What is the issue?
While the physical health of aircrews is assessed every year, the mental health and psychosocial stress factors and their potential impact on the crews' medical fitness have so far been less in focus. This subject deserves adequate attention from regulators, airlines and aircrews to ensure that the mental health issues of individuals do not over time develop into a problem that ultimately could negatively affect the safety of the operation and of the passengers on board.
How is the ECA involved?
The ECA actively contributes to various stakeholders consultations, which have, in the past, included EASA Concept Papers, the rule-making task Terms of Reference, the draft Operational Directives and draft regulatory material, as well as participation in EASA aircrew medical fitness workshops and in technical meetings organised by the Agency. The ECA also entered into a fruitful cooperation with the European Society of Aerospace Medicine (ESAM) and the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP) on issues like the AME-pilot relationship, strengthening trust, and wider aspects related to psycho-social stress factors. This topic is also addressed within one of our Working Groups, the Flight Standards & Operations (FSO) Working Group.
