Pilots and Depression

       
We all remember the tragic day Andreas Lubitz intentionally flew German-Wings flight 9525 into the side of the mountain killing everyone on board. The after math of the accident sent shock waves through out the aviation industry.

 A few of the biggest questions arising after the crash was what can airlines do to stop this from happening again and  how many professional pilots are secretly dealing with depression. Here in the United States professional pilots are examined yearly or twice a year depending on their age, pilots who are under the age of 40 are examined once a year. The examination is split into two parts, a physical, and an FAA medical application which contains questions regarding the psychological health of the pilot. Other than federal regulations, pilots are required to undergo recurrent training every 6 months in a flight simulator. Pilots are placed in stressful situations ranging from engine fire to severe weather, and a designated examiner records their reactions to the situation.

If a pilot notices a change in his/her mental health, they are required to report it to the company so the can be treated right away. Even though they might not be allowed to fly for a while, pilots tend to make the right decision and report their conditions to the company.

I believe that  German-Wings flight 9525 was nothing more than an isolated incident. How often do you hear of a pilot nosediving into the side of a mountain killing everyone on board. Over 100,000 flights depart and land safely everyday without an accident or incident occurring. People don't realize that being a professional pilot is very rewarding , even though it can be very stressful. Most pilots love their jobs and can't imagine doing anything else, and to say that there is a trend in the aviation industry regarding depression is simply not true.