AC f/o snaps - plane makes emerg landing

[Hedley]

I cannot help but be reminded of one bizarre day
at the Civil Aviation Tribunal, when an Air Canada
Training Captain took the stand, and under oath
declared that he suffered from post-traumatic
stress disorder, and that during times of stress,
he reacted by running away. Neither the Tribunal
nor Transport thought this behaviour was particularly
interesting. I doubt I shall ever forget it.

In the context of that experience, this recent
development doesn't really come as that much
of a surprise.

[Four1oh]

It's so good to know that those Phsych tests that they rely so heavily on, work.

hahhaa! that was my first thought as I read that!

[tesox2]

"Bonkers"? "Crazy"? "Looney bin"?

Wow, now there's a level of compassion and sosphistication that should do us all proud.

Next time we trash the media for their analytical shortcomings related to aviation, lets remember this thread's enlightening and profound analysis of mental illness.

This is a very intelligent post, one of the more intelligent in this thread. I agree wholeheartedly with your opinion.
I can speak personally on how intolerent people are of mental illnesses. I have experienced first hand, mental incapacitation, and also the lack of understanding and compassion from people, even people who called themselves friends. It also disgusts me to think that people are so quick to negatively judge the people they call colleagues.

I wish the pilot a speedy recovery and all the best in the future.

[tesox2]

I would also like to point out that not all symptoms of mental illness are a mental illness. I for one was experiencing a multitude of symptoms that Doctors were persuing, including a full psychiatric evaluation. Now I am a candidate for Testosterone Replacement Therapy as it has been discovered that I have a condition called Kleinfelters Syndrome, not a mental illness, a genetic disorder.

I just ask that people show a little more compassion and understanding, someone is going through a tough time.

[squawk 7600]

I for one, feel terrible at the course this thread has taken. My first instinct was to make light of the situation but after reading into it, have realized that a fellow pilot has been, and will continue to be, hurt by this event. This person will have family affected by this as well.

Next time I won't be so quick to pass judgment on a situation that I have no right to comment on.

I wish the person and people involved a quick recovery.

[Cat Driver]

Quite frankly I hope that poor unfortunate soul who is now in treatment gets well soon and can go on with his life.

But reading some of the posts here it is evident there are a few here who need treatment for a mental disorder.

[Tiny Voices]

The lack of compassion shown by some is alarming. Hopefully the "humour" is just a diversionary tactic because of your own fears and insecurities on the topic. Hopefully this fellow can reclaim his life and his career. My best wishes go out to this individual.

[Axial Flow]

So a guy ends up in the hospital and the first thing people do is remark about how AC's hiring process has screwed them over ?

Hopefully like CAT said that he gets the help he needs and can move on...

[WJ700]

Unfortunate. Does anyone have information on how Transport deals with mental illness and if this guy will be able to fly again once considered well mentally?
As for AC vs. WestJet, this guy should be thankful he was at AC and not WestJet as our pilots still haven't taken Long Term Disabilities seriously enough... after 5 years of insurance, you are on your own with WestJet.

[Rudy]

Better start a union.

[Cat Driver]

Does anyone have information on how Transport deals with mental illness.

From what I have observed they are moved into management.

[. .]

Unfortunate. Does anyone have information on how Transport deals with mental illness and if this guy will be able to fly again once considered well mentally?
As for AC vs. WestJet, this guy should be thankful he was at AC and not WestJet as our pilots still haven't taken Long Term Disabilities seriously enough... after 5 years of insurance, you are on your own with WestJet.

WJ700, that's too bad. Even companies with that benefit have problems helping their guys out sometimes. The insurance companies are absolute sadists about paying out on that type of claim.

[sky's the limit]

An even better example of why those phsych tests are such a waste of time and why so many good candidates get turned away.

I must say one day when Air Canada gets it's @#$! together, it may just be, a decent airline. All I hear from people is how great WestJet is. When is Air Canada going to step up to the plate?

So westjet doesn't turn away any good guys? A friend of mine with like 7000 multi over 12,500 pic, check pilot, line indoc captain, etc, etc, etc just got PFO'ed from them. So i guess that means WJ needs to get their @#$! together too then by your logic?

They didn't hire him because he failed the Kool-Aid test....


stl

[Kelowna Pilot]

Quote:
Does anyone have information on how Transport deals with mental illness.


From what I have observed they are moved into management.

Man, never saw that one coming

My theory is the guy had a sudden vision of an Air Canada FA naked or something... Or he looked at his paycheck or something... The big $38,000 a year would have me calling for God too.

Seriously, though, pilots are just ordinary human beings and people sometimes get sick, and it's no fault of their own.

I hope the guy is able to recover and fly again. It would be sad to see someone loose their career and their income, (and possibly their family) over something that could be an internal heath problem that manifested itself the way it did.

Pls give the guy some compassion... because for all you know, it could happen to you.

[sky's the limit]

Just watched the CBC Newsworld coverage of the story, sounds like the poor fellow wasn't in a good way. Hope he's able to come back from this incident.

As for the WJ thing, I work at a company with 6 pilots, even we have long and short term disability, you guys need to get on that one.


stl

[pokerstar]

thats one less in front of me....thats all i care about.

[Rockie]

I'm pleased to say that not only does ACPA have a very active and effective pilot assistance program, but the company is 100% behind it as well. This unfortunate fellow is in the best place he could be for this to happen. It is nice to see the tone (for the most part, except for the preceding post) of this thread changing to one of compassion for a distressed colleague rather than the "eat our young" flavour shown at first.

[xsbank]

Loss of license is the way to go - with disability, you get 2 years of proportional salary to recover. After that, if they can prop you up in bed and you can read, they will cut you off, saying that you can be employed (say, doing books-on-tape!).
You have to be VERY disabled to keep getting paid.

Imagine yourself in that cool blue uniform, the Wal-mart greeter.

[xsbank]

This is actually a good head's up for the rest of you lot, too. I have had two pilots in companies I worked with commit suicide from depression. Neither did it in a plane, but both guys were life-of-the-party, well-liked guys who were very well-integrated into the companies. If you are working with someone who has a mood-swing (not sudden lust over the new FA!) but something that goes on for a few days, you should be concerned and find out if they really are in trouble or are just bummed out with being right seat in a Ho.

Watch for other signs too - I flew with a pilot who was an alcoholic; a bit bleary in the morning but not worse than a lot of us sometimes are, just not every day! Went off by himself in the evening, got grumpy during the day, was slow to respond to inputs from me and the other crew, made silly decisions like getting too close to trees while taxiing, that sort of thing. If I hadn't been so thick, I would have blown the whistle on him so he could have sought help - I didn't realize though, and I have no idea where he is now.

I hope this guy gets the help he needs, AC probably looks after its guys - get well!

[disco]

Squawk,

I am glad you were big enough to recant your original comments/thoughts. We are all colleagues. This type of thing should never digress into an us and them, WJ vs AC routine. It is unprofessional to say the least.

Having flown with this F/O, I can tell you that he is a VERY competent, easy-going, laid-back professional who has been in the business for a long accomplished career. A pleasure to work with in every respect. I feel for his family and friends who, at this point must be very concerned about their loved one. I hope that whatever has happened to him can quickly be rectified.

And I hope that whatever has happened to us as a group, can also be....well...rectified. I am sure we are cooler than this? Damn.

Disco

[sky's the limit]

I have had two pilots in companies I worked with commit suicide from depression.

Uh XS,

You notice a common denominator???



stl

[twinpratts]

"I'm kind of jealous of the life I'm supposedly leading.
- Zach Braff "

I like that!

[alpha1]

tesox2, thank you. And squawk 7600, good on you my friend.

i can say i had spent .005 % of my life thinking about mental illness, until a close relative suddenly and without warning became very mentally ill several years ago. Since then she has waged an heroic fight to get well and she is succeeding. Needless to say her struggle sensitized me to the reality, prevelance and cruelty of mental illness. Like cancer or any serious disease, it can strike anyone at any time, sometimes with deadly consequences. But there IS hope, and the majority of people do recover completely. Lets hope that our stricken brother joins that group.

[snaproll20]

would someone please mail me when ANY of the airlines come up with a rational process of pilot selection????
Thanks.

[the_professor]

Air Canada gets what they deserve by not coming clean with the details of this incident.

Who is the idiot in charge of PR at AC who does not realize that in the absence of official information, that vacuum will be filled by speculation and conjecture?

They gain nothing by hiding the details, and they should know that.