FAA Committee: Pilots Shouldn’t Have to Report ‘Talk Therapy’ Sessions

The Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee is recommending the agency eliminate the fear pilots have of losing their tickets due to actually trying to fix a medical problem.

Russ Niles

Wednesday, April 03, 2024 at 10:59 AM ET

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The FAA said it is reviewing the Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee's recommendations that are aimed at breaking down barriers that prevent pilots and air traffic controllers from reporting mental health issues. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

An FAA expert committee recommends allowing pilots to receive "talk therapy" from mental health professionals without disclosing it in their flight medical.
This key recommendation aims to remove the current fear among pilots of losing their certificates, which discourages them from seeking necessary mental health support.
The committee asserts there's robust data showing that seeking non-pharmacological help does not make pilots unsafe and proposes "non-punitive pathways" for various mental health issues.
The FAA has received the 24-recommendation report and is currently reviewing its contents to determine next steps for addressing pilot mental health barriers.

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An expert committee struck by the FAA on pilot mental health is recommending that pilots be allowed to get “talk therapy” from mental health professionals without having to disclose it in their flight medical.

The Aviation Medical Clearances Rulemaking Committee has submitted its 69-page report to the agency and its first recommendation (of 24) is aimed at eliminating the fear pilots have of losing their tickets due to actually trying to fix a medical problem.