Busy times!
It has been a busy time over the past few months at Core Aviation Psychology, both at work and home (my son's wedding!). The next few months continue in the same pattern. In late September we will be at the European Association for Aviation Psychology conference in Dubrovnik, Croatia (see above) presenting on issues around the mental wellbeing of aerospace engineers. Prior to that we have work with our low-cost carrier in introducing the CRM package on mental health and wellbeing awareness that we have developed with them. This package will be rolled out to all aircrew during the Winter months when CRM and other training is scheduled. We continue to undertake psychological assessment of rotary-wing pilots in Aberdeen - all the more salient in the light of the recently published EC regulation changes. Our work with manufacturers continues, with upcoming further sessions with Zodiac Seats (UK) in Wales and Leonardo Helicopters UK in Yeovil. Lastly we will be travelling to St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada in October to deliver sessions as part of Universal Helicopters Manager's Safety Workshop, where we will be presenting on aviation mental health, CISM and single-crew CRM.
UPDATE!
- our regular in-depth psychological assessment of pilots for recruitment and command upgrade with a number of operators
- designing psychological assessment processes for a number of operators in compliance with CAA CAP1938 including job analysis and OM A policy development, and training Basic Interviewers in line with CAP1938 requirements
- individual psychological assessments for pilots returning to work after Class 1 medical suspension
- assessment and support of pilots involved in serious incidents
- assessments of private pilots with mental health diagnoses for granting Class 2 medicals
- individual treatment/support work with pilots with sim anxiety and other aviation-related anxiety conditions
- training aviation peer supporters
- delivering webinars on aviation mental health and wellbeing awareness
- acting as a subject matter expert on a project for Leonardo Helicopter and the Norwegian Armed Forces
- participating in the ICAO mental health working group online meetings and the CAA FOLG Crew health and welfare subgroup
Phew! I'm sure there are things I've missed too. Since the start of 2021 we have acquired some significant new clients including Loganair Limited , BlueIslands, Castle Air and Air Charter Scotland, and we have a number of additional new contracts with operators in the UK and Europe in the offing. We also continue to support Kura Human Factors MAPS peer support programme working with over 40 AOCs across Europe as a result. We are now the exclusive suppliers of aviation psychology services to all 4 main offshore helicopter operators, Babcock Onshore and UKSAR and Irish Coast Guard SAR operations.
In April May I will be presenting at two online Royal Aeronautical Society events. On 27th and 28th April I will presenting during the Mental Wellbeing and Human Performance event and on 17th May I am presenting at the HF SG Engineering and Maintenance Conference. Both cover the topic of mental wellbeing and aviation, the first focussing on pilots the second - importantly - on aerospace engineers. I am also planning to update my "Cleared for Take Off" guide produced last year in the light of changed circumstances in the run up to flight operations post Covid, and new research that has emerged.
- urgent aircrew mental health assessment for operators
- online pilot peer selection interviews for the North Sea pilot peer consortium
- translating the "Cleared for Take Off!" guide into French and Spanish following requests from Canadian and Columbian pilot's unions
- presenting a Webinar (see above) on the guide for up to 1500 Avianca pilots across Central and South America
- reviewing papers for our professional aviation psychology journal
- planning activities with a number of operators for when travel is less restricted next month
