MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The proposal, published Monday, is part of its updated action plan following last year’s Germanwings plane crash. The co-pilot, who directed the jet into the Alps, had a record of mental illness.
"EASA published today a set of proposals to the European Commission for an update of the rules concerning pilots’ medical fitness," the aviation safety watchdog wrote.
The plan includes initial and recurrent medical examinations of pilots, drug and alcohol screenings, comprehensive mental health assessments, improving the oversight of aero-medical examiners and steps to prevent fraud.
EASA’s proposals will serve as the basis for a legislative proposal by the European Commission toward the end of 2016.
In March 2015, Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked the captain out of the cockpit during a flight from Barcelona to Dusseldorf and deliberately crashed the jet into a remote Alpine slope, killing all 150 people on board.
