Where mass curiosity exists there will always be those seeking monetary gain or increased stature by filling the void. Media has been swamped by “experts” spouting opinions about the recent tragedy involving Germanwings Airlines and a pilot who was apparently battling depression.
Did the airline know? Should they have known? Should they have prevented him from flying? Should they have suspended or terminated him? Do we need new regulations that force full disclosure of mental health issues from pilots? Should the medical community be mandated to report?
Do you want a depressed pilot flying the plane you are a passenger on? For that matter, do you want people with depression teaching your children, driving their bus, or operating on your kidney?
Here’s the thing: It doesn’t matter what you want. Pilots do not have immunity from depression. Nobody does. Right now there are people with depression flying passengers all over the world. Lots of them. And they’re teaching your kids, driving their buses and performing surgery. There are people with all kinds of afflictions, both mental and physical, doing these things. Health issues, including mental health issues, are an undeniable fact of life.
The real question is whether you want them to be comfortable seeking help. The result of tightening regulations will likely be that there will be even more stigma preventing pilots from getting the help they need. There will be more pilots with depression, not less. And they will avoid seeking help at all cost. Not only from fear of losing their jobs, but from the need to avoid the unnecessary and invalid perception that they are somehow putting lives at risk.
The Germanwings tragedy has not happened before. Hopefully, it won’t happen again. The odds of it happening anytime in the foreseeable future are quite literally one in millions. Knee-jerk reactions to perceived issues (largely perpetuated by the media) usually have unintended consequences.
Let’s let the legacy of this tragic accident be increased awareness of mental health, and not even higher hurdles preventing those who are suffering from getting the help they need. Let’s use common sense.
Carrie
It’s hard to come by experienced people for this subject,
but you sound like you know what you’re talking about!
Thanks
Not happened before? Check your facts please.
I am acutely aware of the facts and I stand by my post.
Yes, the pilot should report to his Flight Companies his problem without the risk of being fired and go to financial ruin, he should be grounded for the necessary time to recover. However in this case it seems that the doctors (he visited 10 doctors!) have not fully understand what was happening to this man and failed to help him. I see responsabilities.