flyguy78

When I graduated college in 2001, I would go out with friends and have some drinks and decided to drive home. Within a year and eight months, I had 3 dui charges reduced to reckless driving between the ages of 23 and 24. It has been over six years since my idiotic actions and have decided to resume my flight training. After applying for a 1st class medical, I have gone through the paperwork process with the FAA. After sending them all of the court documents, they sent me the form requesting character letters, urine test and psycho evaluations. I told the psychiatrist that I had some wine with my birthday dinner the prior week and just had a drink 2 years prior to that. This was noted in the evaluation and sent to the FAA and they denied my medical due to "probable alcohol dependence, evidenced by continued use after adverse consequences". I acknowledge and have learned from my ignorant mistakes when I was younger and am inquiring how I can prove to the FAA that I do not have an alcohol dependence or abuse problem? What recommendations or course of action should I take to prove to the FAA that these were childish mistakes and I do not have any of those symptoms?
I would greatly appreciate any feedback.

IC ALL

About all you can do is go through whatever tests you need to that will override their decision. You need to get them to commit, in writing, what it will take. Then, you need to aggressively comply with what they call for. They will ask for tests and proof of counseling. You'll just have to jump through the hoops and make it happen. The big question is, is it worth it....

flyguy78

If thats what I have to do, then I will do it. Thanks.

atpwannabe

flyguy78:

ICALL is right. You've got some hoops to jump through and some cash to kick out. I'm not gonna sugar coat it for you b/c I'm going through the same process you're about to begin. Search the forums for more info about this particular subject. If you can't find it, hit me up!



atp

flyguy78

I was advised by the AOPA legal team to write a letter to a lady named Linda "something" at the FAA, requesting reconsideration of my medical and get in writing exactly what I need to do. Joanna at the AOPA also recommended getting the psychiatrist to maybe write a letter with some specific wording stating I do not currently have a dependence problem. I was also wondering if getting Pilot Medical Solutions to help and if that would do anything. Maybe they could advise me better and speed up my correspondence with the FAA. Whats your current status ATP?

Twin Wasp

You might look at the PMS thread before expecting much out of them.

atpwannabe

The FAA made the same determination in my case. My medical app was denied. Although it was a setback, it didn't mean that I wouldn't be able to get a medical. There were certain criteria that had to be met on my part.

It was suggested that I pursue a medical under the Special Issuance program. Contact the FAA and ask for the name of an AME in your area that sponsors potential and current airmen under the SI program. The SI program coordinator for the AME will instruct you to get a HIMS evaluation. The coordinator should be able to provide you with the names of the doctors that perform this evaluation that are in or close to the area where you live, so that you won't have to travel very far. You will be instructed to enroll in an Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) that deals primiarly with alcohol and drug abuse issues. This program is usually 6 months long. Within the I.O.P., you will be required to attend a men's group meeting 2-5 times a week and meet with an addictions counselor about 3 times a week depending upon the treatment facility. Since I had already had over a year of sobriety when I enrolled in my I.O.P., I only attend one men's group meeting per week and meet with the counselor once a week. However, I do attend on average 2-3 AA meeting per week, along with Bible Study and other Spiritually based gatherings, such as worship service etc. It will be suggested that you start attending AA meetings on a regular basis, get a sponsor, work the steps, get involved. This statement will make much more sense later on. Trust me.

Now, once your I.O.P is complete, you will undergo another HIMS evaluation. All reports from your I.O.P., your 2nd HIMS eval and any other pertinent letters of support from a therapist, your parents and yourself, should accompany your new app for medical certification. The AME that completes your 2nd examination for the certification for the airman's medical wll forward all of this info to the Medical Appeals Office in OKC for approval. If they are unable to make a determination in your case, it will then be forwarded to Washington DC to be reviewed and a final decision rendered. My I.O.P. ends in March. I wll get my second HMS eval done in the first week of April. Once the results come back from the HIMS, I will go to a local AME and apply for medical certification again. He will then send everything off to the FAA.


One thing to keep in mind. Out of say 200,000 applicants, only 0.2% are out and out denied. That's only about 400. The reasons vary from the person not pursuing the issue any further after a first denial or it is determined that relapse (recitivism) is a problem.

My advice to you is not to pursue the unrestricted medical. YOU WILL LOSE THE APPEAL. Instead, meet and exceed the criteria that the FAA has set forth for the Special Issuance program and enjoy a healthy, meaningful and well deserved career. Btw, you can be enrolled in SI program from 1-5 years.


atp

flyguy78

I am following up on the original post I started in February 2010. The FAA medical certification office in Oklahoma City has denied my medical twice. I wrote a reconsideration letter to an FAA Examiner requesting her to commit, in writing, what it will take for me to receive my flight medical. I even requested to go through a Substance Abuse Process in its entirety to see if that would get them to reconsider my current denial. They forwarded my file to the Federal Air Surgeon in Washington, DC. What are my options at this point? Will the Federal Air Surgeon reply in writing, a process to go through, such as counseling or a treatment program, so that I can receive my medical through the Special Issuance Program?

Catfsh

And quit saying stuff like this...

"I told the psychiatrist that I had some wine with my birthday dinner the prior week and just had a drink 2 years prior to that..."

CommutR4Life

It's a blessing in disguise; run from this industry while you still can!