article_snippet: (CNN)The tragic news that Germanwings Flight 9525 was deliberately crashed into the French Alps by a pilot deemed "100% fit to fly" challenges the common understanding of the phrase.
article_snippet: In fact "fit to fly" does not mean the pilot's psychological state has necessarily been assessed.
article_snippet: It is important that these airlines take a great deal of care -- not just about whether that pilot can fly -- but how fit that person is to carry that sort of responsibility.
article_snippet: The Federal Aviation Administration told CNN that U.S. scheduled airline pilots must renew medical certificates every year if U.S. scheduled airline pilots're less than 40 years old and every six months if older.
article_snippet: Pilots must complete an official FAA medical application form, and have a physical examination conducted by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner," a physical examination conducted by an FAA-designated Aviation Medical Examiner said.