It has been both a productive and challenging year for the Welfare portfolio. Sadly, we have lost a number of colleagues this year to illness and accidents. It is particularly tragic in cases where a pilot has gone to work and has not returned home to their families. As we head towards the festive season, it is important to keep in mind that this time of year is not always a joyous period for every member. The AFAP has several welfare services in place designed to provide a pathway to assistance for members in need.
Member Assistance Program
The AFAP’s Member Assistance Program continues to provide professional, psychological support to assist our members and their immediate families with personal and work related issues.
MAP psychologists are also available to provide 24/7 crisis care to members following the aftermath of an accident or incident, significantly reducing the likelihood of lasting traumatic effects. Members and their families are encouraged to utilise this free, confidential counselling service.
AFAP Welfare Representatives
Sometimes the best first point of contact for a pilot with welfare concerns is another pilot. The AFAP has an established and active Welfare Representative Network consisting of pilots from each AFAP pilot council.
These Pilot Welfare Representatives are a helpful resource and can direct you toward professional welfare assistance - such as the Member Assistance Program and HIMS. A full list of Welfare Representatives is available on the AFAP website (www.afap.org.au).
HIMS Australia
The AFAP continues to provide support to pilots recovering from addiction through our involvement with the HIMS Australia Advisory Group. HIMS is a program for members of the aviation community, aimed at helping anyone whose use of alcohol or other drugs is of concern. A cornerstone of HIMS is the understanding that substance dependence is a treatable medical condition.
The AFAP plays an active role on the HIMS Australia Board, with National Council Vice Chair, Captain Philip Remilton serving as the General Aviation Representative and Welfare Director, Matthew O’Keeffe serving as the AFAP Representative, Helicopters Committee Member, Captain Toby Messner has also recently accepted a position on the HIMS board.
In September 2019 an Annual HIMS Australia Advisory Group educational seminar was co-located with the Australian Society of Aerospace Medicine (ASAM) conference in Sydney, presenting a great opportunity for AFAP representatives to engage with key DAMEs and other doctors with an interest in aviation.
The co-location of these events represents the first time ASAM and the HIMS Australia Advisory Group have closely co-operated under their Memorandum of Understanding (signed in 2018) – with a goal of expanding ties between the two organisations and its
members. For further information on any of the welfare services please contact welfare@afap.org.au.
International Pilot Peer Assistance Coalition (IPPAC)
By AFAP Welfare Representative SFO Troy Mussio I recently had the honour of representing the AFAP alongside Welfare Director Matt O’Keeffe at the second annual International Pilot Peer Assistance Coalition (IPPAC) conference in Fort Worth, Texas.
Interest groups from around the globe were in attendance and included pilots, doctors, psychologists, researchers, counsellors and senior airline management from Europe, North America, Canada, Asia and the Pacific rim. Representatives from Korean and Japanese airlines also made the journey over to the USA for the first time. This was both encouraging and a further sign of the continued growth in interest shown for pilot peer support programs around the world.
Over the course of two and a half days, attendees were able to network with industry peers and sit in on an extensive series of presentations that were primarily aimed at promoting awareness of mental health and addiction issues faced by professional aircrew the world over.
This year’s keynote presenter was Doctor Patrick Carnes, an experienced clinician and academic. Dr Carnes presentation possessed theoretical and technical aspects that he quite deftly blended with a myriad of life experiences, clinical examples and a touching addition of personal life trauma. The subject – The Nature of Addiction, Cost, Hazards, Depth and Breadth – covered everything from the basics of neurophysiology, addiction
in all its forms to the history of modern medicines and their effects on the human brain. His contribution to the event was significant and quite meaningful to say the least.
Other speakers included the American Airlines Director of Flight Operations/Chief Pilot, an FAA Medical Director, United States Airforce (USAF) staff, British Airline Pilot Association (BALPA), various major airline peer support leaders, university lecturers and a spattering of private practice psychologists and clinicians.
Also note-worthy is that the new European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) regulations introduced following the German Wings tragedy, now mandates that any and all operators regardless of size operating under EASA regulations have in place internal pilot peer support programs by 14 August 2020. It would be reasonable to expect such regulations are likely to be adopted by the CASA in due course.
What was obvious at this event is the increasing level of ‘buy-in’ by airlines into the pilot peer support arena. This is tremendously encouraging in terms of the duty of care that is being shown to pilots and their mental health outside of basic OHS regulations and EAP programs, particularly considering the rigours and stress related to professional piloting and contemporary life ‘in general’. Recent surveys suggest piloting is the third most
stressful job behind military personnel and fire fighters.
Interestingly, American Airlines funds their pilot peer support program to the tune of $2 million AUD or approximately $135 per pilot member.
Several other airlines are now likewise making increasing contributions to ensure these programs develop into robust support structures for their members. It is also noteworthy at this time to reiterate that, whilst aviation companies contribute towards peer support programs, they are in fact run separate to, and in isolation from, ‘the company’ per se.
Beyond the nominal amount airlines are contributing toward these support programs, it must be remembered that there are considerable returns for companies that invest in this area. One lecturer reported a return on investment of 40:1, with a hypothetical example used whereby a European carrier losing an A380 captain to a mental health issue for 12 months would result in thirteen type endorsement changes ‘downstream’ at a cost of over $1.6 million AUD.
In other words, pilot peer support programs not only make moral sense to companies to fund and contribute to, they also make economic sense.