Pilot Mental Health Campaign Applauds Introduction of the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2024
Congress to establish implementation requirements for FAA Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Committee Recommendations
Washington, DC — The Pilot Mental Health Campaign (PMHC), a national coalition of aviators, air traffic controllers, legal experts, and mental health professionals celebrated Representatives Sean Casten (D-IL) and Lori Chavez-DeRemer’s (R-OR) introduction of the Mental Health in Aviation Act of 2024, which, if passed, represents an historic step forward in addressing the unmet needs of thousands of pilots and air traffic controllers nationwide who have been avoiding mental health services for fear of adverse consequences from the FAA’s outdated medical certification process.
Since its founding over a year ago, PMHC has worked to improve the safety of our skies by ending mental health stigma in aviation. PMHC advocates for long overdue reforms to aeromedical policies that punish pilots who seek basic mental health treatment. Pilots who participate in talk therapy, access certain medications, or avail themselves of other medically necessary treatment often wait months or years for medical certification determinations to be made – even if their condition isn’t ultimately disqualifying. Currently, pilots must endure a process that often requires them to spend thousands of dollars out of pocket for medically unnecessary tests. The lack of transparency and uncertainty during FAA medical certification takes a toll on aviation families and makes our air transportation system less safe for all users.
On April 1st, the FAA’s own Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) released twenty-four recommendations that the agency could take to end mental health stigma in US aviation and restore the wings of pilots who are fit to fly. Until today, the FAA was under no obligation to implement the unanimous recommendations issued by this group of independent industry experts. If passed, the Mental Health in Aviation Act would require the FAA to implement the ARC recommendations as a function of the establishment of the Mental Health Task Group, which was included in the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024.
PMHC Executive Director Brian Bomhoff remarked, “The Pilot Mental Health Campaign (PMHC) thanks Representatives Casten and Chavez-DeRemer for their leadership on this very important issue. The Mental Health in Aviation Act will ensure that pilots, air traffic controllers, and others within the aviation community can seek the mental health care they need without the fear of professional repercussions. The current archaic policies surrounding mental health in aviation create an unsafe flying environment for not just individual pilots, but also the flying public. This piece of legislation will modernize mental health policies and ensure that our skies are safe for everyone.”
“Pilots and air traffic controllers should not be unfairly penalized for seeking mental health care by a system that perpetuates a culture of silence,” said Rep. Sean Casten. “The Mental Health in Aviation Act bolsters mental health care access for aviators by requiring the FAA to eliminate the main barriers to care, direct continuous improvement to the special issuance process, and ensure pilots and air traffic controllers have access to help should they need it.”
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For more information or interview requests, contact:
Max Brown, Desimone Consulting Group, [email protected]; 206 963 6195
About PMHC
The Pilot Mental Health Campaign (PMHC) is the first and only advocacy organization dedicated exclusively to reforming the broken American aeromedical system and building a safe, effective, and modern system that supports the mental health and wellbeing of American pilots. Established by aviators, legal experts, and mental health professionals, PMHC collaborates with industry stakeholders, mental health experts, and policymakers to drive change. For more information, visit www.pmhc.org.