This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/world/2015/mar/27/psychological-tests-for-pilots-cannot-prevent-crashes-say-experts

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Psychological tests for pilots cannot prevent crashes, say experts Psychological tests for pilots cannot prevent crashes, say experts
(about 1 hour later)
Every day pilots assume responsibility for hundreds of lives. But the tests airlines use to assess qualified pilots’ mental and psychological fitness for the job vary from country to country, are invariably perfunctory, and can never perfectly predict how an individual will behave in particular circumstances on any given day. Every day pilots assume responsibility for hundreds of lives. But the tests airlines use to assess qualified pilots’ mental and psychological fitness for the job vary from country to country, are invariably perfunctory and can never perfectly predict how an individual will behave in particular circumstances on any given day.
A French prosecutor’s allegation that the Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew flight 4U9525 into a mountainside, along with German media reports that he suffered from severe depression, had undergone psychiatric treatment, and had a sicknote covering the day of the crash, have put the question of in-service pilot screening under scrutiny. A French prosecutor’s allegation that the Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz deliberately flew flight 4U9525 into a mountainside, along with German media reports that he suffered from severe depression, had undergone psychiatric treatment and had a sicknote covering the day of the crash, have put the question of in-service pilot screening under scrutiny.
While it is specific about screening procedures before and during training, the International Civil Aviation Authority, the UN’s air safety body, lays down few rules for psychological testing after a pilot has qualified, advising only that medical reviews should “include questions pertaining to psychiatric disorders or inappropriate use of psychoactive substances”. Its guidance is not binding. The International Civil Aviation Authority, the UN’s air safety body, is specific about screening procedures before and during training but lays down few rules for psychological testing after a pilot has qualified, advising only that medical reviews should “include questions pertaining to psychiatric disorders or inappropriate use of psychoactive substances”. Its guidance is not binding.
As a result, testing procedures vary widely. Few national authorities carry out formal psychometric tests. In the UK, the medical examination – carried out by a specialist aviation doctor every six or 12 months depending on the pilot’s age – does contain a psychological component, but most of it is physiological: height, weight, heart, blood, urine, eyesight. Technical ability is also tested on a simulator. As a result, testing procedures vary widely. Few national authorities carry out formal psychometric tests. In the UK, the medical examination – carried out by a specialist aviation doctor every six or 12 months, depending on the pilot’s age – does contain a psychological component, but most of it is physiological: height, weight, heart, blood, urine, eyesight. Technical ability is tested on a simulator.
But as in most countries, the only psychological element required by the Civil Aviation Authority is an interview in which pilots are asked “general questions” about their mood, family relations, sleep patterns and alcohol use, and whether they have suffered any recent episodes of depression or suicidal feelings.But as in most countries, the only psychological element required by the Civil Aviation Authority is an interview in which pilots are asked “general questions” about their mood, family relations, sleep patterns and alcohol use, and whether they have suffered any recent episodes of depression or suicidal feelings.
America’s Federal Aviation Authority requires pilots to disclose any mental disorders along with other health issues during their annual or bi-annual medical (aircrew aged over 40 undergo the exam twice a year; under 40s once), and the doctor conducting the examination can order formal psychological testing if he or she thinks it necessary. America’s Federal Aviation Authority requires pilots to disclose any mental disorders along with other health issues during their annual or biannual medical (aircrew aged over 40 undergo the exam twice a year; under 40s once), and the doctor conducting the examination can order formal psychological testing if he or she thinks it necessary.
Pilots in most countries are required by law to report any mental health problems they have experienced themselves, and industry experts say the fact that flight crews spend long periods in such close proximity to each other means potential problems that may be observed in colleagues – for example, stress, or family or financial issues – get picked up, reported and usually treated appropriately. Pilots in most countries are required by law to report any mental health problems themselves, and industry experts say the fact that flight crews spend long periods in such close proximity to each other means potential problems that may be observed in colleagues – for example, stress or family or financial issues – get picked up, reported and usually treated appropriately.
Lufthansa, Germanwings’ parent company, is widely seen as having one of the best recruitment screening programmes in the industry, carrying out in-depth interviews and psychological testing before candidates can even begin its two-year pilot training programme and filtering out more than 90% of initial applicants. Lufthansa, Germanwings’ parent company, is widely seen as having one of the best recruitment screening programmes in the industry, carrying out in-depth interviews and psychological testing before candidates can begin its two-year pilot training programme and filtering out more than 90% of initial applicants.
While it, too, has no formal psychological testing programme once pilots have qualified, the company has a generally effective self-monitoring and reporting system. This actively encourages pilots who experience potential problems themselves or observe them in their colleagues to report them to the airline without fear of repercussion. No such report, however, was filed in relation to Lubitz. While it, too, has no formal psychological testing programme once pilots have qualified, the company has a generally effective self-monitoring and reporting system. This actively encourages pilots who experience potential problems themselves or observe them in their colleagues to report them to the airline without fear of repercussion. No such report was filed in relation to Lubitz.
In the wake of the crash in the French Alps, calls for a major overhaul of psychological screening procedures have multiplied. In the wake of the crash in the French Alps, calls for an overhaul of psychological screening procedures have multiplied. “Following the details that have emerged regarding the tragic Germanwings incident, we are coordinating closely with colleagues at the European Aviation Safety Agency and have contacted all UK operators and asked them to review all relevant procedures,” Britain’s CAA said in a statement.
“Following the details that have emerged regarding the tragic Germanwings incident, we are coordinating closely with colleagues at the European Aviation Safety Agency and have contacted all UK operators and asked them to review all relevant procedures,” Britain’s CAA said in a statement. But many experts doubt whether more frequent and intensive psychological testing would be completely effective. Prof Robert Bor, the author of Aviation Mental Health, advised the FAA on an incident in March 2012 in which the co-pilot of a JetBlue flight to Las Vegas had to lock the captain out of the cockpit because of his erratic behaviour.
But many experts doubt whether more frequent and intensive psychological testing would be completely effective. Professor Robert Bor, the author of Aviation Mental Health, advised the FAA on an incident in March 2012 in which the co-pilot of a JetBlue flight to Las Vegas had to lock the captain out of the cockpit because of his erratic behaviour.
“We concluded that nothing could have prevented that incident from happening,” Bor told the BBC, adding that even the most exhaustive psychometric testing could not predict how an individual would wake up feeling on a particular day, or prevent all cases in which someone is determined to abuse their position of power.“We concluded that nothing could have prevented that incident from happening,” Bor told the BBC, adding that even the most exhaustive psychometric testing could not predict how an individual would wake up feeling on a particular day, or prevent all cases in which someone is determined to abuse their position of power.
Hans-Werner Teichmüller, president of the Deutsche Fliegerarztverband, an association of German doctors who examine pilots and flight crew, said reports that Lubitz had a sicknote for the day of the flight were incomprehensible. “It’s utterly irresponsible that he flew even though he had a certificate saying he was unfit to fly.”Hans-Werner Teichmüller, president of the Deutsche Fliegerarztverband, an association of German doctors who examine pilots and flight crew, said reports that Lubitz had a sicknote for the day of the flight were incomprehensible. “It’s utterly irresponsible that he flew even though he had a certificate saying he was unfit to fly.”
But he too said no amount of testing could ever be completely effective. “A pilot who intends to do something like this could be skilful enough to pass as a well-structured person, even if they were in danger of suicide,” he said. “Even with an examination process, you wouldn’t have 100% safety.”But he too said no amount of testing could ever be completely effective. “A pilot who intends to do something like this could be skilful enough to pass as a well-structured person, even if they were in danger of suicide,” he said. “Even with an examination process, you wouldn’t have 100% safety.”
Ultimately, the best guarantee of in-flight safety, many experts concur, may be the “rule of two”, common in the US but introduced on Thursday by many other airlines and on Friday by Lufthansa and its subsidiaries, which requires at least two qualified crew members to be in the cockpit at all times. Ultimately, the best guarantee of in-flight safety, many experts concur, may be the “rule of two” – common in the US but introduced by many other airlines only on Thursday, and on Friday by Lufthansa and its subsidiaries – which requires at least two qualified crew members to be in the cockpit at all times.