FAA Plans To Ease Mental Health Barriers For Pilots

We are breaking down the barriers for pilots with Simple Flying's recent podcast with Captain Chris.


Photo: American Airlines

Simple Flying sat down with Captain Chris a few days ago to discuss mental health. Circling the FAA's intentions to ease aeromedical rules about mental health concerns at the recent Business Aviation Summit.

Based on a study completed in 2022, the results reported by the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA) identified that up to 56.1% of pilots had noted a history of behavior that related to escaping or distracting themselves from complex thoughts, feelings, and situations, in which if identified, could result losing their aeromedical certificate.

A move from multiple unions

Across the industry, the National Business Aviation Association and the AOPA, alongside multiple pilot unions, including the Air Line Pilots Association, Allied Pilots Association, and Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, are lobbying for a review of the current legislation relating to long overdue reforms regarding the FAA's policy around medical practices and protocols set out by the FAA. The AOPA emphasizes:

''(The) AOPA recognizes the need for the FAA to provide transparent, repeatable, and logical decision paths for applicants to count on when self-identifying mental health issues.''

Simple Flying's managing editor Joanna Bailey spoke with Captain Chris about his view on the current

approach to mental health, which is not solely related to the aviation industry. The cost of living crisis has played havoc with almost half of all adults in the UK, or one in five in the US, facing mental health challenges post-pandemic.

40% of potential applicants

The FAA has noted that up to 30-40% of applicants into the industry have faced challenges with mental health, as Jo Bailey pointed out:

''In aviation, mental health issues can affect anyone in any role. But it seems to be the pilots who have the most at stake in terms of recognizing the symptoms and reaching out for help.''

Captain Chris, a well-known airline pilot, noted that throughout the aviation industry, there are always challenges, and this can be as simple as a pilot's medical checks coming up and the chances of failing these.

Both in and outside of aviation, the crew of all levels can face challenges with mental health, which can be along the lines of debt, change, family issues, and more, those can have constant worries going through their minds, and it may feel like the brain never stops. Chris noted this in the latest Simple Flying podcast:

''These sort of worries are going on in every single person's minds, whether they're on the street or an airline pilot up in the skies. And that's an important issue that needs to be tackled.''

Confidence isn't always key.

A recent study by the US Air Force identified that up to 72% of military pilots avoided reaching out for help regarding mental health and overall healthcare for fear that it could make them lose their wings. However, Captain Chris noted an apparent 'stigma' surrounding mental health.

Chris emphasized that when in flight, the crew don't necessarily have the time to talk to each other and debrief, relate, or download on stresses in their life. However, when the crew touches down and is on a layover, the team can relax and connect on the pros and cons of the aviation industry.