More on the upcoming 'new' mental health rules:
FAA to consider new mental health rules for commercial pilots
By Hugo Martin - LA Times
May 27, 2015, 2:04 PM
In the wake of airline catastrophes involving Germanwings and Malaysia Airline carriers, the Federal Aviation Administration is calling for a study on the mental and emotional health of commercial airline pilots.
The FAA announced Wednesday that it is working with an industry group that includes pilots and medical experts to come up with recommendations for new rules within six months.
The study comes in response to the deaths of 150 people in the crash of Germanwings flight 9525 in March. The copilot, who had been treated for suicidal tendencies, is believed to have deliberately crashed the plane into the French Alps.
Groups representing pilots and airlines said they will cooperate with the study.
"Safety is the industry’s top priority," said the International Air Transport Assn., a trade group for the world's airlines. "IATA is pleased to have the opportunity to contribute to this important initiative on pilot fitness."
The Air Line Pilots Assn, which represents 51,000 pilots at 30 airlines, issued a statement, saying: "We look forward to working alongside other key stakeholders in evaluating the extensive procedures and processes currently in place that provide a thorough monitoring of crewmembers in the United States.”...
FAA to consider new mental health rules for commercial pilots - LA Times
Translation of the ALPA statement:
The new shrink tests will be implemented, as is customary, in two phases.
Phase One: Don't worry, trust me, ALPA will never allow it. It's an invasion of medical privacy forbidden by HIPPA, the ADA and other existing laws. Current tests are totally sufficient to ensure fitness for duty. It will never fly.
Six months later...
Phase Two: It's a done deal, our hands were tied, we had to go along with the new psych testing mandate or we would have no inputs to the rulemaking.