An Cosantóir

www.military.ie THE DEFENCE FORCES MAGAZINE | 15 (ARM) Part A, Section 6 deals with Crew Health Precautions and makes a brief reference to the importance of "mental health". However, it does not provide for procedures or steps to take in the event a pilot suffers a decrease in medical fitness because of stress related illness. As a consequence of the GermanWings accident, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) issued Regulation (EU) 2018/1042, now (EU) 2020/745, which required all commercial air transport operators to implement a support program and is now considered vital in supporting crew well- being and promoting aviation safety. Mental health and wellbeing have never been more prevalent than it is today. Against this background, steps are being taken to improve supports in the military context. Notably, the Air Corps and Personnel Support Service (PSS) have established a support group for crews operating the Emergency Aeromedical Service (EAS) which has been very successful. The natural evolution is to offer a similar support, now best practice in civilian aviation, to all pilots and potentially aircrew in the Air Corps. Support is critical for student pilots in particular. Cadets and Young Officers on "Wings" courses spend months in full-time ground school studying 14 subjects and sitting exams before they even sit in the PC-9M. The flying training then consists of 128 individual flights where students are graded on their performance constantly and must respond to the demands of military flying or risk being removed from the course. It's high stakes and it's extremely stressful. In the Flying Training School (FTS) we are working closely with PSS to facilitate a forum for student groups to provide feedback on all aspects of their training, with an emphasis on wellbeing. This has led to collaboration with the DF Psychologist and our intention to run a Mindfulness and Wellbeing course based on the 8-week evidence-based curriculum developed by Williams and Penman. The course will introduce participants to practical mindfulness techniques, reflective exercises, and strategies for integrating mindfulness into daily routines, with the aim of enhancing focus, stress management, and emotional regulation. Delivered through a combination of guided sessions and group discussions, the programme fosters both individual resilience and peer support, providing the students with tools to manage both the unique pressures of aviation training, and of daily life. The anticipated benefits of running this course at this stage in their careers are substantial. Students should experience improved concentration, reduced stress, and enhanced emotional stability, all of which are critical for safe and effective performance in high-pressure environments. Group participation encourages collaboration and shared learning, strengthening students' cohesion and communication as a class. The programme supports the development of adaptive coping strategies, potentially helping students manage cognitive load, maintain attention during complex tasks, and respond calmly under pressure. The intention is to build an Air Corps Peer Support network around these skills so Operational pilots outside the routine of life in FTS can avail of additional supports as necessary. The key here is that our "Peers" fully understand the nuances of military life and operational flying. These Peer Support Programs (PSP) are designed to be a "safe harbour." A pilot experiencing stress can self-refer to a peer (a fellow pilot trained in basic psychological support) and in most cases indemnified by a third party, who ultimately review all cases. The PSP is often the primary vehicle for the return-to-work process. It allows for a non-punitive path where the pilot can be assisted by mental health professionals and peers to ensure they are mentally resilient enough to return to the flight operations. This ensures the pilot still possesses the cognitive and psychological attributes required for the specific operational environment enhancing overall flight safety. Although not mandatory for Military operators and challenging for an Organisation the size of the Air Corps, the implementation of a Pilot Peer Support Program is in line with best practice as set out in EASA Regulations. As we look towards the evolving roles of the future Air Force, both home and abroad, such a commitment to our pilots' wellbeing would underpin the values of Óglaigh na h-Éireann and provide additional safety controls for operations.

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