Recent highly publicized events have highlighted alcohol problems in professional pilots. Alcohol abuse and dependence affect approximately 5-8% of all pilots, similar to the proportions in other professional occupations such as law, medicine and ministry. Most is undiscovered or unreported. Many people are unaware or deny that they are not able to fully control their consumption behavior. Alcoholism is widely recognized as a progressive, fatal disease process beyond the control of an individual, not a weakness in character. Alcoholism has a specific cause, predictable course and responds to treatment. Untreated, it causes premature death and reduced productivity and may compromise aviation safety. With proper treatment, most alcoholics will have full and sustained remission. The result is improved health, social relationships, job performance and enhanced aviation safety. The consequences to the individual pilot of alcohol abuse are potentially severe, including loss of both medical and pilot certificates, employment termination, legal troubles and life-threatening medical conditions. The consequences to the employer are equally threatening, including public embarrassment, loss of revenue, compromised flight safety and possibly aircraft mishaps. Without a mechanism for pilots to seek assistance for alcohol abuse, which allows them to retain their FAA certificates and employment, this condition will remain underground in all but the most obvious, and potentially disastrous, circumstances. Such a program exists in the airline industry. The FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine is seeking to enlist the involvement of the business aviation community in establishing a similar program to this highly successful program within their industry. A cooperative, mutually supportive program among airline pilots, their management and the FAA, termed HIMS (Human Intervention Motivation Study), allows afflicted pilots to seek treatment and rehabilitation, leading to early FAA medical certification. Although drug/alcohol testing programs identify some abusers, most are identified by self-reporting, peers or in training departments. The program conservatively returns $9 for each $1 spent by management. Over 3,600 airline pilots have successfully returned under HIMS to safe flying and health. Business aviation operations may use a similar program to enhance safety, improve pilot health and increase productivity.
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