CRMSON: Co-Designing Adaptive and Ethical AI Systems to Address Mental Health Barriers in Aviation

In aviation, the ability to maintain an aeromedical certificate is essential for employment, yet the very system designed to ensure safety often discourages mental health disclosure. Drawing on novel survey data (n = 1,577), this study reveals a striking paradox: while 98% of pilots and air traffic controllers identify mental health as a major industry concern, only 12% report accessing available support services. Barriers are primarily psychological—rooted in stigma, mistrust, and fear of career repercussions—rather than structural. In the United States, mandatory disclosure requirements on aeromedical forms exacerbate this culture of silence, compelling many to conceal symptoms or avoid care altogether.In response, this paper introduces CRMSON, the first AI-powered resilience platform co-designed by pilots, for pilots. Grounded in human-centered design and ethical AI principles, CRMSON delivers discreet, evidence-based microinterventions that cultivate emotional intelligence—a proven predictor of psychological resilience. Through qualitative research, participatory design workshops, and model validation across industry experts, CRMSON integrates affective science with operational realism to provide stigma-free, context-aware support.Rather than replacing professional care, CRMSON functions as scaffolding within constrained systems—reinforcing emotional regulation, self-awareness, and adaptive coping. This work reframes AI not as surveillance or automation but as an ethical architecture of care, restoring agency to aviation professionals navigating the tension between safety and psychological well-being.