Washington Post: Pilots hide mental health issues so they don't lose their wings (gift link)
Washington Post: Pilots hide mental health issues so they don't lose their wings (gift link)
It’s an issue that needs greater visibility, so I hope this kind of reporting is a step towards reform.
Reform how? Do you want to get on a plane with a pilot who's suffering from mental health issues? It's not an easy solution. Unless airlines are willing to pay pilots to not fly while getting treatment, which may never be completely so they'd be paying indefinitely, there really isn't a good solution. Spoiler: airlines won't be willing.
I'd argue the current punitive system makes it more likely you will be flying "with a pilot who’s suffering from mental health issues" that are hidden instead of treated. The problems exist now, they're just buried and ignored instead of addressed. I also think it's harmful to treat it so black and white, that either a person is "normal" or "mentally ill" with no grades or ability to be treated. Reform is possible, I think, by allowing disclosure and treatment of issues up front while continuing to operate at some level (maybe under supervision), instead of waiting years without being able to work while paying out of pocket for five figures-worth of tests. Even just streamlining the review and approval or denial to weeks instead of months or years would be a start.
Seems to me that this is partly due to a lack of legislation when it comes to sick employees. I live in the Netherlands and if a employee gets sick a company has to keep paying their salaries for up to two years and help the employee re-enter the work place. Only after two years they can be fired, but then they get sickness benefits from the government.
Granted, this wouldn't overcome all obstacles and I can imagine pilots would still be hesitant to come forward. And companies might be hesitant to hire employees with a history of mental health issues.
Yes, I would, as long as they're being treated and are under control - the same as pilots who have poor eyesight and must wear glasses, or missing limbs and must wear prosthetics.
I'm a pilot, albeit not commercially, and I have low-level mental health issues which are being treated with medication and are under control. I declared that and was issued a medical certificate, but that was in Europe which seems to be more progressive on the matter.