Washington state bill aims to support pilots' mental health
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A measure before Washington's Legislature aims to make it less financially risky for airline pilots to seek mental health treatment, which the bill's supporters say could reduce the potential for dangerous incidents in the air.
Why it matters: The bill was inspired by a 2023 incident in which an off-duty Alaska Airlines pilot allegedly tried to shut down a plane's engines on a flight from Everett, Washington, causing an emergency landing in Portland. That pilot now faces criminal charges.
- Last week's plane crashes in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia have brought renewed attention to aviation safety.
Zoom in: The Washington state bill would ensure pilots could access the state's paid family leave benefits if they report a mental health issue that causes the Federal Aviation Administration to suspend their medical certification, making them temporarily unable to fly.
- Though most mental health issues aren't permanently disqualifying, pilots who report such problems have to go through a special recertification process, which can take a year or more and lead to a big loss in income, supporters of Senate Bill 5396 said a public hearing last week before the Senate Labor and Commerce Committee.
- Pilots and a doctor told committee members that the bill would encourage more pilots to seek mental health care by ensuring they can rely on state medical leave payments to help offset the income they lose while awaiting FAA recertification.
Catch up quick: State Sen. Marko Liias (D-Edmonds) said the 2023 incident involving the former Alaska Airlines pilot "has raised awareness of the challenges for pilots to access necessary care."
- Liias, the lead sponsor of the new bill, described the pilot as "attempting to self-medicate for depression" at the time.
- The pilot, Joseph Emerson, told the New York Times he thought he was dreaming during the flight and had taken psychedelic mushrooms two days earlier.
- Emerson has pleaded not guilty to 83 counts of recklessly endangering another person, a class A misdemeanor, and one count of endangering an aircraft in the first degree, a class C felony, in connection with the incident, which occurred on a flight that left from Paine Field in Liias' district.
What they're saying: "Pilots perform incredibly important work for us," Liias said during last week's committee hearing. "We want to make sure they are healthy and safe as they do that work."
The big picture: A 2022 study that surveyed more than 3,700 pilots found that 56% of them "reported a history of healthcare avoidance behavior" because they feared losing their aeromedical certificate.
Friction point: Airline companies, including Alaska and Delta, raised concerns about part of the legislation that would require employers to pay pilots their full wages after state family leave benefits run out, should pilots still be waiting for medical recertification.
- The state medical leave program pays up to $1,542 per week for 12 weeks.
What we're watching: The bill has not yet been scheduled for a committee vote. Most non-budgetary bills must pass out of committee by Feb. 21 to stay in play.