The government agencies that oversee US airlines are taking a
new look at their mental health regulations for pilots.
After an off duty Alaska Airlines captain allegedly tried to
turn off the engines of a plane in mid flight,
the National Transportation Safety Board convened a mental health forum
yesterday to examine what needs to change.
Kris Van Cleave is at
Washington's Reagan National Airport. Chris,
what's going on?
Well, good morning. The witnesses at this forum said they
feared reporting problems because they worried about the potential of
being grounded for good.
Essentially left unable to make a living,
They told the Forum that the FAA rules have created
a stigma around mental health that many believe presents a
safety risk.
19 year old student pilot John Hauser was struggling with
his mental health in silence for months,
fearing seeking help would lead him to losing his FAA
medical certification Required to fly,
he took his own life by crashing this plane in
October
2021. John did not have a known history of depression.
His mother and Sue. In a letter describing the turmoil
that John was silently facing,
he wrote. I want to seek help more than anything.
I'm just know if I try
I will have to give up on aviation,
and frankly, I'd rather not be here than to do
that.
Disclosing mental health issues can lead to a pilot being
grounded by the FAA.
United Airlines First Officer Troy Merritt grounded himself a year
ago to get treatment for anxiety and depression.
He says he's taking an approved FAAA medication,
but it could take another year out of work before
regulators allow him to fly again.
Had the barriers that are in place today not been
there,
I know I would have sought treatment earlier.
One study found more than
56% of US pilots avoid seeking medical treatment out of
fear of losing their FAA certification to fly.
We got the message loud and clear from all sides.
If you want to fly,
you can't admit anything is wrong.
Court documents say off duty Alaska Airlines Captain Joseph Emerson
allegedly took psychedelic mushrooms
48 hours before he attempted to turn off the engines
of an airliner in mid flight,
reportedly telling police he'd been battling undiagnosed depression.
He's expected to be arraigned today on dozens of charges,
including 83 counts of reckless endangerment,
Choosing between lying and flying
without seeking help? That's not a choice.
Following that October incident, the NTSB called this first of
its kind mental health forum for Chair Jennifer Hammondy.
It sounds like from from where you sit as the
chair of the NTSB,
the existing regulations aren't good enough.
The existing rules are arcane.
At the very least, pilots and others need to be
able
to sit down, talk to a therapist and not worry
about
the impact on their jobs.
The FAA says it does provide a pathway for pilots
to return to the cockpit,
but ahead of the forum,
the agency announced a panel to review existing mental health
regulations,
FAA Administrator Michael Whitaker. We need to have a system
that allows people to be more forthcoming and to have
treatment for issues that shouldn't keep you out of the
cockpit.
Now the FAA has conducted similar reviews in the past
that didn't yield much change,
a 2016 survey study from Harvard now.
So this is pre pandemic
found about one in 8 pilots could qualify as clinically
depressed.
This morning the nation's largest pilot union is joining the
call for change,
saying the current system is outdated.
Nate
seems like it's time for an update.
Chris. Thank you.