Do pilots need mental health checks?


Do pilots need mental health checks? Professional pilots have to complete a FAA-directed medical exam every six months to five years, based in part on their age, to determine their mental health and fitness to fly. Part of that process is to report any visit with a mental health professional, any diagnosis, and all medications taken.


What antidepressants does the FAA allow?

Can Pilots Take Antidepressants?
  • The SSRI pathway only allows consideration for pilots who take one of four SSRIS: fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), escitalopram (Lexapro), or sertraline (Zoloft). ...
  • Other antidepressants do not have a Special Issuance pathway.


Can you fly with a history of depression?

The regulations are strict, yes, and make maintaining flight status a challenge. But they don't preclude someone with a mental health condition from flying. You can be a pilot if you have depression. Treatment options and growing awareness about mental health in the workplace provide hope.


Can you not be a pilot if you have depression?

The regulations are strict, yes, and make maintaining flight status a challenge. But they don't preclude someone with a mental health condition from flying. You can be a pilot if you have depression. Treatment options and growing awareness about mental health in the workplace provide hope.


What are the mental health requirements for pilots?

FAA policy on depression and other mental health conditions. To fly, pilots must have a medical certificate approved by an FAA aviation medical examiner (AME). Under the current guidelines, depression, anxiety, and similarly categorized psychological conditions don't lead to automatic disqualification.


What happens if you fail an FAA medical exam?

If pilot's clearly do not meet FAA medical standards, particularly if they have conditions that are specifically grounding in Part 67 of the FARs or the Guide to Aviation Medical Examiners, the aviation medical examiner may issue a denial letter to the pilot revoking the pilot's current medical privileges.


What is the psychological assessment for pilots?

Assessment will need to examine a pilot's cognitive abilities, personality traits and the social competences required for effective Crew Resource Management (CRM). For this, CAP recommends a combination of psychometric assessment (Personality and Cognitive testing) and interview.


What shows up on a FAA background check?

Criminal Background Check Required
  • Aircraft piracy.
  • Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States.
  • Armed robbery.
  • Assault with intent to murder.
  • Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard an aircraft.
  • Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight.
  • Conveying false information and threats.


What mental illnesses disqualify you from being a pilot?

However, certain medical conditions such as a psychosis, bipolar disorder and some types of personality disorder automatically disqualify a pilot from obtaining an FAA medical certificate. Former FAA Administrator Steve Dickson addressed pilot mental health at the University of North Dakota Mental Health Summit.


Can you fly with mental health issues?

Most people with pre-existing medical or psychiatric conditions are able to fly on a commercial aircraft without difficulty. 'Fear of flying' courses run by the major airlines may be helpful for some.


Do pilots suffer from anxiety?

Pilots get anxiety and depression just like many other people do, but they seem less likely to seek support and treatment.


How to fly with mental illness?

Passengers with mental illness are required to be in a stable condition to travel alone. In other cases an appropriately trained health professional - usually a nurse, but sometimes a doctor - should be provided as an escort, with access to medication to calm the patient if necessary.


Do pilots get mentally checked?

Psychological problems can onset at any time during a pilot's career making it important procedures are in place to identify pilots with mental health conditions or impaired brain function.


What is the depression rate for pilots?

20 studies were identified. The prevalence of depression experienced by commercial airline pilots in this review ranged from 1.9% to 12.6%. Factors that negatively impacted the mental health of pilots included substance abuse, experiencing verbal or sexual abuse, disruption in sleep circadian rhythms and fatigue.


Are pilots trained not to panic?

Pilots are trained to handle all sorts of nerve-racking situations, but that doesn't mean that they don't get scared—especially in these real instances, told by the pilots who experienced them, of serious in-flight fear.


Is being a pilot mentally challenging?

There is a lot of energy in the systems we operate. So, yeah, it can be a bit stressful, even before we add scheduling pressures, time away from family and constant changes due to weather and customer demands. Almost every “most stressful jobs” list has “commercial pilot” listed in the top 10.