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CRITICAL INCIDENT RESPONSE PROGRAM (CIRP)

About the Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) The Critical Incident Response Program (CIRP) is a confidential, peer-based organization available to all Teamsters Local 1108 pilots and their families. Its purpose is to mitigate and alleviate the emotional and psychological impact of an incident or accident and to assist in the normal recovery from these events before harmful stress reactions affect job performance, careers, families, and both physical and mental health.

Whenever a critical incident occurs, it is typical for the pilot involved to experience physical and emotional stress symptoms that last well after the event – often for several days or a few weeks. The most common complaint voiced by pilots is sleeplessness, but there are many, many other symptoms. These symptoms are common, temporary, and do not indicate a crewmember is losing his or her ability to function as a pilot. However, it can be very unsettling for the individual who is experiencing these feelings. However, CIRP has been shown to help speed recovery due to the support volunteers provide throughout the healing process.

The program is managed by a volunteer group whose primary focus is to provide a support system for any pilot who has experienced a traumatic event. CIRP volunteers are specifically trained and certified in Critical Incident Stress Management. CIRP volunteers are not psychologists; rather, they are professional pilots who place a premium on the well being of their peers and assign confidentiality the highest of priority
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What is a critical incident? One definition of a critical incident is “a stressful event that may evoke stress reactions by those either directly or indirectly involved.” Examples of a critical incident include the following:
1) An aircraft accident that involves serious injury or death to passengers or crewmembers or significant damage to an aircraft.
2) An aircraft incident that results in injury to passengers or crew.
3) An on-the-job incident where there exists the real or perceived threat of death or serious injury to passengers or crew, such as a "near miss" or an incident requiring passenger evacuation.
4) An incident evoking major media coverage.
5) A number of aircraft incidents such as engine failure, disruptive passengers, serious flight control problems, a severe wind shear encounter with a loss of aircraft control, and/or other serious in-flight issues not commonly encountered by pilots or flight attendants.
6) Various non-flight related incidents such as the injury of a crewmember while being transported from a hotel to the airport.
7) Participation in aircraft an accident investigation.
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CIRP Resources (Click here)
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Repercussion of a Critical Incident Oftentimes, professional aviators may not recognize stress reactions and may even believe that, as a result of training and experience, they are immune to them. Pilots are characteristically independent and are often unable or unwilling to admit to being affected by a stressful event or situation, leading to long-term problems such as poor work performance, undue anxiety, troubling family situations and other negative consequences.

Stress reactions manifest themselves in a number of ways including, disrupted sleep patterns, unchecked or uncontrollable anger, muscle aches, fatigue, loss of appetite, fear, denial, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. A lot of pilots also experience a loss of enjoyment in the flying profession. Individuals will vary widely in their reaction to the same event, and stress reactions gone untreated have prompted many to leave their profession.

However, with proper support and assistance, including CIRP intervention, approximately 70 percent of professional aviators who have experienced a critical incident remain in the profession. Of those pilots who go untreated in the wake of a critical incident, some 60 to 70 percent leave their aviation careers within two years of the critical incident or accident. Therefore, any traumatic or stressful event that results in a stress reaction is sufficient to contact the CIRP Team. Remember, this volunteer network’s goal is to help you.

The CIRP Team has the full support of NJA management and has been previously called upon to render assistance after an event has occurred. NJA management has, at its disposal, health care professionals to support the program and its participants and who are trained in the Mitchell Model of crisis intervention stress management – the same model utilized by the Union’s Peer Support Volunteers.

Crews utilizing this program report significant satisfaction with the program and are quite appreciative of the assistance they have received.
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Working with a CIRP Volunteer The first interaction with a CIRP volunteer is typically conducted via telephone: During the 30- to 60-minute call, the volunteer and crewmember process the incident as well as the crewmember’s reaction to the event. In some instances, the CIRP volunteer will suggest a stress debriefing to be attended by every individual involved in the event. Regardless of the interaction, all conversations with CIRP volunteers are confidential and will not be discussed with company representatives or any investigating authority. CIRP volunteers are available for individual follow-up support as needed by a crewmember.

A note about confidentiality ... Both the short- and long-term emotional and psychological well being of aviators who have been involved in an accident or incident is the CIRP Team’s primary concern. As such, confidentiality is one of the program’s hallmarks, protecting not only the affected crewmember but also the program’s integrity and effectiveness. The program is neither intended nor expected to be used for investigatory or disciplinary reasons, an established fact recognized and respected by NJA management, who has a vested interest in the well being of its pilots.

Additionally, the Federal Aviation Administration along with ALPA legal counsel agree with the necessity of confidentiality, and neither have attempted to violate the inherent trust required between CIRP participant and volunteer. Once again, the sole purpose and goal of the CIRP is to provide focused peer support to flight crews as they work to recover from an accident or incident.
 
Committee Leadership
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pweir
Chairman Peter Weir
Cell: (940) 595-4925 / E-mail: pweir@njasap.com