ASOG Focus Area | News & Information, Career Management
Source | Logan Aldrich (ASOG Author)
Mental health… a topic that is taboo in the aviation industry. There is a culture of silence, where the fear of being grounded, getting kicked out of your dream job, and facing peer judgment creates an unsafe environment. Battling pride and ego, engaging with an inefficiently designed system, and—worst of all—feeling like you lack the resources or have no one to reach out to all lead to a culture that does not support its members' well-being.
Hey there ASOG,
My name is Logan Aldrich, and I am a United States Naval Aircrewman operating multiple sensors onboard the P-8A Maritime Patrol and Reconnaissance Aircraft.
The topic of mental health and the culture around it is an important one for me. Without going into too many details, I can say I have personally dealt with mental health issues during my time with the aviation community. I'm in the Navy, and I had always been told, "Better be careful, they will ground you and send you to a boat." This is a common, half-joking anecdote in my community. Let's be real, flying is awesome and an absolute privilege. I think it's safe to say we would all much rather be in the air than living on a boat.
BUT… this looming fear, fueled by misinformation from my leadership, peers, and people who are uneducated on the topic, steered me away from reaching out for the help I desperately needed. Thankfully, someone in my life encouraged me to seek professional help. Eventually, I realized that all the things I had come to fear and the information given to me were wrong.
The dreaded FAA and its medical exams
I want to state that getting the help I needed wasn't exactly an easy road. And that's all thanks to the long process of aviation medicine. The reality is, it's… a long process. Once you mention your problem, you will be grounded, and then it's a long trail of paperwork, the start of therapy, and medication (if needed). Then, eventually, many months down the road, you'll be able to schedule your exam—which will probably get deferred to a time even further away—and you're left waiting. But eventually, that appointment will come, all the paperwork will be over, and you're finally back in the game.
That probably doesn't sound fun or encouraging, and the sad reality is that it isn't. The system in place is not inherently intuitive, user-friendly, or efficient. However, with good leadership, friends, and a change in mindset towards the stigma of having these problems and reaching out, we can do our absolute best to take the system head-on, no matter how inefficient it is.
Reality Check - Only about 0.1 to 0.2% of all applicants who disclose any health issue and complete the process ultimately receive a Final Denial for a medical certificate. People who reach out almost always get back in the air!
This fact is the type of encouragement that needs to be highlighted more. It is okay to get help! It's tedious, yes, but it's worth it. You can get the help you need AND stay in the community you love.
Culture
There is no denying that there is a culture, especially amongst men, where pride and ego rule. Being macho and refusing to express emotions fosters an unsafe environment and should not be tolerated. In an industry as dynamic as aviation, 60-80% of mishaps are human error. When people are not at the top of their game, mistakes are bound to start happening, and safety goes out the door.
Navy Defuels ditched P-8A Poseidon in Kaneohe Bay (Image Credit: www.navy.mil/Press-Office/Press-Releases)
How many times have you had something in your life that put you off your game? Death of a family member, financial struggles, spousal discord, poor diet—things that weigh you down. And how many times, whilst knowing you were off your game, did you not say anything? Most reading this can relate to those questions. This culture of silence undermines your safety and that of those around you.
The industry as a whole IS getting better about talking about mental health, and I hope this article helps continue to raise that awareness. Are you close with your crew members? Why not go grab a meal and have a good rant session? Blow off some steam and talk about your problems. It's good for you.
P-8A Poseidon Maritime Aircraft while detached to Wake Island (Image Credit: Logan Aldrich)
Thank you to Patrick for reaching out to me to write this and allowing me to speak with the community directly on a wide platform. It's an honor. Immediate mental health support is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. If any of you are having problems, please reach out. I am available if you need someone to vent to. You can DM me on this platform or reach out to my email: Logan Aldrich, loganaldrichh@gmail.com
A P-8 Poseidon in flight with the AAS installed. (Image credit: U.S. Air Force/Staff Sgt. Tiffany A Emery)
About the Author
Logan is an Active Duty Electronic Warfare Operator on the P‑8A, specializing in Maritime ISR with six years of operational experience—and more ahead of him. He is proficient in multi‑mode radar systems (Surface Search, SAR/ISAR, GMTI, MMTI), multi‑spectral imaging and targeting systems (EO/IR), and Electronic Support Measures (ELINT). His work has taken him across five continents during two deployments, most of it in the INDOPACOM region, conducting ISR missions alongside Anti-Submarine Warfare operations.
He is deeply committed to the ISR community and passionate about the craft of being a Sensor Operator. Logan enjoys teaching, mentoring, and developing the teammates he works with, and he continually seeks opportunities to broaden his operational exposure. He will soon transition to the MQ‑4 Triton program—a move he is extremely excited about. Learning new sensors and integrating with new platforms offers him another avenue to contribute to the community and expand his expertise.
Logan is also pursuing a degree in data analytics while continuing to enjoy his time in service.
Sources and Images
https://www.faa.gov/about/officeorg/headquartersoffices/avs/fact-checking-medical-myths-aviation
https://theaviationist.com/2025/08/27/p-8-poseidon-advanced-airborne-sensor-extended/
https://www.thedoctorsclinic.com/services/aviation-medicine/
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