Any pilots with a valid medical and an emotional support animal?
Posted by SenorNoods@reddit | flying | View on Reddit | 23 comments
This is meant to be a technical/philosophical question more than anything else. Not trying to get into any moral arguments around the ethics of ESA abuse by those who don’t actually need it. I’m just curious about the hypothetical possibility.
(This did not really happen) Say a friend is apartment hunting and was talking to another friend who suggested they get an ESA to open more options for them. They want to be a pilot and said pilots can’t have emotional support animals because they require a diagnosis and they’d lose their medical. I’m wondering if this is true. Does an ESA actually require a reportable diagnosis (say, if received from a licensed therapist instead of a doctor)? If so, are there diagnoses that aren’t disqualifying?
Again, not trying to get into the moral implications. Just curious whether there can technically be a pilot with a valid medical and an emotional support animal. Maybe I need to go to an ESA-centric forum, but then they wouldn’t know the intricacies of an FAA medical.
80KnotsV1Rotate@reddit
Some of the best emotional support animals are good FO’s.
shadownights_7@reddit
I can't wait to be one!
BustinDisco@reddit
Like Chewbacca!
Av8tr1@reddit
Can confirm. ;-)
Destroy_Fake_News@reddit
Dang.
bhalter80@reddit
Integrity is really important to being a pilot because you can't be supervised all the time and normalization of deviance figures prominently in lots of accident reports even without intentional non-compliance.
If a pilot is scamming their apartment building to be able to force them to take a pet they don't want (which is a small thing) how would you trust them to follow SOP and checklists to avoid killing your customers (big thing)? Liars are gonna lie.
Now if they faked a diagnosis to get an ESA letter/MMJ card etc... that diagnosis follows them around until it's disproven just ask the people misdiagnosed with ADHD.
SilentPlatypus_@reddit
This is not medical advice and I don't know the actual answer.
But a pilot pretending to have a mental health issue to get some type of benefit is playing with fire. No matter how you look at it, they're deliberately lying to someone about a thing that could jeopardize their entire career. Your friend should keep looking for pet-friendly housing options.
SenorNoods@reddit (OP)
This is not a real person or event, I’m just curious about the hypothetical possibility. Given the sheer number of people with these letters, I just have to assume some pilots also have them. Whether it’s risky or morally correct is a different discussion.
bhalter80@reddit
Integrity is really important to being a pilot because you can't be supervised all the time.
If a pilot is scamming their apartment building to be able to force them to take a pet they don't want (which is a small thing) how would you trust them to follow SOP and checklists to avoid killing your customers?
Now if they faked a diagnosis to get an ESA letter/MMJ card etc... that diagnosis follows them around until it's disproven just ask the people misdiagnosed with ADHD.
SilentPlatypus_@reddit
I doubt that many, or any, professional pilots would try to get an ESA letter. If anything, they might have their spouse or partner get one, but people who fly for a living have been conditioned to stay far, far, far away from any suggestion of a mental health issue. There are plenty of pilots who would benefit from mental health support don't seek even the legal options available to them. It's not impossible, but I suspect that very, very few pilots would willingly put their certificates on the line to get a fake ESA letter.
Anthem00@reddit
if you or him legitimately have/need an emotional support animal - then you/him legitimately should not be on a flight deck (or flying).
SenorNoods@reddit (OP)
Again, this isn’t real. These people don’t exist. This is a hypothetical question about technical possibility not moral ethics.
walleyednj@reddit
That is a load of bullshit.
SenorNoods@reddit (OP)
I don’t have any friends aspiring to be pilots or apartment hunting. I am already working with a HIMS AME on my medical and wouldn’t even consider the risk, I’ve got enough hurdles already. Not to mention my partner already has a legitimate ESA and I wouldn’t need to. It’s legitimately a hypothetical curiously lol.
EliteEthos@reddit
Is your animal going to help you land the plane?
SenorNoods@reddit (OP)
You’d probably need a fully fledged service animal for that.
DangerousBug6924@reddit
Brings a new meaning to cat 1 approach
Mr-cacahead@reddit
Yeah, my wife.
(Sorry, I had to….not sorry)
Mr-cacahead@reddit
I’m divorced now btw.
Chubbers44@reddit
My German short hair does my walk around with me
F1shermanIvan@reddit
If you need an ESA, I don’t want to fly with you.
That said, we should have a friendly dog on every flight deck, because that would be great.
rFlyingTower@reddit
This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:
This is meant to be a technical/philosophical question more than anything else. Not trying to get into any moral arguments around the ethics of ESA abuse by those who don’t actually need it. I’m just curious about the hypothetical possibility.
(This did not really happen) Say a friend is apartment hunting and was talking to another friend who suggested they get an ESA to open more options for them. They want to be a pilot and said pilots can’t have emotional support animals because they require a diagnosis and they’d lose their medical. I’m wondering if this is true. Does an ESA actually require a reportable diagnosis (say, if received from a licensed therapist instead of a doctor)? If so, are there diagnoses that aren’t disqualifying?
Again, not trying to get into the moral implications. Just curious whether there can technically be a pilot with a valid medical and an emotional support animal. Maybe I need to go to an ESA-centric forum, but then they wouldn’t know the intricacies of an FAA medical.
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AutoModerator@reddit
Hi, I'm a bot and it looks like you're asking a question about medical issues: therapist.
Medicals can be confusing and even scary, we get it. Unfortunately, the medical process is very complex with many variables. It's too complex, in fact, for any of us to be able to offer you any specific help or advice.
We strongly suggest you discuss your concerns with a qualified aviation medical examiner before you actually submit to an official examination, as a hiccup in your medical process can close doors for you in the future. Your local AME may be able to provide a consultation. Other places that may provide aeromedical advice include: AOPA, EAA, the Mayo Clinic, and Aviation Medicine Advisory Service.
For reference, here is a link to the FAA's Synopsis of Medical Standards and for more in-depth information here is a link to the FAA's Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners.
Also, feel free to browse our collection of past medical write-ups and questions in our FAQ.
Finally, we suggest you read the instructions on the medical application very closely. Do not volunteer information that isn't asked for, but also do not lie. Some people may urge you to omit pertinent information, or even outright lie, on your medical application in order to avoid added hassle and expense in obtaining a medical certificate. Know that making false statements on your medical application is a federal crime and that people have been successfully prosecuted for it. But for heaven's sake, don't tell the FAA any more than you absolutely have to.
If you're not in the United States, the above advice is still generally correct. Just substitute the FAA with your local aviation authority.
Good luck!
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