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Pilot Mental Fitness and Aviation Safety - Learning from GermanWings

This article discusses the objectives and tasks of the Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) chartered by the FAA to address pilot mental fitness for duty, specifically in light of incidents such as Malaysian flight 370 and GermanWings flight 9525. It examines changes in awareness and reporting of mental health issues in the general population and pilot community, evaluating methods used to assess pilot mental health and exploring ways to encourage reporting of medical conditions. The article also highlights the ARC process and general philosophy, and FAA actions to enhance pilot mental health support programs and medical reporting.

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Pilot Mental Fitness and Aviation Safety - Learning from GermanWings

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  1. Office of Aerospace MedicineLearning from GermanWingsWhat should we do differently?TheRegulator

  2. Pilot Fitness Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) • Chartered by the FAA on May 11, 2015 • Consider specific objectives and tasks in a forum for the U.S. aviation community to discuss and provide recommendations to the FAA on pilot mental fitness for duty. • Chartered after the Commercial Aviation Safety Team (CAST) considered the circumstances of Malaysia flight 370 and GermanWings flight 9525

  3. ARC Charter • What does data show about changes in awareness and reporting of emotional and mental health issues in the general population? • If there is a change in the general public awareness, is there a similar change in the pilot community? • Do changes in awareness and reporting of emotional and mental health issues in the pilot community indicate increased risks to aviation safety? • What methods are used to evaluate the emotional and mental health of pilots today?

  4. ARC Charter (cont.) • What methods are used to encourage pilots to report medical conditions, including emotional and mental health issues? • What steps are taken when emotional and mental health conditions are reported -- either by the pilot or by family, friends or co-workers? • Are there barriers preventing pilots from reporting medical conditions, i.e. emotional and mental health? • Are there gaps in the methods used today to evaluate the emotional and mental health of pilots?

  5. ARC Process • First meeting - June 2, 2015 • 5 subsequent meetings (monthly) • Assign ARC Charter tasks to working groups • Vigorous discussion on all tasks • Last meeting – October 27, 2015 • Final Report to the Administrator November 26 • Report not yet released to the public

  6. ARC General Philosophy • Create environment that encourages and is supportive of pilot self-disclosure • Expand use of pilot support programs • Educate air carriers and pilots on mental fitness for duty issues • Risk mitigation processes built on Safety Management System (SMS) principles

  7. General Philosophy (cont.) • Holistic, team approach to addressing pilot mental fitness issues offers the best opportunity for a positive outcome. • Existing pilot support programs are extremely important and beneficial

  8. Pilot Support Programs • Contract Aeromedical Advisors • AirCarrier Employee Assistance Programs • Air Carrier-Specific Pilot Assistance Programs • Crew Resource Management • Critical Incident Response Program • Formal Pilot Mentoring Programs • Human Intervention Motivation Study • Professional Standards Program

  9. FAA Actions Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) • Restructure the AME basic and refresher curricula (initiated January 28, 2016) • Expand general knowledge regarding mental status assessment and mental health. • Enhance AME’s ability to identify warning signs and refer the pilot for evaluation and appropriate intervention.

  10. FAA Actions (cont.) Mental Health Research • Determine need for psychological research in U.S. to better understand • Pilot mental health in general • Better predict changes in pilot mental health over time.

  11. FAA Actions (cont.) Mental Health Research (cont.) • FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine/UK CAA collaboration re recommendations of the CAA Mental Health Working Group. • Further study of psychological testing benefits in a research cohort of pilots • Explore early recognition of pilot personality and behavioral difficulties posing future problems

  12. AsMA Actions Medical Reporting • Encourage advocacy for a uniform national policy on mandatory reporting of medical issues that affect public safety. • AsMA resolution to the American Medical Association calling for mandatory reporting of medical issues affecting public safety.

  13. Federal Aviation Administration QUESTIONS ?

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