PPSPs in Europe
Captain Dave Fielding, EPPSI(British Airways A380 Captain + BALPA representative)

ATEC PPSP Workshop, TokyoJanuary 28th, 2022

The story in Europe so far….
• March 2015
– Germanwings crash• March 2016
– BEA accident report published• July 2016
– EASA Taskforce reports to EU Commission• July 2018
– EU Regulation 2018/1042 published• August 2019
– Original implementation date for regulations• February 2021 – Revised implementation date in Europe• November 2021 – Implementation of parallel legislation in the UK(post Brexit)

What we have learnt with the new legislation(and Covid)
1. The Predictables
2. The Unexpected
3. The Lessons and Challenges

The Big Picture
We were lucky:• We knew EU legislation was coming so most of the major players
had programmes in place before Covid• The legislation meant that thousands of EASA pilots had accessto Peer Support during the pandemic• The pressures of the pandemic have accelerated the use andunderstanding of PPSPs

What we have learned – Part 1“The Predictables”
Uncertainty
Fatigue“Survivor Guilt”

Relationships
Skills Fade
Acknowledgement to theCentre for Aviation Psychology
for the information

What we have learned – Part 2“The Unexpected”
WhatsApp
Wellbeing & Resilience

The relationship between social media andPeer Support‘Work social’groups formed• Grounded pilots recreate the Crew Room with
online chat groups – low level peer support

Limitations
reached• Personal issues are too big to solve with online friends• Groups become toxic and start to disintegrate

Pilots turnto PPSPs• Pilots use the expertiseof PPSP to help with theirmore complex issues

Result?
Overall numbers of cases throughout pandemic has
stayed roughly constant but the type of cases haschanged – generally more ‘severe’ ** Cultural?

Wellbeing and Resilience• Has risen quickly up the agenda because of the pandemic• ICAO and EASA very interested• Realisation that this really does matter• Relationship between wellbeing / resilience and Peer Support
becoming clearer

The Relationship between Wellbeing and Resilience
Psychological

SocialPositive

BiologicalWellbeing

Wellbeing

NormalPeer Support

Emergency Procedures

Danger Zone

Negative

ResilienceWellbeing & Resilience - going forwards• Very much a ‘hot topic’• Clear that although Peer Support can handle Resilience, theworkforce see them as separate issues• Resilience & Wellbeing offers an opportunity to create a suite ofonline resources (healthy sleep, nutrition, exercise etc.)
specifically written for pilots• These will help pilots stay afloat and resilient so that they are lesslikely to need Peer Support

Drugs and Alcohol• Although the Germanwings crash was not directly linked to D&A,
legislation now includes provision for random testing• This is new to much of Europe• MUST be handled with care – intervention is complex and difficult• …but combining random testing with Peer Support allows themessage to be given to the workforce:“Get help before you get caught”

What we have learned – Part 3“The Lessons and Challenges”• Peer Support has become an accepted source of support for pilots• Joint – and continual – promotion of the programme by all
stakeholders is vital, including unions• This avoids the perception that the programme is a management
initiative or regulatory requirement• …or worse, when bad news is being delivered: the programmecannot be seen as a “band aid when we are being beaten by a stick”• Programmes need to be independently run wherever possible

Conclusions• Mandating PPSPs was a bold move by EASA but an excellent one• Peer Support has been proven to work
• We are moving towards a holistic approach to Peer Support• The joint approach in Japan is to be highly commended• Japan has an opportunity to create this holistic approach in one go• PPSP is an international and ‘open source’ subject. Help, advice andbest practice examples are readily available - welcome to the Club!
• Always remember one thing when dealing with the subject of pilots
and mental health …..

The horses scare easily!

Questions?