Now’s the Time: File Your Complaint with the DOT OIG
There is already a medical standard for random drug and alcohol testing across all transportation workers. It is very good, well-tested, and validated. This is the DOT Medical Standard. It is the highest standard because it applies when testing innocent people with no probable cause. The entire system—hardware and software—has been designed to provide rigorous protections against false positives.
The FAA has chosen not to use this standard for HIMS pilots. Instead, the FAA relies on a weaker process with far less protection, one that produces significantly more false positives. This decision is not about safety. If safety were the true priority, the FAA would align with the DOT’s proven approach.
Why This Matters
- DOT’s testing protocol provides very high protection against false positives.
- FAA’s approach exposes pilots to unnecessary risk of false positives and career damage.
- If the FAA adopted DOT standards, approximately 80% of false positives would be eliminated.
- Roughly 75% of pilots currently trapped in HIMS would no longer meet criteria under DOT SAE requirements.
DOT vs. FAA: Substance Abuse Evaluations
Under DOT rules, a Substance Abuse Evaluation (SAE) follows a specific, mandatory protocol. This is FAA-mandated for a DOT SAE. Yet, the FAA does not apply the same process to HIMS pilots, creating a double standard.
Fitness for Duty (FFD)
FAA requirements also include a Fitness for Duty (FFD) evaluation for pilots. If the FAA used the DOT-mandated FFD conducted by DOT-trained and approved SAPs, pilots would receive fair assessments. Instead, under the current system, they are often funneled into HIMS unnecessarily.
The Call to Action
It’s time to demand that the FAA adhere to the same high DOT standards that protect all other transportation workers. Aligning with DOT requirements would dramatically reduce false positives and end the misuse of HIMS for thousands of pilots.