IEP for aviation psychology

The Aviation Psychology Department of the IEP (IEP-AP) has been operating in the field since 2011, dealing with the specific training of flight personnel and technical personnel of aircraft/airlines (fixed wing and rotary wing) on Critical Incident Management, Counseling for the workplace health of aeronautical personnel, personnel selection for specific roles, risk assessment and audits, non-technical skills profiles and development of specific training and development plans for human resources.

Since 2020, the IEP-AP has been in charge of the implementation of the EASA CAT.GEN.MPA.215 regulation through interviews with the personnel of the HEMS bases aimed at assessing the work-related stress and the well-being of the crews.

In 2023 IEP became Corporate Member of the most important international agency of Aviation Psychology, the European Association for Aviation Psychology (EAAP).

We handle a toll-free number 24/7 for psychological support available to all employees. Through this number the aviation personnel can benefit of psychological counseling conducted by our psychotherapists specialized in Emergency Psychology and Aviation Psychology.

We set up and administer an Aeronautical Peer Support service which includes:

Selection and training of Peer Supporters
Supervision of Peer Supporters by our Aviation Psychologists

THE NEW EUROPEAN REGULATION FOR THE PROTECTION OF PSYCHOLOGICAL WELL-BEING OF AIRCRAFT CREWS

Following the Germanwings accident in 2015, the European Safety Agency (EASA) promoted the analysis and research of mitigation measures against the risk of similar events occurring. The Agency has identified, among other things, in the area of psychological well-being and positive mental health a fundamental element for the safety of commercial air transport.

These recommendations were implemented in 2018 by ENAC (Italian chapter of EASA), making it mandatory for all airlines to have a Mental Health Support service.

Of the six recommendations, points 2 and 6 are of significant importance:
2. Psychological assessment of pilots before they enter scheduled service and every two years during their entire career.
6. Introduction, within each airline, of a support/psychological assistance system for pilots.

For further information, you can view the legislation in its entirety.

PSYCHOLOGICAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL

The IEP-AP carries out promotion, awareness and prevention campaigns for the occupational well-being and psychophysical health of aeronautical personnel.
We organize and manage the toll-free number available to pilots and technicians 24/7 to make Mental Health Support immediately accessible in case of need.

CRITICAL INCIDENT MANAGEMENT

The IEP-AP offers the Emergency Psychological Intervention Service following aeronautical incidents and accidents. The intervention is carried out by psychologists specialized in Psychological First Aid and Aviation Psychology who are immediately available to go to the accident site and to all the structures where psychological support is necessary (air bases, hospitals, forensic medicine institutes, residences). The service is aimed at the crews involved, colleagues and their families.

PEER SUPPORT SERVICE

The IEP has been designing and managing Peer Support services for 15 years for various organizations operating in critical areas.
The IEP-AP has devised a specific training model for aeronautical Peer Support, which includes: the IEP-AP Interview for the selection of candidates for the role of Peer Supporter, a specialized training program of our own design and the implementation and management of the service through the constant monitoring and supervision of the Peer Supporters by our Aviation Psychologists.

TRAINING FOR AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL

The IEP-AP designs and delivers training courses in the fields of CRM, TRM, Fatigue Risk Management, NTS (non-technical skills), Human Factor, Error Management. The courses are designed and conducted by Tra le sei raccomandazioni risultano di rilevante importanza i punti 2 e 6 in the training field.

PSYCHOLOGICAL COUNSELING FOR AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL

The IEP-AP Aviation Psychologist Team provides counseling aimed at specific situations of work distress that can afflict aviation personnel.

PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT

The IEP-AP offers psycho-aptitude assessment courses for the selection of flight personnel. The assessment is carried out by the Aviation Psychologists of the IEP-AP with evidence -based psychodiagnostics tools and specialist interviews.

IEP-AP CHECKLIST FOR THE ASSESSMENT OF
THE WORKPLACE HEALTH OF THE AIRCRAFT PERSONNEL

The IEP-AP team has designed and validated through a few hundred interviews already carried out, a specific checklist for the evaluation of the aspects related to the conservation of occupational well-being in the aeronautical sector: safety climate, group culture, job satisfaction, perception of the role , relationships with colleagues and superiors, sense of collective effectiveness, presence of just culture in the organization, collective problem solving skills, possible existence of critical situations for working well-being: stress, mobbing, demotivation, gossip. The IEP-AP check list is used both in the evaluation of individuals and, through the aggregation of the collected data, for the evaluation of the working climate in a crew, base and/or department.

IEP Team for Aviation

Rita Erica Fioravanzo (Manager Director)
Claudia Bonicatto and Mariarosa Bettiga (Project Managers)

– Specialist Psychologists –
Carmela Baldinu • Loretta Berti • Roberto Biella Battista • Riccardo Biella • Lia Calloni • Veronica Cortinovis • Angela Fiorletta • Daniele Malaguti • Marta Nanti • Ilaria Offredi • Annalisa Spampani • Eddy Spezzati • Serena Vitulo