US Airways has a HIMS program through USAPA. You should at least know what your union offers.

Should have happened long ago....with the NWA incident

Right On !
 

Well stated and thanks Jarhead. If more people heeded your advice, all of us would be a lot better off.

For what it's worth, there is an excellent editorial in the current issue (Dec. 2009) of Air Transport World. The article is titled "The Death of Common Sense" and is written by Perry Flint. It should be required reading for everyone in the industry and if I can figure out how to scan and post it, I will.

We are headed down a slippery slope with the lack of common sense and professionalism that has been demonstrated by a small number of individuals in recent incidents. Unfortunately, it only takes a few stupid occurances for the entire industry to end up with egg on it's face.

G'Day Mates.:)

PS- USMCRFLYR, don't take offense to the "Jarhead" label. I'm one also.

Does "motor vehicle action" include a speeding or parking ticket?

Hasn't the DUI question always been on the 8500? Seems to me like the only thing new is if you get a DUI now, you may have to jump through more hoops, but a previously reported one should present no problem.

It refers to anything substance related (FAR 61.15), not routine traffic tickets.

No, it's always been there, but the wording has changed.

It used to say: "have you ever been convicted of.........etc.etc...

Now it says: "have you ever been arrested/charged with.........etc.etc..

Big difference.

And of course the previous posters are correct, don't do it and you've got no problem. I think that is pretty obvious. The reason that this has come up as a discussion is because of the fairly recent change to the medical form as I noted above. You may have screwed up years ago, and put it behind you, but because of this change you've now got to deal with it. My understanding is that the Feds felt or got wind of the fact that there were some guys out there who were repeat offenders but were flying under the radar because they were able to continually plea down and get the charges reduced to reckless driving or something similar. Therefore: no DUI convictions. I get that, but to me they are treading into a shady legal area because they are in effect treating you as if you have a DUI on record, when technically, you do not.

The question has changed, and to add to it, you are no longer getting the one free pass from the AME. You are charged with a DWI/DUI, the medical is forwarded to the FAA for consideration. They may give you a pass, but they may not.

Best advice I can give you is, if you have a problem and deep down know that you do, go see the support and help of your airlines HIMS program. I think that almost every 121 airline has one. Some are "better" than others, but in the end they will get you the help that you need, and allow you to return to your job. FWIW, Netjets has one too and it is a really good program.

If you have questions about the HIMS programs look at the ALPA website or your unions website, there is some good info there and contact numbers.
Do not let your self be in the cockpit with a "Reasonable Suspicion" test being performed. At that point you are past a lot of the easier options.

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... deleted becauseI figured it out.