The FAA updated its Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners Wednesday with new mental health counseling resources for pilots and air traffic control specialists, adding therapy, psychotherapy and counseling guidance under Item 47, Psychiatric Conditions. The revision adds a pilot and ATCS information page, FAQs for pilots and ATCS and guidance for psychotherapists treating pilots and controllers.
“Maintaining mental health is crucial for ensuring both safety and operational performance,” the FAA said in its new Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counseling Information page. “Counseling or therapy is encouraged when medically appropriate.”
The FAA also directs pilots and controllers who are considering counseling to see a therapist, counselor, physician or provider, review the agency’s related FAQs and provide therapists with the FAA’s information for psychotherapists treating pilots and ATCS.
The update appears to add counseling-specific resources rather than change the underlying certification framework. Prior AME guidance already addressed psychiatric conditions, reporting visits to health professionals and the aeromedical treatment of psychotropic medications. Rather, the FAA’s archives describe the new therapy, psychotherapy and counseling materials as additions to Item 47.
The FAA’s Item 47 page continues to affirm that psychotropic drug use is disqualifying for aeromedical certification purposes unless covered by listed exceptions. It also says AMEs should defer issuance and forward medical records to the Aerospace Medical Certification Division in those cases.
Hopefully including resistance to scuum pressuring to lower standards.
Some of the scuum have AME licenses but compromise when they get into management. Examples at Okanagan/Canadian Helicopters in 1980s.