FAA new DUI policy
New FAA DUI Policy
The Federal Aviation Administration has announced new guidance following any alcohol-related motor vehicle action (driving under the influence or driving while intoxicated) offense.
For quite some time there have been two separate reporting requirements after receiving “motor vehicle action”:
You must report within 60 days any “motor vehicle action” (which includes DUI or DWI convictions) to the FAA IAW FAR Part 61.15 (e). If you do not report such occurrences within 60 days, you risk enforcement action against your certificates.
You must also report the “motor vehicle action” on the very next FAA medical examination. You must now report arrests, convictions, and administrative actions by checking “yes” at line 18.v of FAA Form 8500-8.
In the past, the FAA took no further action after a properly reported first “motor vehicle action.” Now, on all offenses, including the first, your Aeromedical Examiner (AME) may require the court documents and question you regarding the offense.
If you had a blood alcohol level of 0.15 mg % or above in connection with a “motor vehicle action” or if this is not your first offense in your lifetime, your medical certification is supposed to be deferred to the FAA. Also, if you refused to allow the police to take a sample for alcohol concentration, your medical certification should be deferred. The FAA will then insist that you obtain a substance abuse evaluation from a recognized counselor as a condition of further consideration for issuance of a medical certificate. Additional documentation will also be required for FAA review.
The documentation and review process may take up to several months. If your medical certificate has lapsed during this period, you will not be eligible to fly until cleared by the FAA.
The bottom line is that in the event you have a “motor vehicle action,” or if you are told by your AME that you are no longer qualified to exercise the privileges of your airman medical certificate contact the ALPA Aeromedical Office (303-341-4435) immediately to discuss the specifics of your case. By immediately contacting the Aeromedical Office, the staff can guide you to the proper substance abuse evaluation well before the month your medical certificate is no longer valid, if the timing works out with the “motor vehicle action” and your medical examination.
ALPA plans to publish an article that will discuss the issues and ramifications of a “motor vehicle action” (which includes DUI or DWI convictions) in an upcoming issue of Air Line Pilot.
Why are we treated like prisoners on parole? How much more involvement into our personal lives do we give to the FED's? (not condoning drinking and driving, but how about EVERY employee of the federal gov't/senators/congress/TSA.....have the same standards)