Parliament Question: Mental Health Assessment of Pilots

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF CIVIL AVIATION LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. : 2015 ( TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 30th July 2026 ) MENTAL HEALTH ASSESSMENT OF PILOTS

2015. SHRI VISHALDADA PRAKASHBAPU PATIL SHRI SHRIRANG APPA CHANDU BARNE SMT BHARTI PARDHI SHRI RAVINDRA DATTARAM WAIKAR Will the Minister of CIVIL AVIATION

be pleased to state:-

(a) whether the Government has reviewed the Fit-to-Fly medical criteria to include comprehensive mental health assessments for holders of Commercial Pilot Licences (CPLs);

(b) if so, the details thereof including the mandatory Peer Support Programmes that airlines are required to establish to address pilot burnout;

(c) the mechanism in place for non-punitive reporting of stress-related issues by crew members without fear of immediate suspension of licence;

(d) the details of the study conducted by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on the impact of Ultra-Long Haul flights on the circadian rhythm and mental alertness of cockpit crew;

(e) the steps taken to prevent commercial pressure from airlines that may compel pilots to operate flights despite reporting fatigue; and

(f) the total number of pilots who have successfully availed departmental counselling services since the implementation of the new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms? ANSWER Minister of State in the Ministry of CIVIL AVIATION (Shri Murlidhar Mohol)

(a) to (c): Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) vide Medical Circular 01/2023 has issued guidelines for Mental Health Promotion of Flight Crew and Air Traffic Control Officers (ATCOs). Comprehensive Mental Health Assessment is already a fitness criteria to obtain medical fitness and all DGCA licences. Assessment of mental health of aircrews is conducted as a part of DGCA Medical Examinations on a regular basis. .;

;

DGCA undertakes quarterly review of all activities undertaken by major operators towards promotion of mental health.;;

Multiple measures are recommended to ensure availability of timely professional assistance.

Operators are advised to help aircrews in capacity building through mental health awareness seminars, regular training sessions.; ;

Peer support program is a non-punitive and proactive program embedded in Medical Circular 01 of 2023 for promotion of mental health and to assist aircrew in recognizing, coping up and overcoming various problems. This program is enshrined with the mechanism for redressal without the fear of loosing any licence privileges upon disclosure of problems. Operators are implementing this program in letter and spirit to address pilot burnout and to ensure flight safety.;

;

(d): No study on such impact was conducted.; ;

(e) & (f): Fatigue reports are an important tool for identifying and mitigating crew fatigue.

DGCA CAR 7/J/III mandates each operator to establish a clear policy on fatigue reporting that explains both how to raise a report and how it will be handled, with executive responsibility for fatigue management defined by the operator.

As per the said CAR, all fatigue reports and action-taken reports are to be retained for at least one year and made available to DGCA when required. In addition, quarterly fatigue reports, along with analysis and actions taken, is to be submitted to DGCA by the Head of Operations. In this year, a total of 22 aircrew have availed departmental counselling services.

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