Page 19 - 2017-Issue2

PILOT ASSISTANCE AROUND THE GLOBE 20

More recently, following the tragic incident
involving Germanwings Flight 9525, the
European Union has developed a rule which is As Chair of IFALPA’s Human Performance (HUPER) Committee,
expected to mandate that all flight crew
members have access to a Peer Support Captain Tanja Harter is responsible for all training and licensing, human factor
Program. The purpose of this rule is to provide and medical issues within IFALPA. She has taken a leading role in the area of
support as a primary preventative measure. It Professional Development with the IFALPA MPL Workshop. Captain Harter is
is expected that other regulators may follow
this example. The European Pilot Peer Support also actively involved in numerous international working groups on behalf of
Initiative has enhanced these efforts; bringing IFALPA, such as the development of the Manual of Criteria for Qualification of
European and global regulators, operators, Flight Simulation Training Devices and the Manual of Evidence-based Training.
pilots and program providers together to
exchange and promote best practices and to Captain Harter is an active CRM Instructor as well as an accredited Business
facilitate communication between stakeholders and Management Coach. She is currently based in Munich and flies the A320
engaged in, or planning to engage in Pilot family as Captain for Lufthansa.
Assistance Programs.
The primary goal of any assistance program
is to ensure a “safe harbour” for the pilot; to
facilitate appropriate treatment while Given the global nature of the aviation an updated Pilot Assistance Position
upholding confidentiality. Whenever possible, industry, it is critical that common providing clear benchmarks as well as the
the programs enable the pilot to continue to fly benchmarks and standards for Pilot Assistance release of focused guidance material. We
or to return to active duty as the case may be. Programs be applied. This will ensure a encourage all pilot associations to consider
consistent delivery of assistance while taking
Trust is the key factor in creating this safe into account differing regulations, practices what programs are right for them and to seek
harbour. Pilots, operators and regulators must and, importantly, cultures. assistance from experienced associations to
all understand the roles they play in an IFALPA is taking a leading role in establish- establish and develop their own Pilot
Assistance Programs.
effective Pilot Assistance Program, and must ing these benchmarks and standards. Our
trust one another to carry out those roles with dedicated volunteers from around the world
professionalism and respect. Trust is not are developing guidance that can be used by
something that can be regulated or written into pilot associations, operators and regulators to
a procedure, at its core there must be a just establish and develop their Pilot Assistance
culture environment, built over time. Programs. In the coming months you will see

InterPilot | The Safety and Technical Journal of IFALPA ISSUE 2 | 2017