Jocelyn Frank

In 2015, there was a terrible crash, an airline called Germanwings. And it turned out that the co-pilot intentionally crashed the plane.

Even though it wasn't a U.S. airline, basically since then, the FAA has been trying to tighten their approach to mental health. They want to reduce any risk to passenger safety that's linked to any kind of serious mental health challenge.

Even though it wasn't a U.S. airline, basically since then, the FAA has been trying to tighten their approach to mental health. They want to reduce any risk to passenger safety that's linked to any kind of serious mental health challenge.

Even though it wasn't a U.S. airline, basically since then, the FAA has been trying to tighten their approach to mental health. They want to reduce any risk to passenger safety that's linked to any kind of serious mental health challenge.

Thomas Jetser works as a medical consultant for the FAA. He's a certified AME, which stands for Aviation Medical Examiner. He's one of hundreds of special doctors across the United States who meet with pilots on a yearly or on a six-month basis to review their medical records and decide if they're fit to fly. And he thinks it's a pretty good system.

Thomas Jetser works as a medical consultant for the FAA. He's a certified AME, which stands for Aviation Medical Examiner. He's one of hundreds of special doctors across the United States who meet with pilots on a yearly or on a six-month basis to review their medical records and decide if they're fit to fly. And he thinks it's a pretty good system.

Thomas Jetser works as a medical consultant for the FAA. He's a certified AME, which stands for Aviation Medical Examiner. He's one of hundreds of special doctors across the United States who meet with pilots on a yearly or on a six-month basis to review their medical records and decide if they're fit to fly. And he thinks it's a pretty good system.

Talking to Dr. Jetser, I was trying to learn how the FAA system compares to others because a pilot reporting a mental health concern, even to a doctor they've known for 35 years, could halt their career. And Dr. Jesser pointed out that the kind of scrutiny he's responsible for, it's actually not even unique to pilots.

Talking to Dr. Jetser, I was trying to learn how the FAA system compares to others because a pilot reporting a mental health concern, even to a doctor they've known for 35 years, could halt their career. And Dr. Jesser pointed out that the kind of scrutiny he's responsible for, it's actually not even unique to pilots.

Talking to Dr. Jetser, I was trying to learn how the FAA system compares to others because a pilot reporting a mental health concern, even to a doctor they've known for 35 years, could halt their career. And Dr. Jesser pointed out that the kind of scrutiny he's responsible for, it's actually not even unique to pilots.

It's similar to other high-responsibility fields like FBI agents or people who work within the nuclear industry, and even a part of his own field, medicine.

It's similar to other high-responsibility fields like FBI agents or people who work within the nuclear industry, and even a part of his own field, medicine.

It's similar to other high-responsibility fields like FBI agents or people who work within the nuclear industry, and even a part of his own field, medicine.

But if I was a doctor and I went on antidepressants, I wouldn't need to report that I'm on antidepressants unless it was impacting my work, right?

But if I was a doctor and I went on antidepressants, I wouldn't need to report that I'm on antidepressants unless it was impacting my work, right?

But if I was a doctor and I went on antidepressants, I wouldn't need to report that I'm on antidepressants unless it was impacting my work, right?

They could each theoretically visit a psychiatrist. They could be prescribed anti-anxiety medication and just keep on with their jobs without having to report anything to a special doctor or to their boss or to take time off. And this added layer of scrutiny for pilots, I mean, they're responsible for hundreds of people at a time.

They could each theoretically visit a psychiatrist. They could be prescribed anti-anxiety medication and just keep on with their jobs without having to report anything to a special doctor or to their boss or to take time off. And this added layer of scrutiny for pilots, I mean, they're responsible for hundreds of people at a time.

They could each theoretically visit a psychiatrist. They could be prescribed anti-anxiety medication and just keep on with their jobs without having to report anything to a special doctor or to their boss or to take time off. And this added layer of scrutiny for pilots, I mean, they're responsible for hundreds of people at a time.

So the FAA wants to be as sure as they can that anyone who's in the cockpit is in a really healthy state of mind.