Dr. Al Cadenhead, Jr.

Dr. Roy Alton Cadenhead, Jr. Senior Pastor April 14, 2010 Docket Operations, M-30 U.S. Department of Transportation 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Room W12-140 West Building Ground Floor Washington, DC 20590-0001 Re: Docket No. FAA-2009-0773 Thank you for considering my comments in regard to the issuance of Airman Medical Certificates to applicants being treated with antidepressants. My comments are made as a result of thirty years of service as a personal and family psychotherapist. Although my primary role is the Senior Minister of a large suburban church, I also work as a clinical therapist through the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy and as a board certified therapist through the American Psychotherapy Association. I have on many occasions provided the behavioral intervention therapy for patients whose medication needs are simultaneously being supervised by a psychiatrist. That patient list also includes pilots dealing with clinical depression. My understanding is that pilots who have taken one of four specified medications might be allowed to return to their jobs, provided they have not at some point taken an anti-anxiety medication along with it. The problem with that provision is that the vast majority of depressed patients take some form of anti-anxiety medication. The number of depressed patients requiring anti-anxiety medications would be as large as eighty per cent. Two comments: 1. Because of the high percentage of depressed patients requiring anti-anxiety medication, the proposed changes will offer very little help to the pilots for whom this change is intended. 2. On a practical level, while flying, I would much rather be under the direction of a pilot who is on appropriate medication than one who has avoided it due to the FAA regulations and then not be able to react and process information as needed. My experience and exposure tells me that exempting pilots who have taken anti-anxiety medication is the wrong choice and will prohibit lots of good pilots from returning to their jobs. That restriction negates the benefits of the proposed changes concerning antidepressants. If a pilot qualifies to return after a depressive episode, he/she should not be disallowed due to the use of an anti-anxiety medication at some point in the past. Thank you, Dr. Al Cadenhead, Jr.