Expressing concern that pilots may be withholding key healthcare information, NBAA has appealed to its pilot members to participate in a University of North Dakota (UND) study researching airmen's knowledge of healthcare services. The research into what NBAA called a “groundbreaking study” further is exploring how that knowledge could affect aviation safety.

A previous UND study discovered pilots may be withholding information during medical screenings to preserve flight status, NBAA noted, saying 56 percent of U.S. pilots reported “some form of healthcare avoidance to protect their ability to operate aircraft.” Based on that result, UND is moving forward with a follow-on study to determine whether a lack of knowledge of healthcare practices is impacting that behavior.

“Safety is a core value of our industry and we have achieved significant safety gains by identifying, analyzing, and resolving issues of concern. Culturally, we are changing our perceptions in a very positive way of how our mental and physical well-being can impact performance,” said NBAA director of safety and flight operations Mark Larsen. “Through studies like UND’s review of health systems literacy, we will be better able to define practices and that will improve our culture and the health of everyone in business aviation."

The UND research is raising important questions, Larsen added. “We recommend that every pilot member take part in this study to further our community’s understanding and appreciation of how mental and physical health impact aviation operations.”

NBAA estimated that the survey takes between five and 10 minutes to complete and does not ask for identifying information. All responses are confidential, the association added.