Dual aviation mental health bills introduced to the Senate

The Mental Health in Aviation Act and the Aviation Medication Transparency Act have been introduced to the Senate by Sens. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and John Hoeven (R-ND). The Mental Health in Aviation Act passed the House of Representatives in September. Its goal is to update outdated policies surrounding mental health disclosure and treatment and remove barriers to mental wellness services for aviators. If passed, it will encourage early disclosure and treatment of mental health conditions for pilots and air traffic controllers. It would also allocate $15 million annually to improve the FAA's Special Issuance Medical Certification process and $1.5 million annually for a public campaign to reduce mental healthcare stigma. "NBAA strongly supports the Mental Health in Aviation Act, which aims to address the stigma surrounding mental health in the aviation community," said Ed Bolen, NBAA president and CEO. "It's essential that we foster an environment where pilots, air traffic controllers and others feel safe to seek help without fear of retribution or repercussion." RELATED STORIES: House passes Mental Health in Aviation Act for better pilot access House committee passes pilot mental health bill Mental health in aviation 10 years after Germanwings Flight 9525 The Aviation Medication Transparency Act was introduced to the House of Representatives earlier this year. It would require the FAA to publish and annually update a comprehensive and user-friendly list of accessible medications that are safe for pilots, air traffic control specialists and trainees. Currently, there is no easy-to-understand format for anyone outside of the medical field. It would also indicate when individuals with an FAA medical certificate must have limited or no duties while taking certain medications and provide a list of medications that should not be issued.