Jessica Reed is a writer and editor with AIN. She joined the team in the fall of 2023 after two years covering the aviation industry at Avionics International. She earned her bachelor&#039;s degree in English (Writing &amp; Rhetoric) from Pepperdine University. Her hometown is St. Louis, Missouri, and she since has resided in Santa Barbara, California, and Brooklyn, New York, among others. She is currently based in Philadelphia.

Writer & Editor

Jessica Reed

The FAA is forming a Pilot Mental Health Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC) that will develop strategies to encourage pilots to report mental health issues. It will include medical experts and representatives from aviation and labor, who will draft recommendations for the FAA.
“Mental health care has made great strides in recent years, and we want to make sure the FAA is considering those advances when we evaluate the health of pilots,” said&nbsp;FAA Administrator Mike Whitaker.&nbsp;The FAA plans to finalize the charter for the ARC and appoint a panel of experts “in the coming weeks.”
Pilots are required to disclose certain mental health conditions to aviation medical examiners who assess their fitness to fly. The ARC's establishment is part of the FAA's broader effort to prioritize pilot mental health, which includes measures such as expanding mental health training for medical examiners, providing support for clinical studies and research, improving outreach efforts to pilot groups, and hiring more mental health professionals to expedite return-to-fly decisions.
The ARC will also address recommendations from the July 2023 Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General <a href="https://www.oig.dot.gov/sites/default/files/FAA%20Pilot%20Mental%20Health%20Final%20Report_07.12.2023.pdf">report</a> on pilot mental health challenges. This report acknowledged the FAA's “comprehensive procedures to evaluate pilots’ psychological health.”

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

Pilot Mental Health Takes Center Stage in FAA's Latest Initiative

New committee to advise on reporting and evaluation of pilots' well-being

The FAA is establishing a Pilot Mental Health ARC to improve reporting and assessment protocols, ensuring that pilots' well-being aligns with aviation safety.

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

Kaleyesus Bekele

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent 

African Bizav Strives for Greater Market Opportunity

Amy Wilder

News about simulators and training procedures, as well as workforce.

News and issues concerning general aviation, specifically airplanes and helicopters powered by piston and alternative engines (i.e., non-turbine powered aircraft). Subjects include aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

Kerry Lynch

News and issues relating to international air transport and cargo carriers, national airlines and regional airlines, including aircraft, engines, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security and training.

More In Regulations and Government

African Bizav Strives for Greater Market Opportunity

Industry group presses for regulatory progress and continuity across the continent

FAA Proposes Easing Medical Approvals for Diabetic Pilots

Rule would not apply to insulin-treated diabetes

Congress OKs Stopgap Government Funding Measure

Move averts potential shutdown

Longtime Bizav Attorney Gary Garofalo Flies West

His career spanned more than five and a half decades

New Treasury Rule Limits LLC Information Reporting

The revision relaxes some provisions of the Corporate Transparency Act

Nancy Kassebaum, Architect of GA Product Liability Reform, Dies

Kassebaum pushed through the General Aviation Revitalization Act

Nav Canada Increases ATC Service Charges

Increased fees are to recover pandemic shortfall

FAA InFO Outlines CVR Upgrade Deadlines

Larger new bizav aircraft face 2027 deadline, while small new turbine bizav aircraft have 2029 deadline

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