Everyone is fighting a battle you may know nothing about. On this episode of Engage, host First Officer Ryan Argenta speaks with Grant Olbrich, Chairman of the Pilot Assistance Network (PAN), to find out how this committee and its volunteers help Delta pilots juggle family and career while maintaining positive mental and physical health through peer-to-peer support. Pilots are in a unique career field governed by the FAA medical certification process which has specific requirements on reporting to the FAA visits to some mental health and medical practitioners. This obstacle has made it difficult for some pilots to seek access to the help they need; PAN helps pilots navigate the issue of reportability while getting them the help they need and deserve. Special guest Adam Bradley, SLC First Officer Representative, joins Ryan and Grant to discuss how important it is for pilots to be able to get the help they need without threat to their medical certificates and how PAN is a priority for the Delta MEC. Adam explains the Delta MEC recently unanimously approved a resolution making access to mental health for pilots an urgent priority for ALPA to take to Congress and the FAA.

Helping pilots and their families manage everything from day-to-day pressures and challenges to training stress to family issues to mental and physical health issues to FAA medical questions, the Pilot Assistance Network is made up of more than 30 Delta pilot volunteers who answer a 24/7 hotline. PAN is part of the Delta MEC’s Aeromedical Committee and specifically created to help Delta pilots facing physiological, psychological, and medical concerns or for those just needing to talk to someone.

PAN’s goal is to help mitigate the threats that sometimes put our medical certificates, our pay, and our very jobs at risk. To speak with a peer volunteer, call PAN at 1-800-673-7150.

Calls to PAN are absolutely confidential.  PAN does not take notes nor collect any data or information - ever.  You will never be a data point on a PAN call and not even de-identified information is ever collected, shared, or reported to ALPA, Delta Air Lines, and the FAA.

(Recorded July 17, 2022)