One essential pillar to EASA’s recommendation to the European Commision, was the responsibility of AOCs to provide their pilots with access to a confidential support programme.

 

The following was published in Official Journal of the European Union on 23 July 2018:

​

Commission Regulation (EU) No 2018/1042: CAT.GEN.MPA.215. Support Programme

 

A) The operator shall enable, facilitate and ensure access to a proactive and non-punitive support programme that will assist and support flight crew in recognising, coping with, and overcoming any problem which might negatively affect their ability to safely exercise the privileges of their licence. Such access shall be made available to all flight crew. 

B) Without prejudice to applicable national legislation on the protection of individuals with regard to the processing of personal data and on the free movement of such data, the protection of the confidentiality of data shall be a precondition for an effective support programme as it encourages the use of such a programme and ensures its integrity.’