2 Dui's doing Private should they do Light Sport instead?

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Unregistered

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If somebody who is getting their private license and who is about to get FAA medical exam go for light sport if they have 2 DUIs within a three year period with the last conviction 14 months ago...?
 
Unregistered said:
If somebody who is getting their private license and who is about to get FAA medical exam go for light sport if they have 2 DUIs within a three year period with the last conviction 14 months ago...?
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... perhaps that somebody might want to address other issues before pursuing a PPL?
 
Wasn't alcohol related... it was driving under the influence of ambien but charged as a DUI.

YES, those other issues **HAVE** been addressed.
 
Unregistered said:
Wasn't alcohol related... it was driving under the influence of ambien but charged as a DUI.

YES, those other issues **HAVE** been addressed.
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You'll have to prove that last sentence to the FAA, they don't just take your word for it.
 
bartmc said:
You'll have to prove that last sentence to the FAA, they don't just take your word for it.
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So in this case would it make sense to just go for light sport prior and not go through the hoops of a private license?

I am sorry I know this question seems grossly oversimplified. But I do appreciate honest feedback.
 
Unregistered said:
But I do appreciate honest feedback.
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http://www.aeromedicaldoc.com. This is Bruce's direct information. Hire him to consult on your case. Provide him with blunt honest answers to his questions. If there is a remote chance of you achieving a PPL, he will say so and provide you with the correct instructions to make it happen.
 
Thank you to all of you for your feedback.

Part of my reason for asking this question because I was initially going for my light sport and changed to PPL. So, in part, I am wondering if it is just best to go back to LS given my ummm.. background.
 
Unregistered said:
So in this case would it make sense to just go for light sport prior and not go through the hoops of a private license?

I am sorry I know this question seems grossly oversimplified. But I do appreciate honest feedback.
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The posibility of getting an FAA medical would lay somewhere between very difficult and expensive and outright impossible. So, unless one has a burning need to fly something with a back seat, then Sport Pilot makes more sense.

Assuming, of course, issues have been addressed and there is no longer a reason to not be safe as pilot in command.
 
Capt. Geoffrey Thorpe said:
The posibility of getting an FAA medical would lay somewhere between very difficult and expensive and outright impossible. So, unless one has a burning need to fly something with a back seat, then Sport Pilot makes more sense.

Assuming, of course, issues have been addressed and there is no longer a reason to not be safe as pilot in command.
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Thank you for an honest and direct response. Yes, for peace of mind, the other issues have been addressed. I have not been on ambien for a long time... sleep driving is a very scary thing and I hope nobody has to go through what I went through.
 
Might want to try ultralight first, way cheaper cost of entry, you can be flying for less than $5k no license no nothing. Fly that around till 3 years after your last DUI disposition date. If you make it to that point and are sober, apply for a medical and go PP. If not, or you get another DUI in the mean time you go for Sport Pilot. That way if you manage to kill yourself in the meantime, the likelihood of you taking someone else with you is anomalous.
 
Unregistered said:
So in this case would it make sense to just go for light sport prior and not go through the hoops of a private license?

I am sorry I know this question seems grossly oversimplified. But I do appreciate honest feedback.
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Yes, do not go for your PPL.
 
bbchien said:
In some states that is possible. In ours you can get a limited one to drive to and from work after the second one.
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iowa you lose on the first offense for at least a while. work permit is possible. at least that was the case in the mid 90's. Perhaps unregistered lives in WI or something...
 
Colorado has a "install a breathalyzer in your vehicle" system. The license isn't limited as long as you blow into your car every time to start it.

I have a cousin who's still going to lose his license on that program. He's really screwing up his life.
 
denverpilot said:
Colorado has a "install a breathalyzer in your vehicle" system. The license isn't limited as long as you blow into your car every time to start it.

I have a cousin who's still going to lose his license on that program. He's really screwing up his life.
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I had a friend I used to have to go periodically get off the side of the interstate.... Funny thing is he was cold sober, I guess the breathalyzer errs on the side of caution, the other funny thing is he didn't drink and drive or ever have a DUI, just had a crazy mother who installed the thing on his car.... That's another story.
 
In NE the judge can allow you to get the ignition interlock, but it's not without restriction. Your interlock permit allows you to drive to and from specific places -- work, home, AA meetings, interlock test/calibration place, maybe one or two others.
 
The scary thing is, "sleep-driving" and not remembering it the next day is a side effect disclosed in the TV ads for Ambien. If this drug can actually allow you to go out and drive while asleep with no recall of it, it seems as if this could happen to anyone who takes the pill, and is not a case of drug abuse.

It's not like driving after drinking, a conscious decision.
 
PW_Plack said:
The scary thing is, "sleep-driving" and not remembering it the next day is a side effect disclosed in the TV ads for Ambien. If this drug can actually allow you to go out and drive while asleep with no recall of it, it seems as if this could happen to anyone who takes the pill, and is not a case of drug abuse.

It's not like driving after drinking, a conscious decision.
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They failed to secure their vehicle from themselves....:rolleyes2:
 
My thinking is that in order to assure yourself that you're safe to fly a LSA after those sleep-driving incidents, you'd pretty much need to go through the same medical evaluation as the FAA would demand for a medical certificate issuance.
 
PW_Plack said:
The scary thing is, "sleep-driving" and not remembering it the next day is a side effect disclosed in the TV ads for Ambien. If this drug can actually allow you to go out and drive while asleep with no recall of it, it seems as if this could happen to anyone who takes the pill, and is not a case of drug abuse.

It's not like driving after drinking, a conscious decision.
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The first time it happens, I agree. After that, not so much.

-Rich
 
PW_Plack said:
The scary thing is, "sleep-driving" and not remembering it the next day is a side effect disclosed in the TV ads for Ambien. If this drug can actually allow you to go out and drive while asleep with no recall of it, it seems as if this could happen to anyone who takes the pill, and is not a case of drug abuse.

It's not like driving after drinking, a conscious decision.
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Completely unrelated tangent to the original post, but I'm betting this is what happened with the capt the other day who flipped out in flight and was arrested in Amarillo.
 
bbchien said:
In some states that is possible. In ours you can get a limited one to drive to and from work after the second one.
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Can one fly light-sport with a limited license like that, or with a requirement for an interlock device?
 
Steve Foley said:
Can one fly light-sport with a limited license like that, or with a requirement for an interlock device?
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I know of no guidance from the FAS about compliance with limitations on a DL when used in lieu of a medical certiticate, but I suspect that if asked, the FAA would say you must comply with any such restrictions. If that means you can only fly to and from work...

In any event, regardless of whether or not you have a medical, you must still report any motor vehicle action per 61.15, so if you already have a pilot certificate, the FAA will tell you what they think when you report the event which resulted in that limitation. For new Sport Pilots, I guess you skate until you do it again.
 
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bbchien said:
Couldn't agree more.... :)
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Bruce. What's the stance on non narcotic sleep aids like Silenor (low dose doxepin). For those folks whose insomnia is on the very far end of the continuum of bipolar disorder and who are slightly and sub clinically manic? Deal breaker because it's a TCA? Even though they aren't pathologically manic....?
 
I would consult with your local ame before taking the actual medical exam. I know someone that has had 2 dui's and got a 2nd class medical.
 
Perhaps it might be best to stay out of the air until the underlying problems necessitating the use of pharmaceutical sleep aids have been addressed. You won't get pulled over for somnambulism in an aircraft, but you will likely die, and possibly take someone with you.
 
Ron Levy said:
I know of no guidance from the FAS about compliance with limitations on a DL when used in lieu of a medical certiticate, but I suspect that if asked, the FAA would say you must comply with any such restrictions. If that means you can only fly to and from work...

In any event, regardless of whether or not you have a medical, you must still report any motor vehicle action per 61.15, so if you already have a pilot certificate, the FAA will tell you what they think when you report the event which resulted in that limitation. For new Sport Pilots, I guess you skate until you do it again.
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I was told by the Washington FSDO that if your driving privilege is suspended for any reason, your sport pilot privileges are suspended with it.
 
TMetzinger said:
I was told by the Washington FSDO that if your driving privilege is suspended for any reason, your sport pilot privileges are suspended with it.
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Suspended, yes. It's not clear what happens if it is merely limited at the time you begin flying. I suspect this is one which would have to be answered by the Chief Counsel,although I suspect that the answer would be a drivers license limited because of a DUI conviction would not be valid for Sport Pilot purposes.
 
You're probably right, but until we get a Chief Counsel who can actually read and parse the language in a logical fashion, I'm not asking any more questions.
 
Doxepin is a verboten drug. It's an antidepressant wtih a not-so good side effect profile and isn't on the SSRI list.

Steingar said:
Perhaps it might be best to stay out of the air until the underlying problems necessitating the use of pharmaceutical sleep aids have been addressed. You won't get pulled over for somnambulism in an aircraft, but you will likely die, and possibly take someone with you.
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You're making too much sense, here, Professor....
MKane05 said:
I would consult with your local ame before taking the actual medical exam. I know someone that has had 2 dui's and got a 2nd class medical.
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yeah. On a monitoring program, and a tight leash 6 month speical Issuance. BTDT many times.
 
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Ron Levy said:
Suspended, yes. It's not clear what happens if it is merely limited at the time you begin flying. I suspect this is one which would have to be answered by the Chief Counsel,although I suspect that the answer would be a drivers license limited because of a DUI conviction would not be valid for Sport Pilot purposes.
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I have no idea what the Chief Counsel would say, but the typical limitations imposed on "conditional" or "limited" driver licenses in my state would probably render them unsuitable for use as an SP medical in any event.

Usually the limitations here are: to and from work or business (not allowed for SPs in any event); to and from meetings with probation officers and AA meetings (not too useful unless your P.O. has a runway behind the office or your AA meetings are at an airport); and a few hours a week for grocery shopping and such.

-Rich
 
For the sport pilot exam you are going to have to fill out an 8710-11 and answer...

Za. Have you ever been convicted for violation of any Federal or State statutes relating to narcotic drugs, marijuana, or depressant
or stimulant drugs or substances.

I can't say how the FAA will respond to a yes answer, but I suspect a recent conviction won't be good.

Might want to stick with Ultralights for a while. Or at least find out for sure how how the FAA is going to respond.

Brian
CFIIG/ASEL
 
RJM62 said:
I have no idea what the Chief Counsel would say, but the typical limitations imposed on "conditional" or "limited" driver licenses in my state would probably render them unsuitable for use as an SP medical in any event.

Usually the limitations here are: to and from work or business (not allowed for SPs in any event); to and from meetings with probation officers and AA meetings (not too useful unless your P.O. has a runway behind the office or your AA meetings are at an airport); and a few hours a week for grocery shopping and such.

-Rich
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If he is medically suitable for operating the car on that license, he is medically suitable to fly SP. That is ALL the license establishes.
 
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