Skift Take
Fear of career reprisals has many pilots keeping mental health concerns in the closet. The new FAA administrator wants to change that.
U.S. airline pilots who feel they need treatment for depression face a tough choice: Disclose it, and face months or more than a year of evaluation and no flying. Or do nothing, and risk a mental health crisis that endangers themselves and others.
The Federal Aviation Administration is now considering a change. “I think it’s time for a refresh," FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker said Monday, referring to the mental health rules. "Our focus is certainly going to be on safety in the cockpit, but I think we need to have a system that allows people to be more forthcoming and have treatment for issues that shouldn’t keep you out of the cockpit.”
Joseph Emerson, the Alaska Airlines pilot who nearly brought down a plane in October while suffering a mental health crisis, said that he had experienced depression-like symptoms s