America's airline pilots cannot do their jobs without first being cleared by doctors.That involves u...

1. Germanwings Flight 9525: Should FAA require mental
health exams for U.S. pilots?
America's airline pilots cannot do their jobs without first being cleared by doctors.
That involves undergoing a physical exam and self-reporting on an online form whether they've tried
to commit suicide or have mental disorders, including depression or anxiety.
A "formal psychiatric examination" is not required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
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In the wake of the crash of Germanwings Flight 9525, which prosecutors say was deliberately
caused by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, some experts are calling on the FAA to change that policy.

2. "We can't just go along now with the system the way that it is, and hope for the best," says Thomas
Daly, dean of the aviation program at Dowling College in New York. "At this time, we have to go
back now and say the psychological screening has to take place in more than one area at a time."
Daly says the system should be more like what the U.S. military requires. Its pilots undergo flight
physicals every year, rigorous background checks and some branches even require mental health
checks every month, which include interviews with a commander, peers and medical doctors.
Since 2010, the FAA has actually eased requirements as a way of encouraging pilots to report
medical conditions.
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3. On a case-by-case basis, commercial pilots who take anti-depressant medications like Zoloft and
Prozac are now allowed to fly if they have been "satisfactorily treated on the medication for at least
12 months".
Pilots warn against a rush to make changes. They say the current rules go far enough and that flight
crews are trained to identify pilots going through mental health changes.
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