First class medical with two DUI’s

bradg33 said:
I have no need for it, but I was just curious about Soberlink. Looks to max out under $300/mo and about $500 for the device. Doesn't seem too bad, in the grand scheme of aviation costs.

Pricing

Compare the monthly prices of our remote alcohol monitoring programs. Find the plan that best fits your needs.
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Very accurate. My device was $500 and I paid for the premium monitoring in case I went overseas. It was $229 a month. To be honest, it was well worth the expense. I would get daily, weekly, and monthly reports. My HIMS AME would get them too. He loved it.
 
GoFlightMed said:
If time and money aren't and issue and you want to be proactive, its completely reasonable to start working with a HIMS AME and initiate monitoring - quarterly meetings with HIMS AME, 14 drug tests in 12 mo, twice weekly AA meetings etc.

Do you have a solid HIMS AME?
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Money is definitely an issue, time is because I don’t really want to spend 2-3 years trying to get my medical. I had a face to face meeting with a HIMS AME and he has gotten me started on the random monitoring. Are you a HIMS AME?
 
Tools said:
It sounds like ALL your cases required monitoring. I’d worry about horror stories… or at least educate myself.

THAT is what I’m trying to do.

False positives in the context of FAA REQUIRED LDTs have cost careers and LIVES. These false positives are EASY to deal with yet the FAA continues to bury their head in the sand.

FDA approval isn’t a standard of perfection, it’s a standard of UNDERSTANDING so that the imperfections can be dealt with.

The faa won’t use CDT because it’s known to have false positives with end stage liver cancer victims… how freaking many end stage liver cancer victims are being actively monitored? But we KNOW it’s limitations.

Do you know Greg Skipper? A pilot and former AME, who developed the ETG test for monitoring. He also set the 100 threshold but now believes 1500 is a more appropriate value since we have come to know more about the test. The faa knows this and keeps burying their head in the sand.

Have you educated yourself in these matters and do you brief your clients on all of this? All I hear AMEs say is “I’m not an expert in lab testing…”. Considering there is no MRO involved, you damn sure should be!! The careers of your professional pilot clients DEPEND on that.
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Your posts suggest that you didn't know that a good HIMS AME can choose at what level to get reported as positive!
CDT? YGMSM. That went out the window in 1995.
 
bbchien said:
Your posts suggest that you didn't know that a good HIMS AME can choose at what level to get reported as positive!
CDT? YGMSM. That went out the window in 1995.
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I honestly didn’t know that. I can tell you that I’m paranoid every time I’m behind some car with smoke billowing out and reeks of pot that I’ll get some false positive and be forced to start over.
 
Tools said:
Yes
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Say. Please. if you're going to try to "educate a HIMS AME" who is also a Medical professor I say 'that's pretty rich". I'm ROTFLMAO because you had no idea we can choose the test contractor with the threshold we think appropriate. And you obviouly didn't "groc" that even with a (?) false pos test, the human consensus can overcome that. In fact the last revision to the AME guide involving stepdown- I might have had soemthing to do with that, too....

You gotta know what you can change /improve and what you have to work around. Ya gotta "be useful".
So, how many folks have you actually helped?
 
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Does anyone (particularly one of the AME’s in here) know what the current wait time is to hear from OKC regarding alcohol/drug cases once they have all the paperwork they need?
 
Mine took 17+ months. I was 10000% compliant. After the final reports were sent to them it was another 9 months.
I finally wrote my Senator. Not sure if that worked, but within 2 weeks, I got my medical for Abuse.
 
Does anyone happen to know what the different ques are in OKC? I was being told for a while that mine was “sitting on the docs desk waiting to be reviewed” every time I called. Today I called and the lady told me mine is “in the que waiting for the reviewers”. Not sure what (if anything) that means.
 
likely you have a secondary issue that you did not recognize from the documentation. For different problems, there can be a different department.
 
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Not sure what the secondary could be. The only medication I’m on is for blood pressure and cholesterol, which both meds aren’t on their list.
 
Does anyone know what the current wait time after your file has gone into review in OKC? I’m currently on month 8 of being initially deferred and still nothing.
 
bbchien said:
Yuh. I have half a dozen captains on this, but it is a rare student pilot that can afford this. It's not cheap. And it does allow you to travel worldwide.
You JUST have to keep it charged. And he has to have someone (MD) who as aeromedical knowledge as to what regeimes the FAA considers adequate, and has to have a way to alt-test whe the airman misses (and Airmen DO miss). So he needs a HIMS AME to run the program.

What George suggests doesn't have all of that. This requires "credible substantiated testimony" from the Sponsoring HIMS AME.
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What if after last DUI (2019) had to have an interlock device in vehicle for 4 years for which was completed successfully with successfully already completed outpatient treatment that was required. Would this satisfy anything in regards to needed treatment or monitoring? Or since it is older. (2020-2024) or before the first time application, would it not be of use? Been in AA/NA ever since and have practice a better way of living.
 
All of that CAN be useful if you can find a doc (or lawyer in concert with a doc) to present it right.

It isn’t a matter of good doc vs bad doc, so much as a good administrator vs amazing administrator.

Some docs simply don’t know the system well, not surprising, it ain’t really taught.

Some docs have found success with a particular method, so just use it without regard, also understandable.

What class of medical, and what circumstances got you here? Mostly, if you want a first class and it was two or more “events” or a documented high BAC in your record, it’s tougher. If you want a third class and one event or low BAC it’s close to no big deal. And EVERYTHING in between…

Contact me back channel if you want some names I’d recommend. Can also fill you in on the process quite a bit. It isn’t a matter of whether or not, but just how efficiently can it be done.

You do need to be prepared for a little sticker shock and plain old stupidity… for now it’s just how it is. Keep in mind, you need to satiate an administrative requirement. That’s it.
 
Tools said:
All of that CAN be useful if you can find a doc (or lawyer in concert with a doc) to present it right.

It isn’t a matter of good doc vs bad doc, so much as a good administrator vs amazing administrator.

Some docs simply don’t know the system well, not surprising, it ain’t really taught.

Some docs have found success with a particular method, so just use it without regard, also understandable.

What class of medical, and what circumstances got you here? Mostly, if you want a first class and it was two or more “events” or a documented high BAC in your record, it’s tougher. If you want a third class and one event or low BAC it’s close to no big deal. And EVERYTHING in between…

Contact me back channel if you want some names I’d recommend. Can also fill you in on the process quite a bit. It isn’t a matter of whether or not, but just how efficiently can it be done.

You do need to be prepared for a little sticker shock and plain old stupidity… for now it’s just how it is. Keep in mind, you need to satiate an administrative requirement. That’s it.
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I appreciate your response. Once I figure out how the direct messages work I'll do just that! Haha! I think my account is too new just yet for me to be able to initiate it.
I am realizing that my mistakes may hurt , but willing to pay enough to do whatever I need. I have heard mixed things about hiring a lawyer, but again not nothing I'm against. I am a AOPA member and they offer some discounts and what not/consults. Reading stories like this gives me hope and horror! Mixed reviews everywhere. Plus is seems the system is changing some from some of Dr. B post about the new year. Thanks again!
 
MidwestBob1389 said:
I appreciate your response. Once I figure out how the direct messages work I'll do just that! Haha! I think my account is too new just yet for me to be able to initiate it.
I am realizing that my mistakes may hurt , but willing to pay enough to do whatever I need. I have heard mixed things about hiring a lawyer, but again not nothing I'm against. I am a AOPA member and they offer some discounts and what not/consults. Reading stories like this gives me hope and horror! Mixed reviews everywhere. Plus is seems the system is changing some from some of Dr. B post about the new year. Thanks again!
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I'm going to send you a pm
 
StudentPilot44 said:
Does anyone know what the current wait time after your file has gone into review in OKC? I’m currently on month 8 of being initially deferred and still nothing.
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My file is currently in the drug and alcohol division. Last heard from the FAA in August of 2024. Submitted the additional documents they requested and now waiting for them to “review” my file. Been almost 7 months. Any update on your end? Lady at the regional office told me people are starting to hear back around the 6 month mark. Quite frankly, I’m not sure if it’s even smart to believe anything the regional office/OKC office tells you over the phone. Back in October I had one guy at the OKC office tell me my file was “in final review” and I should be hearing back from them within the next “next couple of weeks”. I waited a month, called the regional office and a lady told me that was not the case I should expect to wait another 8-9 months before I heard back. Frustrating to say the least.
 
StudentPilot44 said:
I still haven’t heard anything. I’m currently on month 9. Very frustrating!
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Your case involves D/A also correct? I have a thread I made and if you could I would love for you to update your situation so others can be informed. May help us give an idea of current wait times.
 
You have14 posts listed under this title. Care to direct me to a relevant one?
 
dbahn said:
You have14 posts listed under this title. Care to direct me to a relevant one?
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www.pilotsofamerica.com

FAA 1rst class Medical Wait time (D/A Division)

Posting this for those in the Drug & Alcohol Division waiting queue. I have been emailing back and forth with someone who works in the D/A Division in OKC. I usually give her an email once a month to see if I can get an updated time estimate on when I should be hearing back from the FAA (my file...
www.pilotsofamerica.com www.pilotsofamerica.com
 
Got an update finally. I logged into medexpress today and saw this change. I tried calling my regional flight surgeon today to get the letter emailed to me and the lady said it hasn’t been fully uploaded yet. I’m aware this might mean a number of things that they may possibly require, but does anyone have an what it may be?
 

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StudentPilot44 said:
Got an update finally. I logged into medexpress today and saw this change. I tried calling my regional flight surgeon today to get the letter emailed to me and the lady said it hasn’t been fully uploaded yet. I’m aware this might mean a number of things that they may possibly require, but does anyone have a what it may be?
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Was this the first time the FAA has requested any additional information from you? Also, last time this happened for me I was able to call the regional office and request them to email me a copy so I didn’t have to wait via mail. Godspeed man. I’m curious to hear what they might be requesting.
 
If its' a certified letter (a demand), nobody will discuss it with you until it's been signed for.
 
JustinBeeber said:
Was this the first time the FAA has requested any additional information from you? Also, last time this happened for me I was able to call the regional office and request them to email me a copy so I didn’t have to wait via mail. Godspeed man. I’m curious to hear what they might be requesting.
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The first letter I got from them was back in May last year just requesting the police report from my first DUI (I couldn’t locate it initially). So this would technically be my second letter from them.
 
I finally got a letter and wanted to update everyone on my case. Below is what they are requesting of me. Keep in mind, I saw a HIMS AME in September 2024 and got started on random alcohol screenings. I now have completed 6 months of those.


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StudentPilot44 said:
I finally got a letter and wanted to update everyone on my case. Below is what they are requesting of me. Keep in mind, I saw a HIMS AME in September 2024 and got started on random alcohol screenings. I now have completed 6 months of those.
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Will the AME be able to opine on A-D, or have they already done so and the FAA hasn't received (or read) their report?
 
Yes, I’ve already spoken to my HIMS AME and he’s writing everything up. I initially saw him back in September last year and had a 2 hour evaluation with him. He started me on random screenings.
 
Hi all, quick question regarding my situation.

My HIMS AME (who I met with September 2024 for a face-to-face evaluation) submitted his diagnosis and evaluation of me on April 7th via huddle. I spoke with someone in OKC and they confirmed they have received my authorization to release my medical records to my HIMS AME, as well as my HIMS AME’s report and checklist. So from my most recent letter from OKC, they have everything they requested of me.

Do I now wait another 9 months for them to review my HIMS AME’s evaluation and recommendation…or am I looking at a shorter timeframe this go around?
 
Wouldn't this all have been easier and faster if you just had gone initially to the HIMS AME and let him determine what you need? Now finally 8 months later you're getting to the meat and potatoes.
 
Find a good FAA versed lawyer and let them run point, waaaaay better than a AME, they’ll coordinate which AME to use, they know all the players much better as they have disposed them and seen their internal notes, which they will FIOA right off the bat
 
bbchien said:
Wouldn't this all have been easier and faster if you just had gone initially to the HIMS AME and let him determine what you need? Now finally 8 months later you're getting to the meat and potatoes.
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Had I known this from the beginning, I definitely would have, but I was new to all of this and didn’t know how long it would have taken. But my question was, will it be another 8-9 month wait again or will it be shorter? OKC now has my HIMS AME’s report and 7 months of negative urine tests.
 
bbchien said:
Say. Please. if you're going to try to "educate a HIMS AME" who is also a Medical professor I say 'that's pretty rich". I'm ROTFLMAO because you had no idea we can choose the test contractor with the threshold we think appropriate. And you obviouly didn't "groc" that even with a (?) false pos test, the human consensus can overcome that. In fact the last revision to the AME guide involving stepdown- I might have had soemthing to do with that, too....

You gotta know what you can change /improve and what you have to work around. Ya gotta "be useful".
So, how many folks have you actually helped?
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If one was good at medicine would they not be practicing it vs being adjunct staff at a state school?

Seems a AME who also teaches is not remotely practicing medicine as much as heavily in “administration”

Most of administration is legal, which is not what any person who got a MD DO etc was trained in, seems wiser to use a lawyer who can sub out to the AMEs etc he finds better suited to his clients goals
 
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