Pilots and cops may be subjected to mental checks
Published on: Monday, March 30, 2015
Kuala Lumpur: Staff of critical departments which deal directly with the public, including policemen and commercial pilots, could soon be subjected to annual mental health assessments.While some industries, such as aviation, already conduct aptitude tests prior to employment, the changes could see the staff's annual medical exams include mental health assessments.Department of Civil Aviation director-general Datuk Azharuddin Abdul Rahman said the department would review the medical assessment for aviation personnel, including pilots.
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"For pilots to get their licence, they need to be fit to fly. It is not compulsory for airlines to conduct mental health assessment, but certain airlines require their personnel to undergo psychological tests prior to being hired."This (psychological screening) will be among the additional elements that we are considering."He said the review would look into every aspect, including the possibility for screening to be made a permanent feature, rather than a one-off session.Azharuddin, however, said the decicision to review the medical health requirement for airline staff was not related to the recent Germanwings incident or the disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370.
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On Tuesday, a passenger jet carrying 150 people crashed in a remote area of the French Alps en route to Dusseldorf from Barcelona.Investigation revealed that the co-pilot, German Andreas Lubitz, 28, had deliberately downed the plane.
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Lufthansa chief executive Carsten Spohr said Lubitz had interrupted his training in 2009, but was cleared to return to work after passing fitness and psychological tests.German newspaper Bild said a flight school had, at that time, designated Lubitz as " not suitable for flying", and that he spent a year and half receiving psychiatric treatment due to a "severe depressive episode". Der Spiegel newspaper, however, reported that he had taken a break from training because of " burnout-syndrome".Meanwhile, the Royal Malaysian Police said it was looking into the possibility of including mental health assessment as part of their intake requirement.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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