Don’t fly solo

With the launch of Richard De Crespigny’s new book ‘Fly’, there has been a focus on what it takes to manage catastrophic and other failures on-board an aircraft and how those management tactics transfer to a multitude of life’s catastrophes and difficult events.

And transfer they do. I would suggest however, that the starting point in using those experiences and learning from them is to 1. Understand how the event has affected you and 2. Ask for support.

Something I think, most of us hesitate to do.

When we refer to an ‘incident’ most of my clients will immediately think of mechanical failures or that style of event. Anything from engine roll backs to fires and hydraulics emergencies, too many to list.

In reality there are many more incidents to consider that both pilots and cabin crew have to deal with. Things such as passenger and crew medical emergencies, un-forecast horrendous weather, another aircraft causing a TCAS warning or the need for evasive action to name a few. And I haven’t even mentioned the Defence Force pilots and crew and their incidents over combat zones.

Pilots and cabin crew are trained to manage most events. That said, while their action on the day will be the result of intensive training and the outcome predominantly a positive one, is there enough support for the effects such events can have on the psyche? My discussions with pilots suggest that there is a gap in the way crew as a whole are supported post event.

Things that can occur post traumatic events come in various forms; Flashbacks, PTDS, anxiety, sleep deprivation, headaches and ASR. If even minor indications of these are not dealt with they can manifest themselves in a variety of ways, even physically. Great or small they are not symptoms to be ignored. They are symptoms that need to be managed with guidance and the right set of tools.

While some airlines and associated organisations provide mental health support and programs, I sense there is ‘suspicion’ in utilising those services. I can understand that. Perhaps the phrase ‘Mental Health’ in and of itself is a hurdle. Mental health needs the same support physical health does, if you tear a hamstring you go to the physio, the same plan applies to mental health.

‘I sense there is ‘suspicion’ in utilising those services.’

Aviation specialist and psychologist Dr Sandi Hill is married to a pilot and has 14 years experience in dealing with these areas “I understand the nature of the ‘pressure’ a person is under in the job of a pilot. Pilots are constantly under scrutiny from the time of initial training to the continual expectation that they must progress to an airline role. The scrutiny continues with ongoing sim and line checks, random drug and alcohol testing, and in some companies blood pressure and other constant health checks, all of which serve to keep ones autonomic arousal system pressed ‘on’ all the time. Let alone the occurrence of incidents and accidents”

Often for minor symptoms it is simply a matter of talking the event through with someone who is safe and who will not judge you. Someone who will help you to understand what the fallout has been for you, to identify it and provide tools to manage those aspects.

If the fallout has taken on a far wider set of symptoms then it is imperative you get the right support, if not from your employer then from an external professional.

Dr Hill says “Despite a first or second officer in the cockpit as backup, each of those pilots has to be able to take charge of the aircraft if the situation arises. The Captain also holds full responsibility for doing the job with close to 100% accuracy every time she/he sits in the left hand seat. The cockpit team are responsible for the safety of hundreds of lives and an incredibly expensive aircraft covering multiple sectors, they are part aircraft engineer, part weather predictor and even have to assess the gravity of on-board medical emergencies. What other profession is like this, I’m not sure?

What I do know is that pressure of this nature builds up and affects other areas such as sleep, appetite, exercise, relationships and mood… this is where the difficulties lie and mistakes are made if they are not managed.

Even if a pilot has not experienced a catastrophic event or a major incident simply being away from family and friends or doing back-of-the-clock shifts when most humans are asleep are factors that can affect a person’s mental health in the short or long term.

My clinical work is aimed at helping pilots and crew understand their own psychology in relation to their job and teaching healthy coping strategies so that life can feel balanced and happy both in and outside of the job.”

Many pilots belong to the AFAP. They provide excellent resources for crew with an ever-increasing focus on welfare. They continue to invest in the protection of pilots health and wellbeing and have developed a multi faceted ‘Member Assistance Program” (MAP). One not every career pilot is aware of and should be.

Their program includes these areas and more:
– A Welfare Director who is an elected pilot, part of at team who develop policy that drives change and reduces stigma where possible for the industry
– 24/7 free confidential psychologists who we train in pilot specific issues and who are pilots via our Membership Assistance Program.
– A 24/7 Emergency Hotline for pilots who have an accident, incident or other emergency.
– A network of trained welfare pilot reps nationwide who can provide peer support.
– Along with CASA, the other unions and Aviation Medical, AFAP are part of the Steering Committee for the HIMS program. The drug and alcohol intervention model that aims to save pilots’ jobs and lives when they’re struggling with addiction- https://www.hims.org.au/
– Provision of emergency welfare funding- in the event of the death of one of our members, we get their family up to $10000 within a very short space of time.

Cate Larkins, Legal Officer & Welfare Coordinator for AFAP says “Our pilots often trust using our services over their employer. In fact, of the 150 people we have helped since inception 3 years ago, the majority have never seen a psychologist at any other time or used their company EAP.”

“This tells us that there is a service gap that we are helping to fill. Pilots use our MAP for all sorts of things, there doesn’t have to be anything serious going on. They might just need someone confidential and independent to listen. MAP is also totally confidential and independent from employers as it is all funded by the AFAP.” (Unless there is real and immediate risk of harm to the pilot or others).

The human condition is such that what you experience in one aspect of our life is not isolated to that area. Fallout is not a dirty word, just one to be acknowledged and supported.

If you feel you are exhibiting any of the symptoms listed above, get in touch. We can put you in contact with the highest quality professionals to support you with 100% confidentiality.