The Cologne-based European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has proposed tougher mental health examinations for pilots in response to a Germanwings crash last year in which 150 people were killed.
The proposals, which have been submitted for consideration by the European Commission, include "drugs and alcohol screening, comprehensive mental health assessment, as well as improved follow-up in case of (a) medical history of psychiatric conditions."
Last March, Germanwings co-pilot Andreas Lubitz locked himself into the cockpit of a plane which he then crashed into an Alpine mountainside.
Aviation authorities had deemed him fit to fly although he had a history of mental health problems.
In its proposals, the EASA also suggested "improving the training, oversight and assessment of aero-medical examiners" and preventing fraud attempts by requiring all incomplete medical assessments to be reported to the authorities.
The list of suggestions will "serve as a basis" for a legislative proposal due to be put forward by the European Union's executive towards the end of 2016, the EASA said in a statement.
