Originally Posted by
pdavis4
I am considering a career as an airline pilot and have vicited and considered a few options. I would love to be a pilot, my main concern is whether I would get hired, because attending a school or academy would be a large investment and require much sacrifice. I had 3 brief hospital stays about 3-5 years ago because of depression. Would this or anything else hinder my chances of being hired?
One of my first CFI's was an ex-UAL guy with this kind of history...
Easy answer: For simple depression, if you are off meds (and have been for a certain period of time) and have a good clinical prognosis the FAA will most likely give you a first class medical (you will need the first to get hired, a second is not good enough).
There are some caveats to this...
1) Some airlines (including most regionals) will hire you with just a first class medical certificate. No medical exam, no questions asked. Several, including a number of major airlines will perform their own medical exam, including a medical history (you cannot lie, they will find out later). Your history would probably not go over well with the airlines who do the exams...you would have to go into it knowing that your employer options are more limited than other pilots.
2) If you go back on meds, you lose your medical and are grounded...a lot of folks in your situation therefore stay off meds even when they need them (life can suck under this program). This is what finally got my buddy out of the airlines...he needed the flexibility to do meds when necessary. If you think you will never need drugs again and can manage your lifestyle (booze, exercise, etc) then you might be OK.
You certainly need professional advice BEFORE you attempt to apply for a First Class...giing in half-cocked could create bureacratic mess with the FAA. These guys solve these kinds of problems for a reasonable fee:
http://www.aviationmedicine.com/inde...useaction=home
Talk to them BEFORE you go see an AME to apply for a medical.
ps... DO NOT, DO NOT, DO NOT take advice from flights schools on this subject...they don't care in the slightest if you are ever employed as a pilot, they just want your money, and most will say whatever they think you want to hear. Good Luck.