Airline Pilots On Antidepressant Psychiatric Drugs, FAA Approves, Peter McCarthy

[Costified]

This is an interesting argument. I think the rule was that a pilot or required crewmember was required to not take such drugs for 90 days to keep their medical certification. I think this whole thing is response to the fact that the medical certification process is essentially an honor system, and many pilots, both general and civil, have simply (illegally) chosen not to report it on their medical application. Sometimes the public forgets that they are human beings, though.

[Alexs1234]

this guy is a former pilot yet he felt the need to play dress up as a professional pilot. I bet he doesn't suffer either from depression so he feels that he's better than anyone else. Whats better a depressed pilot flying an airplane or a pilot whos getting treated so he can feel better. Its a common well known fact that a depressed person is slower in many areas. Thinking, problem solving, motor skills reaction time. This guy is an idiot.

[fishman211]

Don't you all realize that if you've been flying commercially then the chances are very high that you have flown with a Captain that suffers from depression? I have no problem at all flying with a pilot who is being successfully with antidepressents. Sure beats the heck out of flying with one who denies his disease ! The four medications that the FAA has approved have long successful records and few side effects. I know. I took Zoloft for many years and it made me feel.....well, normal.

[chiriquiTV]

I don't think antidepressants are a big deal. They don't ruin your reaction time, etc., etc. Now if they started approving Lithium, Seroquil and other anti-psychotics, time to take the bus.

[tbrouter]

Yeah they are nuts not to allow controlled use of anti-depressants in aviation. If we follow this nutty thinking, we should take the licenses of car drivers who take antidepressants.

I see antidepressants work everyday. I am stronger, less stressed, hence have improved judgment. Try to explain it to someone without first hand experience and they become dismissive.

As a general aviation pilot, I tried to apply for the anti-depressant special waiver. It's an impossible process for anyone.

[tfrenn]

"There's always soma to calm your anger, to reconcile you to your enemies, to make you patient and long-suffering. In the past you could only accomplish these things by making a great effort and after years of hard moral training. Now, you swallow two or three half-gramme tablets, and there you are. Anybody can be virtuous now. You can carry at least half your morality about in a bottle. Christianity without tears-that's what soma is."

- Aldous Huxley, Brave New World, Ch. 17

[Villies21]

This is insane. There is such a humongous to make air travel safe and now air-pilots are allowed to be doped up? Unacceptable.

[dave24ie]

The idea is because people who have depression who fly wont self medicate by using alcohol etc.

[Immortalitee]

Posting this on my facebook. Got to stop the FAA from making a huge mistake again!!! Wasn't 911 enough??? They Authorized Terrorists to fly our planes, now letting people with psychiatric problems fly it? WTF???!!!

[This19]

Antidepressant drugs work. I see them work everyday. Do you want a depressed pilot flying your jet?

[neomae]

@This19 It's not the issue of when they might 'work' - it's the issue is when they may not, and will not, and will have one of the many adverse 'side-effects'

[Villies21]

@This19 I'd rather have a "depressed pilot" than a crashed plane because of a crazed psychotic pilot having a side-effect.

[thinkingman07]

That is total insanity. No alcohol or weed but drugs that make you want to blow your own head off or become violent are ok....I don't think it is a mystery who got this approve.

[Chuichupachichi]

Well, if the Captain shares his antidepressant extermidication with the passengers, at least they can all die happy.

It seems that the only solution to this problem that threatens to possibly kill airline passengers, is to threaten to kill the airlines by not flying for a while. They'll get the message. Business flight is necessary but its not enough to sustain the airlines. If all Americans cancel simply 1 year's vacations, everyone on the same year, that should do the trick.

[Chuichupachichi]

If pilots dosed themselves with Methamphetamine they'd get fired although their heightened senses & alertness would probably save lives... as well as a couple of airliner meals which would decrease the company's overhead by a substantial amount over the course of a year. They'd simply be required to disallow flight attendants from getting near to the pilots or it can give a whole new meaning to the word "cockpit" & the autopilot would require heavy dosages to endure continual duty

[soccom8341576]

Actually, I'm more concerned with Air Traffic Controllers being on mind-altering drugs. They could really screw a lot up.

[hypnofan35]

It looks like they are calling for more crashes with crazy acting pilots on airliners. It's not like you can just take your foot off the throttle and pull over. And you don't really want to have to be suppressing the only person who can land the sucker. Maybe they will have AI landing. These days their are forces that have the remote control "crasher chip". Ghostable interface controller chip technology. It means someone can crash your plane with a cell phone or something.

[SadisticChick666]

I believe that if a pilot needs anti-depressants than they should have them, granted they should take a week or 2 off to see how they react, but they should still have their jobs. A depressed pilot without medication is just as dangerous as one who is trying a new medication and flying right away.

[Chuichupachichi]

@SadisticChick666

{I believe that if a pilot needs anti-depressants than they should have them}

Yea, but yours is the opinion of a sadistic chick & you're also a big fan of the 666 anti-Christ. Thus, its obvious why you wish for many people to die. Depression afflicting pilots, should be considered a seriously dangerous, mental defect, disorder, illness, dropped on their heads as an infant & way out WHACKED. Simply because there's absolutely no reason why they should ever be depressed,

[SadisticChick666]

@Chuichupachichi I made this account about 4 years ago. :P The name is not who I am or what I'm like, silly. Don't assume so much, I don't wish for people to die. There is reason to be depressed, just like anyone else, not to mention the pressure on them when working. Also chemical imbalances in the brain sounds like a reason to feel depressed. injury has nothing to do with clinically depressed pilots needing medication..We shouldn't deny pilots medical attention.

[neomae]

@SadisticChick666 They'd be allowed to get medical attention, but should be on leave when they get it. Each person given medications is an experiment.

The other issue to perhaps address is the medications that have withdrawl effects from them as well.

[Chuichupachichi]

Even if it were true that in the past there had been research conducted in which test subjects with depression had their brain chemistry analyzed & it proved particular chemical compositions to cause depression. Still, every time someone is diagnosed with depression or any other problem that is claimed to be caused by a chemical imbalance, they would have to test the chemistry of every patient before prescribing drugs. But they don't, they simply see a dejected person & write a death sentence

[Chuichupachichi]

@SadisticChick666

I figured you created "SadisticChick" as a humorous thing. Thus, I thought I'd go along with it & you'd know thats what was going on. "Chemical Imbalances" in the brain being the cause of Psychological problems is pure sci-fi fraudulence. The fact of the matter is that there is no scientific test which determines that there exists a chemical imbalance. Think about it, all a person has to do is go to a Psychiatrist & be diagnosed with depression & they'll write a prescription

[Chuichupachichi]

considering that they're always "flying high". Other people don't get paid six figures, but rather, their jobs pay much less & they have to pay to be flying high. Yet, it makes them feel good & happy. Imagine if those people could fly high every day & get paid a pilot's salary for it... they'd be ridiculously, festively ecstatic. Maybe pilots need to take a cue from federal politicians? If they're feeling down & gloomy, they get a hot call girl over the weekend & show up for all 12 hours of

[Chuichupachichi]

their work week, Happy Jack!

What? Why should it be considered crazy to discuss this matter? Do people truly believe that D.C. has an overabundance of the highest paid, hottest call girls in the country because its all the impoverished, over taxed Black dudes in the ghetto that are calling them? Why do you think they always need more taxes & decide on whether or not to give themselves another raise? Because its conducive of happiness on "The Hill" & phenomenal phone bills

[greatvideo2]

 When you get on the plane can you ask the Captain if hes on any antidepressants?

[edthewicked]

I'm definitely emailing my senator about this! My mother constantly travels on any one of the major airlines as part of her career, and merely the thought of any member of the flight crew trying to do their job while high on dope (legal or otherwise) scares the shit out of me! And believe me, I know a little something about being loaded & dealing w/ a high-pressure enviroment!

[TazRulesNY]

Look it's Vic Mackey!

[TazRulesNY]

This is REALLY SCARY! I am on Celexa, and SSRI antidepressant. I'm more tired, cloudy thinking, and my emotions are now non existant. You just don't care about jack S**t anymore while on these things. A pilot who needs to be on one of the drugs has no business flying in the first place.

[tinghaling]

Peter, you've retired - TAKE THE UNIFORM OFF!

[DemonicSymphonic]

Why do airplanes look like big penises in the sky?

[Quex01]

@DemonicSymphonic because people wanna see what they want

[DemonicSymphonic]

@Quex01 I don't want to see penises flying around, believe me. These airplanes were designed this way intentionally. I just want to know the truth.

[florencelovme]

@DemonicSymphonic You are sexually suppressed - thats why you see only what you choose to. By the way do you have wings attached to your thingy?

[bwag8008]

Drugs impair awareness. That's the bottom line. You DO NOT want someone with impaired awareness flying your airplane. If this new decision stands, I can guarantee there will be more crashes. Seems like the entire government has lost its marbles man. Everywhere you look now-- FAA, FDA, FEMA, FBI, etc. they've all lost their friggin' marbles (well FDA and FBI for sure never really had any to begin with).

[lvecsey]

We really need the FAA and NASA to automate more parts of these flights. I think there is psychological resistance on the part of the passengers to having a pilot-less cockpit. Airline manufacturers and companies that can offer retrofits will have to take a lead role, and I'm wary of getting congress involved.

[Jordache22222]

@lvecsey Unlike your laptop a plane can't be reset while in flight unless you like ending passenger's life in a big smoking crater. I'm afraid you don't know what you are talking about. Even adding a GPS as a primary navigation tool is controversial.

[LiLoLuVegas]

As passengers we ought to have the right to know, before boarding/booking a flight, if the pilot is a "popper". It should be disclosed. BUT in truth I think there ought to be a ban on school teachers who are poppers (and caffeine addicts)...the harm they do to our children is far more dangerous...we are forced by law to send kids to school...at the very leastthe teachers should be of sound mind.

[pubtor]

so soft...

[cyphi1]

It's the one's that need them and don't take them that you have to worry about.

[marcluc1988]

This is shocking. I don't live in the U.S. so I don't have a U.S. senator.

[moviedude22]

How could this possibly unbiased barebones reporting. Ultimately it's up to us, the viewership, to make up our own mind about the content we choose to view, however it';s really quite...troubling, that this man's personal vendetta against people who take anti-depressant is being sponsored by this channel. Truth, my ass! Get a board certified physician to post a video then maybe you can possibly gain some of the respect you've lost as a channel back.

[wingsgirl1313]

I don't see the big deal? Millions of Americans take antidepressants and function in society just fine. If a pilot needs/wants antidepressants, let him take them. It's his decision how he chooses to treat his depression. After a short stabilization period to make sure the pilot doesn't have adverse reaction to the medication, he should be fine to work. This really isn't much to freak out over.

[NightCapper13]

@wingsgirl1313 LOL. .. Function fine?! Wrong. I treat many patents on these drugs and they are ZOMBIES! They are but a shell of their former selves while on these drugs not to mention increased SUICIDAL thoughts and unpredictable outbursts that tend to be aggressive and violent. Wake up! You do not see a problem with it then you request and fly with a drugged out ZOMBIE at the controls with your life in their hands as for me I will go with the sober Pilot Thanks...

[wingsgirl1313]

@NightCapper13 All I'm saying is that I've been on them before, and I wasn't a zombie. They actually helped me a lot. I stopped because of the moral issues I have with medications of that nature.  Not everyone who takes them becomes a zombie. I would have no problems flying in a plane piloted by someone on antidepressants. It's the pilot's choice to make, and not anyone else's.

[joemann797]

@wingsgirl1313 yeah, but like NightCapper13 said, some patients become zombies. Just because you didn't become one doesn't mean someone else wont.

Would you trust someone driving a car if they were smoking pot or had drank alcohol, but they tell you they function just fine? In a car, that would only include the lives of a couple of people. In an airplane, you're talking about hundreds of lives. That's a big difference.

[wingsgirl1313]

@joemann797 There's also a big difference between pot or alcohol and antidepressants. In my original comment, I mentioned a stabilization period for when the pilot first starts taking the medication. Once he proves himself capable again, he should be able to fly.

[joemann797]

@wingsgirl1313 I do agree there is a big different between pot and antidepressant, but there is also a big difference between a car and an airplane. I probably wouldn't mind a guy on pot or alcohol riding a bicycle, but I would definitely mind if they drive a car. Just like I wouldn't mind if a guy on antidepressants drove a car, I probably wouldn't mind, but it's different when they are flying a plane.

[joemann797]

@wingsgirl1313 yeah, but even if they pilot has been stable on medications for a year, the different altitudes can affect the amount of medication going to their brain, which can affect their mood while flying. There hasn't really been any long term studies done on anti-depressants. Considering that some antidepressants increase risk of suicide, including prozac, which is one of the antidepressants approved by the FAA. I wouldn't want a suicidal pilot, would you?

[wingsgirl1313]

@joemann797 No, I wouldn't. But not everyone on antidepressants is suicidal. And there are many, many people who don't take antidepressants who are suicidal. So what do we do? Regular psych screenings? Counseling sessions?

[joemann797]

@wingsgirl1313 I guess you got me there.....lol

Good point! Well, I guess there isn't much we can do...... But then again, if a person is suicidal, antidepressants may increase the risk of suicide, which isn't good either.....

[NightCapper13]

@wingsgirl1313 Your right it is the pilot's choice to be on drugs and if he makes the choice to be under the influence of any drugs then he can pilot a push cart and stock shelves at Target. ANYTIME you are responsible for others lives you have NO RIGHT to place their lives in any danger by any margin whatsoever there is NO debate about that if you have any logical reasoning. I pity the fact that you would place your live or your loved ones in a higher probability of a life ending mistake.

[soccom8341576]

@wingsgirl1313

Hey, it's your choice, but don't make anyone else fly the same way if they don't want to take the risk.

[TomMarAlem1987]

What is the correlation between Pilot pay and mental health? If you don't make enough to survive, stress and depression should be expected.

[detubator]

Apparently some pilots must be getting depressed seeing all the TRAILS-of-CON and not knowing what to do about it without losing their jobs?

[crypter27]

Were going to see allot more plane crashes garanteed!

[DRDNIBOY]

This is for sure going to cause allot of problems!

[alowlyapprentice]

This so wrong. How the hell can they let people fly knowing the issues with withdrawal and suicide under the influence of SSRI's. WTF!

[DRDNIBOY]

@alowlyapprentice They are allowing for the same reason they do anything and everything.... MONEY! Its all about the MONEY! Stopping anyone from using the anti depressants creates a cut in the pharmaceutical companies profit . And the profit is God in the usa!

[alowlyapprentice]

@DRDNIBOY There just aren't enough pilots for there to be a noticeable direct gain in revenue. So it has to be for credibility. If pilots that fly planes can take, well then it must be more than good enough for the general public. *sigh. More BS for propaganda.

THX1138, have you seen it?

[AnarchistDictator]

Why is he wearing his uniform if he's retired? :|

[RogerOnTheRight]

@AnarchistDictator

I suspect he donned it to add credibility to his presentation.

[mbleek2001]

@AnarchistDictator. great question. i hope he could answer that for us 1st

[mycatisamoron]

@AnarchistDictator maybe he's trying to impress the hotfactsgirls