Chemical-free Workplace Programs in Business Aviation: Enhancing Safety, Protecting Health, Reducing Operating Costs - A Model for Business Aviation

摘要

Recently publicized events have highlighted alcohol problems in professional pilots. Chemical (drugs and alcohol) abuse and dependence affect approximately 8-10% of all pilots, similar to the proportions in other professional occupations. Most are undiscovered or unreported. Many people are unaware or deny that they are not able to fully control their consumption behavior. This behavior has adverse effects on personal health, professional and personal relationships, aviation safety, and flight department operations and costs, and may severely damage company reputations. Aviation programs exist to prevent and reverse these costly outcomes. The FAA fully supports pilots identified with chemical abuse diagnoses who successfully recover and maintain company involvement. Chemical abuse is now recognized as a progressive, fatal disease process beyond the control of an individual, not a weakness in character. Chemical abuse has a specific cause, predictable course and responds to treatment. With treatment, most abusers will have full and sustained remissions. The consequences to the individual pilot of chemical abuse are potentially severe, including loss of both medical and pilot certificates, employment termination, legal troubles and life-threatening medical conditions. The consequences to the employer are equally threatening, including public embarrassment, loss of revenue, compromised flight safety and possibly aircraft mishaps. Flight department programs to identify chemical abuse, coupled with strict, supportive rehabilitation and job recovery policies have proven successful with a very substantial return on investment for individuals and companies. Without a mechanism for pilots to seek assistance for chemical abuse which allows them to retain their FAA certificates and employment, this condition will remain "underground" in all but the most obvious, and potentially disastrous, circumstances. The airline industry has 25 years of success using a program which allows afflicted pilots to seek treatment and rehabilitation, leading to early FAA medical re-certification and cost savings to the employer. The program returns $9-$16 for each $1 spent by management. Improved testing technology and reliability now allow corporate operators to implement similar testing programs, which in turn will provide the same enhancements to safety, health, productivity and cost savings enjoyed by the airlines. A crucial part of a successful drug and alcohol-testing program is a thorough training component to educate supervisors and employees on the disease of chemical addiction. The regular and random testing portion of a drug and alcohol testing program identifies some abusers; however, most are identified by trained supervisors, peers, co-workers or by self-reporting. A comprehensive program of constructive confrontation and concerned compassion for the chemical abuser can rescue an individual that was once considered lost. Business aviation operations may effectively use internal or third-party-administered FAA-approved programs to achieve the many benefits of a proactive chemical-free workplace program.