The FAA is Stuck in the 1950s on Mental Health

It’s time to modernize how we see mental health for pilots

Recently, it came to light that Joseph David Emerson, who instantly became infamous for pulling the fire handles on a flight from Everett to San Francisco, had taken mushrooms, and was struggling with depression after the death of a close friend. While he should be held accountable for his crime and the danger he exposed countless souls too, this provides an important opportunity to discuss a serious issue: mental health among pilots and the FAAs contribution to that.

As a pilot one of the very first things you learn- is to self medicate. According to the FAA, almost any perscription drug is prohibited, or approved after a long period of ground testing whereby a pilot is prevented from flying as the effects are monitored and only after that, MIGHT get his or her ability to fly back. The key is MIGHT, getting approved is not a guarantee. It’s a roll of the dice, with big consequences. What does all this mean? Pilots do not report any issue, at all. After all if you lose your ability to fly you will lose your living, paycheck, and for most, passion.

Among the most concerning problem is the FAAs outright refusal to see mental health any differently than they did in the 1950s. Early on, any medicine related to mental health was generally harsh and the long term effects were not understood. But over time, the stigma of depression, anxiety, and other conditions to include Post Traumatic Stress has subsided and people are encouraged to embrace the problem and seek help. Everyone of course, except pilots.

Recently, the FAA announced it was going after pilots being treated for mental health that didn’t report this to the FAA. On the surface, most non-aviators would see this as a good thing. After all, the job is so difficult with high stakes, that we need only aviators in their “right mind.” But that again stigmatizes the issue of mental health. And as a result, pilots like Mr. Emerson had to turn to another option… self medication.

While using mushrooms (Mr. Emerson has taken them the night before) is of course extreme, many pilots turn to alcohol or other drugs to treat depression outside of the care of a professional. This actually puts passengers at MORE risk than if pilots were allowed to see professionals and get treated.

Pilots are professionals. To even get a basic private pilot’s license many hours of training and studying rules and regulations are required. Daily pilots make decisions as to their fitness to fly. If they have a cold, or they are overwhelmed by life stresses, there are opportunities to take themselves off the flying schedule- and people make this decision daily. But to leave serious issues untreated because of pre-conceived concerns stuck in the 50s is dangerous.

A few years back, a Germanwings passenger aircraft crashed when a mentally Ill copilot locked the captain out of the cockpit and intentionally crashed the plane. The copilot had been struggling with mental health issues and refused to seek treatment because he needed the job. Sadly, we didn’t take a lesson from that incident.

It’s time for the FAA to modernize and treat physical and mental health issues as we would all expect. Not penalizing pilots for seeking help but instead encouraging them to do so… for their safety and all of ours. Enough is enough.