US Senate approves legislation to address pilot, air traffic control mental health issues

​The US ​Senate ‌approved bipartisan legislation ​to modernize regulations on mental ‌health guidance for pilots and air traffic controllers to encourage early disclosure ‌and treatment. Commercial airline pilots ‌often conceal mental health conditions for fear that disclosing therapy or ⁠medication, ​or even ⁠just seeking help, could mean having ⁠their license pulled, putting themselves ​and their passengers at risk.

The ⁠legislation, sponsored by Senators John ⁠Hoeven ​and Tammy Duckworth, aims to encourage pilots and air ⁠traffic controllers to seek mental health ⁠care, ⁠when needed, while reducing the stigma.