Travel is always dangerous

History shows this. From the days of caravans, stage coaches and wooden ships travel has always been dangerous.

Often the danger came from both Mother Nature and robbers or pirates laying in wait. Sometimes the danger came from fellow travelers taking advantage. All these dangers continue and can still be found on some journeys. In the old days when we traveled sensible precautions included bringing provisions, friends and also good weapons.

Society has somewhat changed with denser populations and the abdication of personal responsibility for safety to government police or security forces. Still, in America at least, when we travel long distances by car or foot, subject to local laws, we try to ensure we have a means to protect ourselves (sometimes just a working cell phone, but even that is better than nothing at all), sufficient provisions for the trip, and often a friend or family member comes with us.

In the time of my youth, even when traveling by iron ship or airplane one brought enough money or provisions, was accompanied by friends or family when practical and some travelers on some airlines and cruise ships even brought firearms. Laws change and today's travelers on mass transit are usually no longer allowed to bring personal weapons or have them accessible if they do bring them. Instead we abdicate our safety to others and just trust them to do their job and ensure our safety en-route.

Often that works. Yes, there are accidents. Fellow travelers still sometimes attack. Pirates still exist. Mother Nature still causes problems, but for the most part the airways are safe modes of travel.

However a new phenomena seems to be becoming more common. Suicidal and homicidal crew members on the flight. This week a new name joins the list of publicly known names of pilots who slaughter everyone on-board for unknown motivation and without warning. Andreas Lubitz now has his name placed alongside that of Tsu Way Ming, Gameel Al-Batouti, and Herminio dos Santos Fernandes.

It is also distressing to note that in the latest incident the killer had recently passed a psychiatric evaluation and been deemed safe to pilot a plane. Clearly we need to stop wasting money on testing that doesn't give accurate results. Clearly some changes need to occur in the industry. We made the planes cockpits safe from our fellow travelers doing hijacks by armoring the cockpit door and locking it, but no one thought about what to do when or if the flight crew goes crazy. Pilot's Unions do not like the concept of video cameras inside the cockpit. They like being able to scratch and pick their nose without a camera filming that. Understood. It wouldn't have helped stop Andreas anyway.

Will the events of this week change how you feel about flying? Do you foresee better testing of pilots? Should their private lives be more closely examined? Do you believe a pilot who takes anti-depressants or who has personal psychological issues should even be hired, much less entrusted with your life?

Note: since 2010 the US FAA has decided pilots who have been prescribed anti-depressants may fly. It is not required by the FAA that they actually take the anti-depressant medications, nor is there testing to make sure they do.