AOPA Continues Mental Health Initiative with New Interview, Education Material
“Many pilots have been wary of seeking treatment for mental health concerns out of fear they would no longer be allowed to fly,” said AOPA Acting Co-President Katie Pribyl. “We’ve seen a high level of engagement with this initiative, and we believe it’s because there are pilots out there who want to know their options, while also wanting the stigma to disappear.”
Dr. Northrup, who leads the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine, said her team continues to explore ways to help make the process smoother and allow pilots access to a wider range of medications, while also highlighting important resources and reducing the amount of time some pilots have to wait for the FAA to review their medical application.
“We’ve been trying to do everything we can to make our processes more transparent, more consistent, and quite frankly, getting the knowledge out there so that people know what to expect, and of course we want it to be timely,” said Dr. Northrup. “As a result of that, we’ve also been looking very closely at the policies and procedures that we have internally to be sure that we are keeping up with current medicine and medical practice.”
Dr. Northrup also discussed an upcoming amnesty program to encourage pilots to self-report past diagnoses and treatment but noted it may require pilots to self-ground while their case is evaluated, though it would not result in consequences for past falsification.
“Things are moving in the right direction but, like anything involving pilots and safety, it takes time,” said AOPA Acting Co-President Jill Baker. “Our goal this month is for pilots to understand the resources that are available today, and that AOPA has your back. All AOPA members have the benefit of our Pilot Information Center, and every year, our medical certification team helps thousands of pilots understand the process and then, if they require a special issuance, can help them through that process.”
ASI’s eFIRC has also released a new elective as part of this month’s initiative, making it the only flight instructor refresher course that offers mental health content. Thousands of instructors complete a FIRC every two years to stay current as a CFI.
“I take AOPA’s eFIRC every two years, and this elective is a great addition,” said Pribyl. “It focuses on what CFIs can do to support themselves, how they can help their students, and updates on significant FAA mental health policy changes in the last five years.”
Remaining programming includes a dedicated webinar with Reini Thijssen on pilot mental health today. The next day, the AOPA Air Safety Institute will release a second installment of its Expert Insights video series focused on mental health. “Mind of a Pilot” with neurologist Dr. Billy Hoffman covers unique perspectives on the effects of stress, medications, alcohol, and aging on aeronautical decision making.
