Direct Question, Direct Answer: FAA's Dr. Northrup Responds to P4HR's Call for Reform
At this year’s Aeromedical Update briefing at EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, Pilots for HIMS Reform directly addressed FAA leadership with a long-overdue question on behalf of pilots and air traffic controllers stuck in the HIMS system without fair resolution.
Federal Air Surgeon Dr. Susan Northrup led the presentation. During Q&A, a representative from our coalition asked the following:
“Dr. Northrup, I help lead Pilots for HIMS Reform, a national coalition of pilots and air traffic controllers—some with diagnosed substance use disorders in long-term recovery, and others who were forced into HIMS without any medical diagnosis at all. Many have completed years of monitoring with unanimous support from independent physicians, and yet remain indefinitely restricted—not because of medical evidence, but due to subjective decisions made by FAA officials, including Dr. Matthew Dumstorf, who often override treating doctors without ever meeting the airman.
This lack of transparency, scientific consistency, and due process is eroding trust in the certification process. We’ve partnered with physicians, HIMS AMEs, psychiatrists, and legal experts to draft constructive reforms. Would your office be willing to meet with our coalition to hear these concerns and work toward a system that’s medically sound, fair, and truly recovery-oriented?”
Dr. Northrup’s reply?
“Absolutely. You just need to show us. You haven’t shown us any of these cases.”
To which our coalition responded without hesitation:
“We’d be more than happy to show you.”
🔜 What Happens Next
We’re not waiting. A formal outreach to Dr. Northrup and her office is already underway—tonight.
We intend to present her with the very cases she says she hasn’t seen:
– Documented recoveries.
– Decade-long compliance.
– Lives and careers still held hostage by unaccountable bureaucracy.
This is the moment the FAA asked to see the truth.
We’re ready to show them.