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Senate Approves Bipartisan Mental-Health Rules for Pilots

By Drooid · Sep 25, 2026, 11:46 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

The U.S. Senate approved bipartisan legislation modernizing mental-health rules for pilots and air traffic controllers.
John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sponsored the unanimously passed bills.
The bills direct the FAA to issue treatment-seeking guidance, improve examiner training, and publish an updated list of approved drugs.
The measures now go to the U.S. House; the FAA says about 20% face disqualification, approvals can exceed a year.

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Story summary

The U.S. Senate approved bipartisan legislation modernizing mental-health rules for pilots and air traffic controllers.
John Hoeven (R-N.D.) and Tammy Duckworth (D-Ill.) sponsored the unanimously passed bills.
The bills direct the FAA to issue treatment-seeking guidance, improve examiner training, and publish an updated list of approved drugs.
The measures now go to the U.S. House; the FAA says about 20% face disqualification, approvals can exceed a year.