How are you feeling?
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CASA HAS RELEASED A NEW RESOURCE PAGE TO HELP PILOTS MANAGE THEIR HEALTH AND WELLBEING.
he page covers topics such as fatigue, diet, hydration, mental health and alcohol and substance abuse; issues all with the potential for a negative effect on performance and safety. The new page also dispels some of the myths, misconceptions and fear around how CASA regulates issues such as depression and the excessive consumption of alcohol. It goes without saying healthy pilots are critical to safety. They are responsible for the lives on board their aircraft, so must have the knowledge and self-awareness to monitor their own performance; addressing any issues which could affect safe operations. This includes the obvious technical skills and currency, as well as general wellbeing—pilots’ physical and mental health. CASA is also working with industry groups dedicated to helping pilots through issues such as depression and substance abuse. By working with these organisations, CASA wants to create an environment of trust where pilots, their colleagues and families, have the confidence to report potential issues. In that way issues can be addressed before they affect safety. It also helps to ensure a supported and monitored return to work for the pilots concerned, through transparency, cooperation and coordination. The alternative—unreported drinking and substance abuse—is simply too dangerous. One of these organisations is the Human Intervention Motivation Study (HIMS), recently established for anyone in aviation whose use of alcohol or other drugs is of concern. Alcohol problems do not necessarily mean the end of an aviation career.
A cornerstone of HIMS is understanding that substance dependence is a treatable medical condition. It is modelled on well-established overseas programs which have assisted thousands of pilots return to work. CASA takes a similar approach with mental health, treating every case of depression as unique, and making aeromedical decisions on a case-by-case basis. Depression is more than just a low mood— it’s a serious mental illness that affects physical health, concentration levels, alertness, reaction time and decision-making. Needless to say, for pilots, the hazards and effects of depression could mean the simple difference between life and death. Being diagnosed doesn’t mean the end of your aviation career either. CASA looks for a good stable recovery even if, in some cases, ongoing medication is required. Despite the progressive regulatory approach CASA is taking on issues like depression and substance abuse, there remains a genuine hesitation within parts of the pilot community about self-reporting or reporting a colleague, out of fear of losing medical certification. That’s why the decision was made to permit pilots who had recovered from depression to resume flying, even though they might still be taking medication. CASA’s Safety Promotion Team is distributing posters encouraging pilots not to ignore mental health and start a conversation with their GP or DAME. The Aviation Medicine section has also developed a series of fact sheets and case studies to help pilots understand how wellbeing and other health conditions could affect aviation safety and their medical certification.
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For more information, casa.gov.au/wellbeing.