When Silence Becomes the Statement
Pilots for HIMS Reform • Follow-up regarding PMHC comment request
On Tuesday, Pilots for HIMS Reform published an article documenting our exclusion from the Pilots Mental Health Campaign’s DC Advocacy Day 2026 and the conversations that preceded that decision. Prior to publication, we contacted PMHC’s Executive Director, Chris Finlayson, to request comment.
Mr. Finlayson indicated that it was too late in the evening to respond and stated that he would follow up the next day.
We published the article as scheduled, noting clearly and transparently that PMHC had been given only a few hours to respond and that we would publish any response in full once received.
As of Sunday Night: No Response
It is now Sunday night. More than three full business days have passed. This included all of Friday—during standard business hours—and the opportunity to clarify, correct, contextualize, or dispute any portion of the record we published. To date, we have received no response. No request for clarification. No statement. No correction. No engagement of any kind.
Silence, in this context, is not neutral.
This Was Not an Ambush
The original article was not a surprise. The substance reflected conversations PMHC leadership participated in directly. The offer to publish a response in full was made in good faith and remains open.
When an organization positions itself as a leader in mental health advocacy—particularly in aviation, where transparency and accountability are frequently invoked—its willingness to engage with criticism matters. Advocacy does not end at 5 p.m., and accountability does not disappear over a weekend.
Standards Should Apply in Both Directions
The Pilots Mental Health Campaign has publicly stated that it represents pilots broadly and works to reduce stigma around mental health. Yet when presented with a detailed account questioning how those principles apply to pilots and air traffic controllers affected by substance use disorder (SUD), the response has been silence.
That silence stands in contrast to the urgency PMHC often emphasizes when advocating for reform. It also stands in contrast to the expectation frequently placed on pilots and controllers navigating the HIMS system, who are routinely told that responsiveness and communication are non-negotiable.
Right to Comment
Pilots for HIMS Reform is not seeking conflict. We are seeking clarity, accountability, and honesty in a space where those qualities are too often selectively applied. We continue to welcome a response from Mr. Finlayson or the Pilots Mental Health Campaign at any time.
If and when a response is received, it will be published in full, without editing.
Until then, the absence of engagement speaks for itself.
In advocacy, silence is still a choice. And sometimes, it is the clearest statement an organization makes.