PUBLICATIONS

Mental Health and Safety in European Aviation

Our research explores the complex interplay between organizational conditions, mental health, and safety within the aviation industry. Focusing on pilots and cabin crew across Europe, we investigate how work-related factors—such as employment type, job insecurity, management-employee relations, roster quality, and perceived support—affect psychological well-being and safety behavior. Ultimately, our work contributes to a better understanding of the hidden health and safety costs in aviation, aiming to support evidence-based improvements in policy, regulation, and airline practice.

In 2022, around 8,000 pilots and cabin crew across Europe shared their experiences during the ramp-up phase after COVID-19. The results highlighted key challenges related to working conditions, mental health, and safety in the post-pandemic aviation landscape. These insights have already contributed to important conversations within the industry.

We’re now following up to understand how things have changed — and how today’s working environment continues to shape crew health, well-being, and flight safety in European aviation.

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Scientific Publications

Is it safe to be safe? Examining underreporting and presenteeism among European pilots: The role of employment type.
Safety Science, 181, Article 106696. Folke, F., & Melin, M. (2025).
Ramp-up in the air: Impairing or repairing aviation crews’ working conditions? A mixed-methods survey study on working conditions, health, and safety among cabin crew and pilots in Europe.
Journal of Air Transport Management, 119, Article 102642.Folke, F., & Melin, M. (2024).
Factors associated with approaching Pilot Peer Support: a cross-sectional study.
Occupational Medicine (Oxford), 74(5), 335–341. Bråstad, B., Jonsäll-Harris, R., Melin, M., & Folke, F. (2024).
Selecting flight mode - Risk factors associated with presenteeism among commercial pilots and the role of depressive symptoms.
Journal of Air Transport Management, 103. Folke, F., & Melin, M. (2022).
Proactive Flight Safety – a Feasibility Study on Considerations for Optimal Use of Flight Data Monitoring and Incident Reports in an Airline.
Lager & Melin (2020).
High-flying Risks. Variations in working conditions, health, and safety behaviors among commercial airline pilots in relation to safety climate. Melin, Lager & Lindfors (2018).
Fit for Flight? Inappropriate Presenteeism among Swedish Commercial Airline Pilots and its Threats to Flight Safety. International Journal of Aerospace psychology. Johansson & Melin (2018).

Bachelor's and Master's Theses from the Project

Psychosocial Work Environment and Depression in Pilots: Vulnerability and Immunity Factors.
J.Lundell & T. Åkebrand (2025)
Confidently safe? Investigating the relationship between organizational factors, safety self-efficacy, and perceived safety mistakes and depression among cabin crew
I. Kiviniemi Birgersson & E. Sjöstrand (2024)
Turbulent arbetsmiljö. En kvalitativ studie om hur organisatoriska arbetsvillkor påverkar kabinpersonals hälsa och välbefinnande.
S. Alinder (2025)