The job of an airline pilot is, by its nature, stressful. Airline pilots must take care of a multi-million dollar piece of kit and all the humans aboard, regardless of inclement weather or passenger misbehavior. Thyme must also comply with many regulations, and communicate very well with others. It's a lot of responsibility to carry which, coupled with personal responsibilities like family and such, can take its toll.
It's worth considering that many pilots fear losing their medical over even an alleged mental health issue. The case of Delta Air Lines pilot & published author Karlene Pettit, as reported in the December 28, 2020, Associated Press, shows that if the airline's preferred psychiatrist - wrongfully - finds you mentally unfit to fly commercially, you can be grounded indefinitely. Thankfully the courts were able to restore Pettit to flying status as the judicial process wore on. Nonetheless, pilots are legitimately concerned about reporting mental health issues.
A review of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) website and 14 CFR 67.107 shows that a severe mental health issue is a threat to maintaining a first-class airman medical certificate, which US airline pilots need to fly. Rather more serious issues such as substance abuse, psychosis, bipolar disorder, personality disorder, heart ailment, or sight impairment are good causes to suspend or revoke the medical certification. Furthermore, some medications may require a pilot not to fly for a specific period.
The FAA also requires an Aviation Medical Examiner do a check on airline pilots on a regular basis. Among other things checked alongside heart and vision are health professional visits, medications taken and similar. If the Aviation Medical Examiner has concerns, the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine can be easily consulted. FAA also stresses that,
"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."
It's also a good idea for airline pilots to seek out their union for resources as described below.
A good example of existing resources for pilots is the Delta Pilots MEC arrangement for a Pilot Assistance Network or PAN to help pilots fight mental health challenges. As "Engage: The Podcast for Delta Pilots" podcast host Ryan Argenta and Grant Olbrich, the Chair of the PAN Committee, explain, seeing counseling to save a marriage is not reportable. But when it gets to seeking help for a mental health issue, confidential options are available. One option is PAN.
In Olbrich's words, PAN is intended to provide a confidential pilot-to-pilot conversation about anything that's a challenge to a pilot that's taking him or her off of center, mentally or otherwise. Most PAN members have had health challenges and had to work to return to being airworthy.
For Argenta, the episode was personal as,
"I always say that, 'If you're a Delta pilot, I'll take a swift kick for you. Because we're on the same team.' And to hear about somebody who took their life because they couldn't navigate getting help, because they were a pilot, that gets me. And that's why we're doing this. That's why we're putting this out everybody needs to know about PAN."
Another is Aviation Medicine Advisory Service or AMAS, which works with ALPA and operates confidentially from airline management, the FAA, and the public. AMAS can work with a pilot to construct a plan to return to complete mental health and safely keep or regain flight status as soon as possible.
"The SWAPA Number" podcast by Southwest Airlines Pilots Association or SWAPA also has addressed resources for pilots needing mental health care. SWAPA has a similar program to PAN and calls it the ProjectLift program. For its chair Chess Fulton,
"Project LIFT is there when you need someone to talk to that has the knowledge and resources to help you get through your issue, and we know the impact of the different courses of action regarding to your career. And we provide these services to family members too. We've seen a marked increase in teen depression and suicidal ideation. So if you or a family member is having an issue, please call."
ProjectLift volunteers are peer Southwest pilots, well trained in addressing mental health issues, as well as able to find quality backup when needed. The SWAPA union also will work with a pilot undergoing mental health challenges to get recertified with the FAA.
Furthermore, as to suicide prevention, ProjectLift is a tool - but not the only tool - available to prevent suicides. Specific techniques are also used, like talking about each issue and understanding that, as ProjectLift committee member Matt Foust explained,
"When someone is suicidal, all that means is that they're depressed. Suicide is the ultimate result of being depressed."
Hence the need for early and, if possible collegial intervention to save lives. Of course, if someone appears to be an immediate suicide risk - calling your national suicide prevention hotline is a moral choice. Especially as suicide is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.
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Yes, if an airline pilot is having mental health challenges - there are resources to help that pilot climb away from them.
Photo: Joe Kunzler | Simple Flying
Pilots need to reach out to their union for mental health resources when feeling down or off. It's easy and honorable to reach out for help. It's also increasingly recognized that pilots have a stressful job - a job, in the words of F-14 pilot turned airline pilot Terry Deitz to vice.com, that involves the following:
There are 150 people sitting behind me. But that really means 15,000. Because 100 people are going to go to each one of those people's funerals, that's how I think about it.
Add to that responsibility the pilot fatigue issues at Delta Air Lines and Southwest Airlines of late. Plus, the personal responsibilities pilots have, like family and bills. One can see how the good work of being an airline pilot stretches the mental health of pilots to the limit. Seeking out a peer to discuss workplace issues is best for all - no matter their workplace.
Do you think enough is being done for pilot's mental health? Why or why not? Let us know in the comments please.
Sources: December 28, 2020 Associated Press, FAA - Pilot Medical Certification Q&A, Vice.com