Research highlight: Competency-Based Peer Support in Aviation: A Framework for Training Peers Within Peer Support Programs

Authors: Andrew Forbes, Robert Bor, and Aedrian Bekker

Published in: Aviation Psychology and Applied Human Factors

In the last few years, civilian aviation has seen dramatic accidents led by pilots with mental disorders (Germanwings Flight 9525, Alaska Airlines Flight 2059, Horizon Air Q400). This has renewed discussion on pilot mental health issues and how to address the more subtle worries that can impact daily life e.g., financial burden, divorce and burnout. The European Pilot Peer Support Initiative (EPPSI) produced the second edition of their Guide on peer support, with specifics on how to organize, intervene and show compliance for such a program. Since 2021, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) requires all commercial air transport operators to have a support program for their pilots and last year it released a report evaluating the effectiveness of their implementation across operators. Although EASA requires a support program, it does not tell operators how to provide it.

In this work, Forbes, Bor and Bekker present how to develop a competency-based training for peer support. This means that all peers are trained to face a variety of issues common in the aviation workplace (ex. fear of flying, depression, performance anxiety), that they are ready to listen to a fellow pilot sharing his or her mental health concerns, and are equipped to address the concerns raised.

Their training program develops 9 competencies required to become a good peer supporter:

• Confidentiality not to fear of losing one’s licence when speaking out
• Empathy for the peer to keep a positive regard toward the pilot being helped
• Rapport building to gain trust and confidence for the pilot being helped
• Listening actively to the pilot seeking help
• Understanding and questioning carefully the pilot seeking help to understand the problem
• To be knowledgeable of Resource and Procedures available to support the pilot seeking help
• Signposting to put a plan forward with the pilot seeking help
• Threat assessment to ensure the pilot seeking help and people around are safe
• Follow-up to ensure continuity in the support

The authors also provided a list of observable behavioral indicators to assess the quality of peer support (i.e., what should a good peer do? And how should it be done?). Read the full paper for the complete description of competencies and their assessment.

The authors highlight that the skills and attitude of peer support are contrary to a pilot’s training. For years, pilots have been trained to put their “emotions in a box” before stepping in the airplane to remain mission-focused. When faced with a problem, pilots have learned and practiced to recognize the symptoms and execute the procedure to solve it. Peer support relies on listening, empathy, rapport building, and understanding one’s problems before being able to support the pilot in finding a solution. By developing such peer-support competencies, all peers would be better equipped to face life hurdles and be able to offer support to their fellow pilots, making their environment a safer place. 

A big thank you to researchers Forbes, Bor and Bekker for this renewed discussion on pilot mental health and for their thoughtful contribution.