14 February Deadline Looms for EU Alcohol-Peer-Psych Compliance

EU Commission Regulation

2018/1042

, which includes new requirements for alcohol testing, peer support programs, psychological assessments, and prevention of reckless behavior, must be implemented by all European operators by 14 February.

The original deadline of 14 August 2020 was deferred because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The regulation also includes an amendment addressing the terrain awareness warning system (TAWS) to better align with ICAO guidance.

The alcohol testing, peer support programs, psychological assessments and reduction of reckless behavior elements originated with the EASA-led Task Force following the French BEA preliminary investigation report in 2015 of the Germanwings Flight 9525 accident.

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Whist all aspects of the new regulation aim to improve safety, the regulation specifically indicates that the peer support program shall be non-punitive in nature: “The operator shall enable, facilitate and ensure access to a proactive and non-punitive support programme that will assist and support flight crew in recognising, coping with, and overcoming any problem which might negatively affect their ability to safely exercise the privileges of their licence. Such access shall be made available to all flight crew.”

The European Pilot Peer Support Initiative guide states: “Very much a core principle of any peer support programme, this idea of nonpunitive is squarely in line with the principles of a Just Culture. A peer support programme cannot and must not be used as a method of identifying and dismissing pilots with mental wellbeing issues. Numerous protections are built into the AMCs, GMs and the legislation itself, specifically the principle of confidentiality. A peer support programme will not function without the trust of the workforce, and if there is even the slightest hint that there might be some form of jeopardy involved with the programme then it is very likely to fail.”

EASA is expected to produce a report in August 2022 assessing the results of these new requirements.