On the recordJuly 19, 2023
Let's help our pilots be strong medically and mentally, and let's make this the best aviation system in the world. Mr. Chair, I include in the Record an article from Scientific American. [From Scientific American, Nov. 22, 2022] We Need To Change the System That Keeps Pilots From Seeking Mental Health Care (By William R. Hoffman) By 29 years old, Chris Daniel felt he had it all: a wife, two beautiful children and fulfillment of his lifelong dream of becoming a U.S. airline captain. But in the spring of 2022, after years of flying, Chris knew something was not right. Shadows from his past were reemerging, strained by post-COVID travel demand and long, taxing weeks on the road. Years earlier, Chris's physician had suggested that his low mood and trouble sleeping might be symptoms of mild depression. But like many pilots, he balked at the idea. If a doctor diagnosed depression or if he sought help, Chris assumed he would never be able to fly again. Seeking help seemed unthinkable because losing flying was akin to losing everything; being a pilot was who he was. Chris's story is not unusual. While mental health symptoms are common in airline pilots, getting help can affect their ability to work in a big way.…
