US House passes pilot mental health bill 

The US House of Representatives has passed the Mental Health in Aviation Act (HR 2591), a bipartisan measure that would enable pilots and air traffic controllers to seek mental health care without the career-threatening risk that comes with disclosure under current aviation regulations.  

Lawmakers approved the bill on September 8 by voice vote, sending it to the Senate for consideration. 

For decades, pilots have avoided talking about mental health concerns with aviation medical examiners. The risk was clear: a disclosure could mean being grounded, lengthy delays in receiving medical clearance, or losing the ability to keep flying altogether. The legislation aims to change that by reducing mental health stigmas and rewriting the rules that have discouraged pilots from seeking help in the past. 

The act directs the Federal Aviation Administration to revise its regulations surrounding mental health within two years. The agency will be expected to replace outdated disclosure requirements and update treatment policies. It also amends provisions in the 2024 FAA reauthorization law to ensure the agency consults with medical professionals and labor groups as it develops new policy. 

The bill requires the FAA to review its special issuance medical process every year. That review must look at whether more medications can be approved, whether aviation medical examiners are receiving enough training, whether they should be given more authority to make decisions, and whether the overall process can be improved. 

Congress tied money to the reforms as well. From 2026 to 2028, about $13.7 million a year would go toward adding and training medical examiners, boosting FAA oversight, and clearing certification backlogs. Another $1.5 million per year would fund a campaign to reduce mental health stigmas, make resources easier to find, and encourage pilots and controllers to come forward with the issues they face. 

The legislation also requires the FAA to carry out recommendations from its Mental Health and Aviation Medical Clearances Aviation Rulemaking Committee, which delivered a detailed report in 2024. The committee identified stigma, confusion, and a lack of transparency as major barriers to care. If the FAA chooses not to adopt any of the recommendations, it must explain its reasoning to Congress. 

Industry groups welcomed the House vote. The National Business Aviation Association, which served on the rulemaking committee and has long supported mental health initiatives, said the bill is an important step forward. “It is vital that we foster an environment where pilots can seek help without fear of professional repercussions,” said NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen, adding that the measure improves both safety and pilot wellbeing. 

The bill was introduced by Rep. Pete Stauber, Republican of Minnesota, and Rep. Sean Casten, Democrat of Illinois, with support from Transportation and Infrastructure Committee leaders Tracey Mann, Republican of Kansas, and Rick Larsen, Democrat of Washington. It advanced out of committee in June with broad bipartisan support. 

Calls for reform have grown as pilots and controllers point to stigma, confusing rules, and long waits for medical decisions. The House bill builds on the rulemaking committee’s work and aims to fix those problems with clearer policies, stronger training, and ongoing education. 

With House approval secured, the measure now heads to the Senate. If it becomes law, the FAA will be on the clock to revise its regulations, expand medical examiner capacity, and launch the educational campaign. For pilots and controllers, the promise is straightforward: it should be easier to ask for help, get timely answers, and return to duty when they are ready to do so. The post US House passes pilot mental health bill  appeared first on AeroTime.

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