US Senate approves legislation on pilot and air traffic controller mental health
AAL•The Senate unanimously approved bipartisan legislation to modernize mental health guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers and encourage early disclosure and treatment. It also passed a separate bill requiring the FAA to issue accessible guidance on approved medications.
1. Senate passes two bills
The Senate approved legislation sponsored by Senators John Hoeven and Tammy Duckworth to encourage pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care while reducing stigma. A separate bill requires the FAA to issue accessible, user-friendly guidance on approved medications.
2. Barriers to care
Pilots can face a three-month grounding if they change antidepressant or anxiety medication dosages or switch medications for mental health issues. An FAA expert panel report found that about 20% of pilots and controllers who report a mental health issue are initially disqualified from work, and approval to use an antidepressant can take more than a year.
3. Industry response
The Allied Pilots Association, which represents 17,000 American Airlines pilots, praised the bills as progress toward modernizing the FAA’s approach to pilot mental health. Duckworth said the legislation aims to dismantle the culture of silence around mental health in aviation.
