An expert panel consulted by the FAA on pilot mental health recommends allowing pilots to receive “talk therapy” from a mental health professional without disclosing it during in-flight medical care. . The Aviation Medical Examination Rulemaking Committee has submitted a 69-page report to the agency, and its first recommendation (out of 24) is that pilots should not lose their tickets for actually trying to fix a medical problem. The aim is to eliminate the fear of
As it stands, pilots facing the kind of hardship that approximately 50 percent of all humans will face in their lifetime have three basic options: seek help and risk their certificates; You risk losing your certificate by lying about having earned it, and you can’t get help to avoid that risk. The committee says the FAA operates on the premise that people seeking non-medication help for their mental health may not be safe to fly. “However, there is limited data supporting this view, as well as robust data to the contrary,” the report states. The mere fact that you spoke to someone does not make you obligated to report. It also seeks to find “non-punitive pathways” for pilots seeking treatment for depression, anxiety, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and to provide training for AMEs. Revisions are also recommended.
The agency said it had received the report but did not comment on its contents. “The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is considering recommendations to break down barriers that prevent pilots and air traffic controllers from reporting mental health issues. provided by the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearance Rulemaking Committee, established in December 2023 by the Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearance Rulemaking Committee,” the agency said in a statement. “The FAA will determine next steps after considering the recommendations.”
