This Position Paper is intended to guide IFALPA’s recommendations in updating ICAO Annexes on personnel licensing and inform discussions within ICAO’s Medical Provision Study Group and Mental Health Working Group. Member Associations may also use this paper when discussing mental health requirements in routine medical examinations with their Medical Authorities.
This paper reviews recent studies and regulatory discussions, highlighting that standardized mental health questionnaires are ineffective for aviation medical examinations. Instead, open, supportive conversations between pilots and aeromedical examiners (AMEs) are the preferred method for identifying potential concerns. IFALPA underscores that mental health assessments should focus on flight safety impact rather than mere diagnosis, promoting a supportive framework that encourages pilots to seek help without fear of unwarranted consequences.
