From my "library" of "soon to be sticky posts"...
But also some questions:
- do you already hold a pilot certificate?
- Were you arrested for the DUI? (I am thinking you were due to the demand for the breathalyzer)
- Per §61.15, did you report this to the Civil Aviation Security Division (AMC–700), no later than 60 days after the motor vehicle action?
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... that you refused to blow on the breathalyzer, the FAA will assume that your BAC was at or above 0.15 , that is big thing that the FAA is going to want to know all about. And it isn’t just that single point in time. They want to know SIGNIFICANTLY more about your overall physical and psychological makeup that got you there and allows you to get there. This is due that, in general, most humans don't achieve that tall of a BAC and still remain functional to operate a motor vehicle unless they have developed a tolerance to alcohol. And a tolerance to alcohol only happens with frequent consumption of enough quantity such that it takes more alcohol to experience the effects to drinker wants.
To fix this with the FAA, this situation is now a matter of what is going on between your ears and behaviors instead of what is going into the mouth and what your brain is going to say so it can continue to be fed the desired effects of alcohol.
The FAA acts as a warden to prevent individuals that have developed a tolerance for high alcohol limits from obtaining and exercising pilot privileges. So for individuals such as yourself, the ball will be placed squarely in your court to prove beyond shadows of doubt that you are willing to prove you are worthy of flying privileges by doing everything they will ask of you.
If you have applied for a medical, the letter you are going to get will have the specific details of what the FAA wants. Search back through this forum, and you will see that the requirements will include
- A $6000 to $10,000 budget to pay for they various things the FAA will require of you.
- A neuro cognative psychological screen of extreme depth that only a very few HIMS psychologists can administer, paid for out of your pocket
- Direct sponsorship with a Senior HIMS AME, to whom you report to frequently and to whom you must demonstrate you are doing what is required to earn the medical certificate. There are very, very few of these AME’s, so plan onfrequent travel to see the one who is working your case.
- 90 days of intensive alcohol dependency treatment.
- 100% sobriety and abstinence from all alcohol. Wine with girlfriend and beer with buddies is now verboten,
für immer
- Documented attendance with alcohol dependency meetings
- Many, many random pee in the cup whiz quizzes
- And much, much more. Especially if you are a revenue pilot operating under Parts 121 or 135.
All of this must be done in exacting detail for you to be granted a Special Issuance medical. Only after continued proven 100% sobriety for a long period of time will you be allowed back into the normal issuance group. And after that, you must continue to demonstrate 100% sobriety.
Reading this and then saying back to us, “but I am not an alcoholic, I do not have a drinking problem” is an incorrect response.
That you refused the breathalyzer test is a strong indicator that, per the FAA standards, there is a problem.
The correct response is saying, “fine, I have a problem. Let’s get going with meeting the requirements and make the significant lifestyle change to admit I have an alcohol problem and earn back my sobriety."
Humble and humility wins the day over arrogance and unwillingness to accept and change.
Unless you do that, the FAA is unwilling to allow you back into the air.
