Skift Take

April’s recommendations to the FAA on mental health address many of pilots’ concerns. How the FAA sees them through is another story.

Elizabeth Casolo

If a pilot is grounded for mental health reasons, how long should it take for them to get medical approval? Do pilots need to tell the FAA every time they go to therapy? Should pilots on ADHD medication be able to fly?

The FAA established a committee to tackle these questions and review its mental health policies in December. Last month, the committee — composed of medical experts, advocacy groups, and other voices in aviation — published its recommendations. Now, the FAA is reviewing them.

“We’re trying to break down barriers and develop pathways where pilots want to come forward with some of their issues and break down those stigmas,” said Jim Coon, a committee member and the senior VP of government affairs at the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association.

The recent push for reform comes after an Alaska Airlines pilot almost brought down a plane last fall. But this isn’t a standalone incident in aviation history. The Germanwings crash and the death of a University of North Dakota student also made headlines.

“The FAA encourages pilots to seek help if they have a mental health condition since most, if treated, do not disqualify a pilot from flying,” said a statement from the FAA. “Only about 0.1% of medical certificate applicants who disclose health issues are denied.”

The report lays out some of the FAA’s pain points with mental health — which could lead to underreporting of conditions — and 24 recommendations.

Skift spoke with pilots affiliated with the Pilot Mental Health Campaign (PMHC). The group advocates for stronger legislation on mental health in the aviation industry. Here are a few issues some pilots found most pressing:

Observation Periods and Wait Times

According to the FAA, if pilots come forward about a mental health concern in their medical forms or during an exam, the Aviation Medical Examiner — a professional responsible for medical certification — may ask more questions. The examiner may request psychological testing or defer to the Office of Aerospace Medicine for further evaluation.

People with some conditions, like bipolar disorder, have to be denied a medical certification or deferred.