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FAA Forms Advisory Committee on Pilot Mental Health

Yesterday, the FAA announced the formation of an aviation rulemaking committee (ARC) to make recommendations within six months on pilot mental health and screening issues. The agency said it assembled the expert group in response to the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 last year and the Germanwings Flight 9525 crash two months ago. ARCs are temporary advisory committees, but typically the FAA uses their recommendations when it crafts regulations. The Pilot Fitness ARC “will examine issues, including the awareness and reporting of emotional and mental health issues, the methods used to evaluate pilot emotional and mental health and barriers to reporting such issues,” the FAA said. The charter creating the ARC also establishes a working group of medical professionals that will report to the committee. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the FAA said it might consider changing medical methods, aircraft design, policies and procedures, pilot training and testing and/or training of aerospace medical examiners. The FAA provided a list of the organizations that will be represented on the committee, including the Aerospace Industries Association, Airlines for America, Air Line Pilots Association, Flight Safety Foundation and International Air Transport Association. Transport Canada will also participate. The ARC’s meetings will not be open to the public.