Question : Mental Health of Pilots

(a) whether the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has formulated guidelines for assessing the mental health of pilots;

(b) if so, the details thereof and the time by which these are likely to be implemented;

(c) whether the pilots already in service are also to be assessed according to these guidelines, if so, the details thereof; and

(d) whether DGCA proposes to create a peer support group for pilots and permit doctors to alert authorities whenever mental health of a pilot shows sign of uneasiness/fatigue/deterioration and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

Minister of CIVIL AVIATION
(Shri Ashok Gajapathi Raju Pusapati)

(a) to (d) A statement is laid on the table of the house.

Statement referred in reply to Part (a) to (d) of Lok Sabha Starred Ques. No. 80 regarding "Mental Health of Pilots" to be answered on 28.04.2016.

(a) & (b) The medical standards of pilots/co-pilots for commercial flying are equivalent to the medical standards of Class-I medical assessment enumerated in International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) Annexure 1, Chapter 6 and medical requirements laid down by DGCA as
per Civil Aviation Requirements (CAR) Section 7, Series C, Part I which
are available on DGCA website (www.dgca.nic.in).

(c) As per the Civil Aviation Requirements, pilots undergo a medical examination based on the following requirements:

(i) physical and mental;

(ii) visual and colour perception; and

(iii) hearing. This assessment is carried out once in a year for pilots upto the age of 60.
Thereafter, from 60 to 65 years of age, assessment is carried out once in a
period of 6 months.

(d) There is no proposal to create a peer support group for pilots and allowing for doctors to alert authorities regarding mental health of the pilot.