Information for AOCs
Your AOC is looking for peer support? If you want to know more about our services, we would be happy to help.
The BizAv PSP
EC regulations and EASA requirements are that CAT AOCs provide their pilots with access to a confidential peer support programme. A recommendation has also been made to expand this support to cabin crew, maintenance/engineering, and other safety-critical personnel.
The implication for business aviation AOCs is that while they have to make this provision, the availability of such programmes, with a few notable exceptions, is largely non-existent for this sector of aviation. Some operators might have the economies of scale to create their own programmes, however, smaller operators – and especially those in the BizAv sector – are better suited to joining a network of operators sharing resources and costs.
The BizAv PSP is a network of trained peers - pilots, cabin crew, maintenance/engineers - available throughout Europe and the rest of the world. The peers have been selected from our wide-range of Peer Support Programmes (PSP), managed by the Centre for Aviation Psychology (CAP). They have been trained to support their fellow colleagues wherever they are, whatever they fly and whoever they work for.
Aviators from participating AOCs have access to the trained peers via this website and the support they provide on the telephone. Peers are supported and supervised by CAP’s world leading clinical aviation psychologists.
The BizAv PSP is based on the successful tailor-made PSPs that we run for multiple AOCs covering > 32K aviators. The entire programme is administered and governed to the highest standards of confidentiality and data security, with the ability to provide trend data (never individual) to participating AOCs.
To find out more, contact us directly or see our comprehensive question & answers.
Aedrian Bekker, one of the Directors of CAP, speaking to the RAes about the benefits and challenges facing PSPs.
Why PSPs work
Providing peer support makes it much easier for aviators to ask for help. Not just any help - but the support of a trained peer who knows exactly what it's like to be an aviation professional and the lifestyle and operational challenges this involves.
In conjunction with other resources an AOC may offer, Peer Support is a particularly cost effective way of supporting workers who might not otherwise seek help, but who may be desperately needing it.
Our experience is that most AOCs see the value of a well-run Peer Support Programme in managing what is in part, a known risk. Although it is only required for pilots, many of our clients see how equally relevant PSPs can be for other safety critical roles, such as cabin crew and engineers.
The BizAv PSP provides the independence, confidentiality, clinical governance and relevance that pose a particular challenge for many business operators.
The Centre for Aviation Psychology
The Centre for Aviation Psychology (CAP) promotes psychological well-being through confidential access to our specialist psychologists and resources.
In response to the wake of the German Wings incident and to meet future EASA and FAA directives, the Centre for Aviation Psychology was established in 2016 to support aviation professionals as they adapt to this new and emerging landscape.
We know that there are problems to be solved by those in Aviation - and we know that these issues are incredibly sensitive. We believe they require practical delivery with professional expertise. Our teams provide the reassurance you need on both fronts - we have years of clinical expertise and a track record of delivering successful organisation-wide interventions.
See our main website for further information.