prior121

So what happened flyingpertyhigh, you get through this?

Hoping the best for you.

Sum Ting Wong

Oh yeah, that's a winner...

flyingpertyhigh

Hi All - OP here. I realize I'm bumping quite an old thread, but I noticed when you search on google for FAA Medical, DUI, and revoked, its almost the first hit, so I figured an update would be helpful.

As I left it, the FAA had revoked my first class medical (at the time 3rd class privileges due to time elapsed since the exam) as they had found me alcohol dependent because of tolerance, due to having a BAC of 0.21. I had an evaluation and multiple sessions with a substance abuse counselor and she confidently wrote a letter that in her professional opinion that was inaccurate, citing, as an example, how profoundly drunk I came across in the police report (as opposed to being relatively coherent at that level BAC).

Anyway, 3 months after that letter was received at the FAA, they sent me a follow-up letter saying they reversed their decision, my medical is active, and basically don't do it again. During that year I made significant life changes, including becoming abstinent (the fact that I got a DUI was troubling enough, regardless of dependence or not), switching careers away from aviation, changing social circles etc. I rode out the last 3 years on my medical, and allowed it to expire.

Fast forward to today, about a year after my medical expired, and I would like to get back into flying. I have two options: LSAs, or roll the dice and apply for a 3rd class medical.

Does anyone have any advice knowing the full story?

trafly

Good for you for making healthy changes. Hope the new career is going well. You may want to contact Aviation Medicine Advisory Service out of Denver. They're a group of physicians that specialize in aerospace medicine and offer a variety od services. I'm sure they can assist or point you in the correct direction.

https://www.aviationmedicine.com/

Good Luck

rickair7777

Sounds like you should be able to get a medical now based on the fact that the FAA reversed the dependency finding?

Also things have changed since the previous discussion...most regionals are desperate enough that they can't be too picky. Remaining issue is that for jet regionals that go to Canada (most of them) you need to wait five years and apply for "rehabilitation" in Canada (you are considered rehabilitated after paying a large fine). Otherwise you cannot enter Canada with a past DUI, so the regionals that go there really can't hire you. So if you're still interested in airlines, start looking into the canadian issue. At this point I suspect at least some majors would be OK with this after 10 years or so, which would just about work out after five+ years at a regional.

yeahbutstill

How come you didnt continue flying if it was reversed? Sounds like there's more to it...

flyingpertyhigh

I'll contact them. Thanks for the tip!

flyingpertyhigh

At the advice of many on this forum (see pages 1-4), and friends in the industry, I switched career paths and decided to stick with it despite the FAA reversing their decision. The BAC was high enough and my actions irresponsible enough I just didn't want to go down that path. Now my concern is getting denied a 3rd class and not even being able to fly LSAs, or potentially use the 3rd class medical reform down the road. The path to special issuance is not an option due to the required 30 day inpatient stint. If I can get a third class I would then get back into instructing. Up here in the northeast there is a severe instructor shortage. I've had multiple schools tell me if I can get a medical I have a job. I appreciate everyone's help up to this point

yeahbutstill

I guess this is one of those things if you don't go for it you'll never know for sure.. What part of the NE?

flyingpertyhigh

Agreed. I completely understand that no one can answer my question directly - it's completely up to the FAA and whoever gets my medical application that day, and it can even stop at the AME if he/she feels like it.

Location: MA