Page 24 - InterPilot2019Issue2

CIRP PAGE 24

“The CIRP Peer program is for pilots,

by pilots and it is essential that the

program be maintained, administered,

and run by pilots.”

The CIRP program in Canada started in the mid 1970s when a group of concerned air line pilots
pulled one of their fellow pilots aside and offered help. This was an underground attempt to assist
someone in crisis and keep him off the radar. The intervention was successful, so the group decided
to continue. Word travelled quickly, and the Canadian Air Line Pilots Association offered support to
the group and helped them to formalize their approach.

They quickly developed a course to teach pilots how to effectively listen and support fellow crew
members in crisis. Over the years, the course for pilot peers has evolved and now has the support of
company flight operations and includes Critical Incidence Response, drug and alcohol rehabilitation,
aeromedical issues, and professional standards.

The Program in Canada is enjoying international recognition and we have recently helped such
countries as South Africa and Israel to set up programs for their pilots.

IFALPA just published a Pilot Assistance Manual for pilot groups and airlines wishing to develop
their own peer support programs. It is comprised of best practices from existing peer support pro-
grams from IFALPA Member Associations.

A Critical Incident Response Peer is an individual with a similar job and position within the avia-
tion industry and who understands and speaks a common professional language with the people
who are being supported. These individuals must demonstrate integrity, the ability to handle and
maintain private information, have respect for their peers, have a calm demeanor, and maintain a
nonjudgmental attitude. Ideally, first officers should be paired with first officers and captains with
captains, etc., but this is not always possible.

The principle of above all, do no harm must be front and center when a peer is working with someone
in crisis. This requires the peer to be trained and knowledgeable in active listening skills, safety risk
factors, understanding how we respond to stressors, conflict resolution, medical regulatory issues,
trauma and stress management, suicide prevention protocol, and most importantly, confidentiality.

A peer-based program works best with fellow pilots because we understand the demands of the job
and we share common work experiences. Pilots are more apt to trust and confide in a fellow pilot
peer than someone on the outside looking in, and for this reason a peer-based program has unique
advantages over other programs such as Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs).

One of the advantages of a CIRP program is that it enables early identification of problems through
peer interaction. Active listening is the key skill taught to all Critical Incident Response Peers. This
gives the peer the skill set to be able to provide a secure, confidential setting in which to help the
crew member process the event and deal with any issues that might arise.