DWI & Initial Medical

[MSPAviator]

I have a friend who got a DWI when he was 20. Yes, bad move for him, I know. He is now 26 and hasn't had any drunk driving violations since. He has had speeding tickets, but nothing he lost his license over.

He now wants to be a Private Pilot for recreation, not as the start of a future career. What does he have to do to get a 3rd class medical and student pilot cert?

I have only advised him not to attempt getting his Aeromedical done until he is certain he can pass it, but don't know what else to do as his situation never applied to me and I don't know much about it.

 

[poadeleted20]

Your advice is good -- do nothing until you know how to do it right. Bruce will no doubt be along shortly to tell you what "right" is in this situation.

 

[bbchien]

The agency looks at speeding tickets in the setting of DUI and considers that evidence of lousy lousy judgement, not something we desire in pilots.

3rd class, DUI within 5-10-years-
10 year DL search
Court papers including the BAC, or if none that is more of a problem
Substance abuse evaluation in FAA format (not the checkboxes the M.A counselors do for the courts, and not per DSM 4), by a state licensed CADC (Cert. Abuse & Drug Counselor).
If I were advocating for him I'd want a CBC and a set of liver enzymes.
Work history- from the employer. We need to know there is no habitual tardiness or absenteeism....

If the BAC was less than 0.15 the AME can make the call but must be able to defend the call. It the BAC was >=.15, we're talking Substance abuse evaluator (for 2nd and 1st: HIMS psychiatrist), monitoring program, followup evaluation at the end of the year, and two years on "they call you pee".

OR

He can just sit it out until the tenth year.

 

[MSPAviator]

Bruce, thank you for sharing your expertise on this matter. I will pass your information along to my friend.

 

[Unregistered]

Bruce, thank you for sharing your expertise on this matter. I will pass your information along to my friend.

get the liver enzyme test, letters from employers first, etc... If FAA still wants an evaluation after that it's better to wait it out till year 10 than live out a psychiatric nightmare.

4 years is NOTHING. Me and my family was destroyed by 'aviation' psychiatry, I am doing my duty to warn.

 

[Unregistered]

The agency looks at speeding tickets in the setting of DUI and considers that evidence of lousy lousy judgement, not something we desire in pilots.

3rd class, DUI within 5-10-years-
10 year DL search
Court papers including the BAC, or if none that is more of a problem
Substance abuse evaluation in FAA format (not the checkboxes the M.A counselors do for the courts, and not per DSM 4), by a state licensed CADC (Cert. Abuse & Drug Counselor).
If I were advocating for him I'd want a CBC and a set of liver enzymes.
Work history- from the employer. We need to know there is no habitual tardiness or absenteeism....

If the BAC was less than 0.15 the AME can make the call but must be able to defend the call. It the BAC was >=.15, we're talking Substance abuse evaluator (for 2nd and 1st: HIMS psychiatrist), monitoring program, followup evaluation at the end of the year, and two years on "they call you pee".

OR

He can just sit it out until the tenth year.

Dr. Bruce. How are DUI arrests viewed when reduced to a lesser charge or deferred? Same documentation necessary?

Thanks.

 

[poadeleted20]

Dr. Bruce. How are DUI arrests viewed when reduced to a lesser charge or deferred? Same documentation necessary?

Thanks.

Bruce Chien no longer participates here. You can reach him either on the AOPA Forums or his web site.

 

[ja_user]

Dr. Bruce. How are DUI arrests viewed when reduced to a lesser charge or deferred? Same documentation necessary?

Thanks.

Go elsewhere to see Dr Bruce, but the FAA is not impressed or concerned with Legal pleadings...

 

[flyingron]

To clarify what Sam is saying, if your charge is reduced to wet reckless or even dismissed in lieu of some traffic school or other program, the FAA wants to know about it and pretty much treats you the same as those with actual DUI convictions.

 

[cg2112]

Dr. Bruce. How are DUI arrests viewed when reduced to a lesser charge or deferred? Same documentation necessary?

Thanks.

DUI arrests are treated as DUI arrests, even if they are reduced to a lesser charge, or deferred. Or even if they are dropped. The FAA doesn't care about the conviction, they care about the arrest. The outcome of the arrest doesn't matter, in general.

 

[flyingron]

The criteria for the AME is here by the way: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...m/ame/guide/app_process/app_history/item18/v/