Pilots! Flying a Plane While Taking Anti-Depressants, Okay??
By artistry
@artistry (4152)
United States
April 9, 2010 8:16pm CST
Recently the FAA lifted the ban on pilots flying airplanes, while they were taking prescribed anti-depressants. Would you feel comfortable traveling on a plane being flown by a pilot, who was taking anti-depressant medication? Share your thoughts with us.
4 people like this
7 responses
@hofferp (4734)
• United States
12 Apr 10
I would rather fly in an airplane with a pilot who's on anti-depressants than with a pilot who needed to be on anti-depressants and wasn't. I see nothing wrong with pilots taking medications for illnesses (high cholestoral, inactive thyroid, depression...) they may have and flying.
1 person likes this
@artistry (4152)
• United States
12 Apr 10
...Hi there hofferp, Your response makes a lot of sense, practically speaking. But according to some sources, anti-depressants don't always help a person who is depressed. In a situation where someone is controlling a plane or say an air traffic controller, there is a lot of stress involved. Someone who is depressed should probably be doing something that lessens the pressure, healthy people have problems enduring pressure jobs. Also, the person may decide this is the day he or she does want to be here anymore and takes the plane toward the ground in a dive. I would rather they have a desk job or something, rather than flying planes. Thanks so much for your response, take care.
1 person likes this
@artistry (4152)
• United States
12 Apr 10
...Hi there twobits, like your name, Welcome to the ranch, it's a nice place to hang out. You make a good point, treatment for their problem is the right thing to do. I just do not think they should be flying a plane while they are on anti-depressants. I would want them, if I had any say, to work at a desk until they get better. Unless you have to take anti-depressants forever, then a doctor should make the call, if they should fly the plane. And by the way, I don't want to know anything about it. "o) Thanks for your response, take care.
1 person likes this
@k1virus1978 (543)
• Singapore
10 Apr 10
That's dangerous, meds might distrupt your minds and judgment when you driving s plane. Also it might endanger of other passengers too.......
1 person likes this
@artistry (4152)
• United States
10 Apr 10
...Hi k1virus, Dangerous it is. The medications could have an effect, but what as someone else mentioned, they forget to take them, or stop taking them altogether.
I would like someone to reverse this ruling again, and give the individuals desk jobs or something. Everybody has problems of some sort, healthy pilots crash planes, let's not create a forseeable problem is my thought. Thanks for your reply and take it easy.
1 person likes this
@tigeraunt (6326)
• Philippines
10 Apr 10
dear artistry,
taking anti depressants or any medicine for that matter is a no no when you are taking care of so many lives. pilots should always be in the bill of health every time they fly a plane.
thank you for this discussion.
ann
thank you for this discussion.
ann1 person likes this
@artistry (4152)
• United States
10 Apr 10
...Hi there tigeraunt, Hope you are doing well. You are so right. I really think they need to reconsider this ruling and let the people do desk work or something until they are better mentally. There are pilots who have not been known to have any mental or physical problems for that matter, who have had plane crashes. Why would they put so many peoples lives at risk, having full knowledge that these people are taking such strong medication? Depressed pilots should be taken care of on the ground. It baffles the heck out of me. Take care, thanks for your input.
1 person likes this
@MagicalBubbles (5103)
• Canada
12 Apr 10
My dad used to work for Easter Air Lines before it went belly up. HE worked there all his life and nearly all the pilots were drinking. He said the best pilots were the ones nearly drunk........!!!
We were never afraid to fly then. I havent for a long time and because of all the changes lately ie: smaller seats, more people crammed in a jet.....I dont travel by plane anymore. Im afraid they might fall on my house though.
Not sure if flying on anti-D is bad or not as Ive never taken any. So what does it do when you take them?
1 person likes this
@blackmail (40)
• Philippines
10 Apr 10
definitely not. I like to live longer, I won't be putting it into a hands of a pilot who can make a mistake because of an anti depressant. I mean, what if the pilot forgot the medication? I hope they think about this more thoroughly.=(
@artistry (4152)
• United States
10 Apr 10
....Hi blackmail, You made me laugh out loud, even though this is serious. We would not know if the pilot was taking anti-depressants or not, but I would not want to be on their plane. I think someone needs to review this ruling and reverse it again. Let the person work somewhere else until they are batter. You make a good point, what if they forgot their medication or just stopped taking it? Lots of problems here. Thanks for your response, take care.
1 person likes this
@Porcospino (31366)
• Denmark
10 Apr 10
I think there ought to be some restrictions, because some types of anti-depressants make people sleepy or some of them have other sideeffects which are problematic you want fly a plane. So the type of anti-depressant is important, and it is also important what time of the day that the pilot takes the pills. If they take the pills in morning they more likely to get sleepy. If they take the pills in evening they might not get so sleepy during the day. I think that it is generally less dangerous to take the pills at night, but that doesn't mean that it is completely safe, because a part of the medicine is still in their bodies.
In my country you are not allowed to drive a car if you take certain kinds of medication. People who take that kind of medication will have change medications if they want to keep their licence. I am not sure about the rules for pilots in my country, but I think that there ought to be similar restrictions.
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