acl65pilot

1)The guy in GRR did not get a DWI. 2) His charges were dropped 3) He was cleared by the FAA, the local authorities, and the company. He just has to grow up. From what I have seen he has. It was a mistake that is all.

We all know we think so clearly when we are smashed ~

rickair7777

WAIT, WAIT, WAIT...HOLD ON!

DO NOT RUSH OUT AND CONFESS TO THE FAA!

1) First go get a good DUI lawyer, try to get it killed or plead down.

2) Only if ACTUALLY convicted (EDIT: You probably have to report it if they suspend your license also) do you have to notify the FAA, and you have 60 days following the conviction to do so. You have to notify the FAA in two ways:
- Notify the FAA security folks within 60 days (see part 61)
- Report it on your next medical. IMPORTANT: If you happen to have a medical within 60 days, that does NOT count as notifying the FAA security folks, you have to do that seperately.

The FAA may want you to get evaluated for a substance abuse problem at he time of your next medical...this will invlove one or more Psychiatric types and will costs thousands of dollars.

The FAA will suspend/revoke your license for two or more DUI's within the same three year period.

That covers the FAA, now as far as getting hired down the road, these are the factors:

Factors In Your Favor:
- Only one DUI (non-collision)
- Few if any traffic tickets
- No criminal mischief
- Young (under age 25 when it happened)
- Time passed since event.

Factors Against You
- Multiple DUIs (Find a new career)
- Over age 30 (if you haven't learned by now, you never will)
- Multiple traffic tickets
- Recent tickets
- Criminal history

A student pilot needs to do a thorough self-evaluation and make a REALISTIC determination as to whether to continue commercial training...this is SERIOUS stuff, and will put you at a disadvantage in the hiring arena. Yeah, I know, everybody knows a space-shuttle captain who got selected by Nasa despite his 11 DUI's...but that was back in the day when real men were EXPECTED to get DUI's. You can probably/maybe get a job at a regional, but if hiring slows, the first resumes they toss are the DUI's. He will be taking a big risk with his time and money.

If he decides to continue with flying, he needs to be honest when the airlines ask "were you ever ARRESTED for anything"...regardless of conviction or plea-bargain status, you can never undo the arrest. Be prepared to succinctly explain what happened and what you learned from it...then shut up.

rickair7777

Canada, yes. you will be denied entry unless you obtain a special diplomatic waiver. It's a nuisance even after you get the waiver. Every time he enters, that crewmember has to go into a room and get quizzed by the customs heavies, while the rest of us stand around and wish we could go to the hotel already

Some airlines that go into Canada will not hire anyone with DUI (or any other conviction) for this reason...if they train the person and then find out that Canada will not issue him a waiver, everybody's SOL.

rickair7777

I think folks who get even one DUI get what they deserve. HOWEVER...I think the standards for a DUI are ridiculous... .08 is not significantly impaired, I can drive FAR better at .08 than some sober chick in an SUV who's doing her makeup, talking on her cell phone, and weaving in and out of traffic with that left rear 25 psi low... You ought to be able to have 2-3 beers or wine over a long dinner and still drive home legally.

Maybe it ought to be legal up to .10, then maybe mandatory councilling for .11-.12 But if you drive totally obliterated, go directly to jail, for at least a year.

And for those of you who don't drink that's great, but please don't ******* with those of us who do

JoeyMeatballs

this is the most useless piece of information. We all make mistakes, "majors" hire all kinds of people, and I wouldnt worry about that now with this age 65 thing its going to be a very very long time before he get the chance to "explain" anything to a the HR dept at a major

Quagmire

I have met one person in my life who is like you. Needless to say, you are rare. Most of us paid our toilet dues in college and have learned from it. I personally only drink (now that I'm older and more mature) on very very special occasions, when driving is not an option. Then I'm kicking myself in the morning for feeling like death. But, unfortunately lots of people drink more than this.

To the person who commented on being struck by a drunk driver. I understand your logic completely. I will never stand up for a drunk driver involved in an accident, or a person who has had more than 1 dwi.

My point was simply that we have all made mistakes in our lives. If each one of them was discussed in an interview, none of us would get hired.

RickAir, good post.

ShyGuy

All good points!

I can understand making one DUI mistake. But ***multiple*** (like three or more) DUI/DWI offenses I think shows clear lack of maturity and judgement, and then you should not belong in an airline cockpit.

Puppyz

I think the legal limit is fine where it is. Personally, the rule I follow.. If i drink..even if I sip on a beer..I wont drive. Even 2-3 beers can impair driving ability. You really need be 100 percent when you drive, otherwise you put urself and other peoples lives at risk. Not really worth 2 - 3 beers over dinner in my opinion.

de727ups

"Only if ACTUALLY convicted do you have to notify the FAA"

Rick. Most of the time I agree with you but this is incorrect.

http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/...i/airman_faqs/

You have to report an administrative action. In my state, that's what happens when you get arrested for DUI.

rickair7777

The arrest is not an administrative action if nothing comes of it or if it gets reduced to non-DUI violation...if they suspend your DL after the arrest but before the trial (some states do this) that would count I think.

I'd probably call AOPA and see what they have to say.