l1011

Any help would be appreciated.

I received a minor in possession of alcohol ticket when I was 19, I am now 25. It was stupid mistake made by a stupid kid, I have grown up a lot since then. Until recently I did not realize that this was actually a misdemeanor offense, I previously thought it was only a summary offense because I was not arrested nor did I have to go to court. I simply mailed in the $25 fine and it was done with. Because I did not believe this to be a misdemeanor I did not report it on my last 3 FAA medicals at question 18w. Now that I realize that it is a misdemeanor how do I go about correcting the issue with the past medicals or what should I do about this situation. My record is otherwise spotless and I have recently began the process to have this expunged from my record. What is the FAA reaction likely to be?

It is important to note that I did not intentionally falsify the report because I believed the situation was only a summary offense and not a misdemeanor. I discovered that the offense was a misdemeanor this week after running a criminal background check on myself (prep for a job interview).

Im very worried about the situation and do not know what to do.

Thank You.

ddd333

This is only my opinion, but I wouldn't sweat it or change a thing. The FAA only screens the National Driver Register (NDR) for violations unless you report them on the application. The NDR only records serious driving infractions that result in conviction, like DUIs, and that is only if your state chooses to send the info to the NDR.

The only thing you have to worry about is IF the FAA would ever find out that you never reported it. It is my opinion that they will probably never find out unless you give them a reason to, like having an accident, bust a reg, or something.

If you want to report it for a clear conscious I would suggest getting it expunged, then consulting a lawyer familiar with similar cases before you report it. But to me, it seems harmless...

ualheavy

Let that dog lie. Sounds like a youthful indiscretion and I wouldn't bring it to the Faa's attention at this point.

l1011

If I were to apply for a job I am sure they would run a background check so I would have to disclose this to a employer. Would they not notice a difference between the application and the medical form?

Does the FAA run background checks to verify this information and if they did discover it without me reporting it what would be their reaction?

Phantom Flyer

1011:

If you apply for a position as a flight crew member, the FAA mandates (14 CFR 107.207) that a Criminal History Records Check (CHRC) be conducted. It's a 10 year FBI fingerprint based, background check and you can check all of the disqualifying items in 107.207. A felony conviction is usually disqualifying; however, from what you've said, it will not affect your application. The only other required check for a pilot applicant is the National Driving Records check which ddd333 mentioned. Each employer has a different type of "background check" that they run and usually it's a 5 or 10 year employment record, educational qualifications, personal recommendations and possibly an address check for the past five years, although I'm aware of one company that asks for a 10 year address check.

I would not worry about FAA medical issues but would definitely heed the advice given and have that transgression expunged from my record as it may cause questions in the future.

Best of luck Mate.

G'Day

rickair7777

The potential risk with FAA records is advancing information technology. While they may not have caught now, if the record stays out there it's possible some future linking/consolidation of databases could flag it to their attention. This is a somewhat remote threat, but it has happened recently with FAA aeromedical...they setup a system to match pilot medical records with federal disability claims. Many of those collecting disability had not reported their disability problem to the FAA. Some of them went to jail.

Definitely get it expunged. If you are going to lose sleep, contact an aviation lawyer and ask about reporting this to the FAA. He will know the risks and the process. Other people have reported things after the fact like this, and my understanding is that the FAA generally accepts it in good faith without penalty if it's an honest mistake. But ask a lawyer first.

The good news is that the criminal aspect of falsifying an FAA form probably requires intent, which they will have trouble proving if you self-report the problem.

ualheavy

IMHO....As some of the guys above have mentioned, applying to a commuter/airline with a real background check vs. the Faa's NDR are two different scenarios. I think a company is mostly concerned that you hold a current medical certificate when interviewing. I do believe this matter (MIP) would come up on a recent pilot background check so being honest and up front on the application/interview would be prudent to disclose and explain if asked.

l1011

Thanks for the responses, I have one more question about the matter in regard to entrance to Canada, would this be deemed an inadmissible offense? Some airlines require the ability to travel freely to and from Canada.

ddd333

No.

Don't sweat Canada on this one.

l1011

I had been advised to report the situation on the next medical by enough people that I decided I would get the documents that they would probably want to see. I obtained a copy of the court report from the county of record and contacted the police department that issued the ticket and they did not have any record of it. They did send me a letter stating that they had no record of this.

Fast forward, I went today for my medical renewal. I called ahead to discuss the situation with the AME and he told me to bring the documents with me. He faxed both of the above mentioned documents to someone in Atlanta (apparently theirs an FAA aeromedical office in Atlanta.) they called the doctor back within 30 minutes and said that it could be issued per doctor tilton (I think it was tilton but not sure.) and they told him what to wright in box 60 and told me what to write in box 18. I was surprised what he told me to write in the box, they said to put "No Dui, open container of Alcohol under 21". but the ticket was actually for underage possession of alcohol, not open container. That was it, I got my first class and went on my way.

I hope this is the end of this, do you think I will hear anything else from the FAA of the situation?

Thanks