years prior not be able to get their medical. If you've taken anything you're guilty until proven innocent. The system has always been broken because they never bothered to try anything except a fat rubber stamp that says "can't fly" . I'm not condoning lying, but the FAA ignored the problem and chose to do nothing, and that's what irks me. More Americans than ever are on medication and the FAA pretends like pilots are magically immune because anything else would require them to do actual work.

Are they any less dishonest/dangerous?

The purpose of your FAA medical certificate is to prevent aviation accidents....period.  That is the only valid purpose for the FAA to assess your health.  It has nothing to do with financial gain or fraud.  The fact that they have been given access to a federal database to actually verify the accuracy of one of many questions on that form (and only for a select few) strikes me as a form of "Safety Theatre".

If the FAA was truly interested in aviation safety through medical evaluation, they would verify all of the self disclosure on the form. 

It's really pretty simple, just add one more box to check on the form..."I have providided ALL of my medical records to the AME performing this examination for evaluation." 

Now we're all on the same hook. Be careful what you wish for.

it would be that easy. one teensy tiny little box and that would be it. so easy. all there is to it.

Everyone submits all of their medical records, just that easy.

We could also start doing some cross checking on criminal records...that database is also accessible to the FAA.

criminal records beside dui. your employer takes care of the criminal stuff. if you want them to, call your congressman.

but yes, it would be so easy. everybody gets to try to track down decades of medical records and then the FAA can can go through billions of pages of records while you wait for your medical. it's that easy. you wouldn't happen to be lying on your medical by chance?

maybe not tell the government you have disqualifying condition so you can lap up some free money and then also tell them you're good to go. sorry not sorry this will bite a bunch of liars that shouldn't be flying in the ass.

The medical branch of the FAA is a total mess. How can they justify people waiting months to get a decision from them. Pilots not working cause the FAA folks can't get things done.  What a waste. 

subpoena?

the government already has the records. just revoke their medicals if they have a disquallifting condition 

Really?

Wvery bit counts.

I'm 100% P&T and disclose everthing on my FAA form...no issues. 

you may be able to still fly after the FAA gets it sorted out, but not checking that box is a lie

The way the FAA operates,  If your file is pulled you will get a cease an desist notice. It will state that your medical is invalid until further investigation reveals otherwise.  Don't worry, that shouldn't take over 5 years.  The bad part of the FAA is they never do anything and are crisis motivated.  Then they do too much !!!  Hate to see anyone lose their ability to make a living but if you are physically and cognitively well enough to fly a helicopter and are  getting money for a medical disability perhaps your medical should be a little more intensive than the average guy.