Simple Flying - Dr Omar Memon
The recent incident with an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot attempting to shut down engines mid-flight has raised concerns about mental health policies for pilots in the aviation industry.
The aviation community is investigating industry-wide procedures for mental health screening and pilots' fitness to fly, while authorities continue to investigate the Alaska Airlines pilot's case.
The FAA encourages pilots to seek help for mental health conditions, as most can be treated without disqualification, but some conditions like psychosis and bipolar disorder result in automatic disqualification from pilot duties.
