Being a pilot requires a unique combination of technical skills, quick thinking, and mental stability. Unlike driving a car, piloting an aircraft involves managing a complex machine at high speeds in a three-dimensional environment. With lives depending on split-second decisions, a pilot’s mental state is crucial.
What are the mental health requirements to become a pilot?
When applying for a pilot’s license, candidates must undergo medical examinations to assess both physical and mental fitness. According to aviation regulators like the FAA in the US, pilots must have no established medical history or diagnosis of psychosis, bipolar disorder, or any other severe mental disorder.
Pilots also can’t take antidepressants or medications used to treat psychosis or bipolar disorder. The concern is that such medications could impair judgment, cognitive ability, or motor skills in the cockpit.
However, a history of mild to moderate depression, anxiety, or ADD/ADHD isn’t necessarily disqualifying. Applicants can still qualify by providing evidence of treatment and stability.
Key mental health criteria for pilots
- No substance dependence or abuse within the last 2 years
- No personality disorder severely impacting cognition, judgment, or interpersonal skills
- No psychosis, bipolar, or severe mental disorder
- No neurological conditions impacting ability to fly safely
- If previously diagnosed with mild depression/anxiety, must demonstrate stability with treatment
How are pilots screened for mental health?
All pilots first obtain a medical certificate from an FAA-approved doctor who conducts a comprehensive physical exam and reviews medical records. The doctor will take a detailed history and look for any signs of substance abuse, neurological issues, or undiagnosed mental illness.
If there are any red flags, the doctor can order additional psychiatric testing, request more documentation, or deny the medical certificate. Pilots have to renew their medical certificate every 6 to 12 months if under 40 years old, or every 6 months if over 40.
Doctors are looking for any changes in mental status that could make a pilot unfit to fly. Pilots are also required to ground themselves if they experience any mental health problems.
Tests pilots may undergo:
- Cogscreen AE – Cognitive assessment
- MMPI-2 – Personality assessment
- Psychiatric interview
- Neurocognitive testing
- Substance screening
What mental traits make a good pilot?
In addition to stable mental health, certain cognitive strengths are vital for piloting ability and aviation safety:
- Alertness – Staying focused and attentive for long periods.
- Multitasking – Managing multiple complex systems simultaneously.
- Quick decision making – Assessing situations and responding urgently when needed.
- Stress tolerance – Keeping composure under pressure or in emergency situations.
- Discipline – Following procedures, double-checking work, and not skipping steps.
- Teamwork – Cooperating with co-pilots and air traffic control effectively.
Becoming a pilot takes rigorous training, testing, and thousands of hours of flight experience. That helps weed out those who don’t have the cognitive abilities or temperament required in the cockpit.
How often are pilots screened throughout their career?
All commercial pilots must renew their FAA medical certificate every 6 or 12 months. At each required medical exam, their physical and mental health is scrutinized to ensure they remain fit to fly.
If issues are suspected in between exams, pilots must immediately report them to their aviation medical examiner. Conditions that could compromise flight safety require temporarily grounding the pilot.
Here are some examples of mental health changes that would prompt immediate reporting:
- Mood disturbances interfering with work
- Psychotic episodes
- Alcohol or drug abuse
- Disturbing or violent behavior
- Suicidal thoughts
- New neurological symptoms
After treatment and sufficient time to stabilize, a pilot can be considered for reinstatement on a case-by-case basis. The duration of grounding depends on the condition. For example, suicidal ideas require at least 6 months of monitoring before return to the skies.
Ongoing mental health monitoring
- Medical certificate renewal every 6-12 months
- Self-reporting of concerns between exams
- Peer monitoring – coworkers also report red flags
- Cockpit voice/flight data recorders
- Random drug & alcohol testing
Historical cases of pilots with mental health issues
When pilot mental health breaks down, tragic consequences can follow. Here are some examples of problematic cases over the decades:
| Year | Airline | Pilot | Mental health issue | Consequence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | EgyptAir | Gameel al-Batouti | Suspected depression | Deliberately crashed Flight 990 into Atlantic Ocean, killing 217 people |
| 2015 | Germanwings | Andreas Lubitz | Depression | Crashed Flight 9525 into French Alps, killing 150 people |
| 2018 | Horizon Air | Richard Russell | Suicidal | Crashed a stolen passenger plane in Seattle area |
| 2019 | Atlas Air | Rick Blakely | Depression | Crashed cargo jet into Texas bay, killing 3 people |
These examples demonstrate just how vital mental health screening and monitoring are for commercial pilots. All it takes is one missed red flag for tragedy to strike.
What happens if a pilot fails a mental health screening?
If serious mental health concerns emerge during medical examinations or fitness evaluations, the pilot will have their license suspended or revoked. Depending on the severity of the case, they may have the opportunity to regain certified status after adequate treatment and monitoring.
To be reinstated after mental health-related suspension or revocation, pilots typically have to:
- Get established with a psychiatrist and therapist
- Demonstrate 6-12+ months of stability on medications if prescribed
- Have their psychiatrist submit evaluations and records regularly
- Pass cognitive testing proving fitness to fly
- Continue mental health treatment and monitoring indefinitely
- Regain FAA medical certificate approval
This rigorous process ensures pilots are managing any psychiatric conditions responsibly before returning to the skies.
Revocation versus suspension
If a licensed pilot is deemed permanently unfit mentally, the FAA will revoke their certificates entirely. However, suspension is sometimes used temporarily to motivate rehabilitation. The pilot can reapply after treatment and sufficient stability.
Either revocation or suspension will lead to job termination from the airline. However, the pilot may find work in non-passenger aviation roles if their license is simply suspended rather than fully revoked.
Conclusion
Mental stability and sound judgment are absolute necessities for safe piloting. That’s why aviation regulators have stringent mental health screening throughout a pilot’s career. Conditions like depression, substance abuse, and suicidal thoughts require immediate grounding and treatment. While a pilot can regain flight status after overcoming mental health challenges, the process is rigorous to ensure public safety.