Hey everyone! Thanks in advance for the advice.

I am considering going to flight school with the goal of becoming an airline pilot. Unfortunately, I made a stupid decision while I was in college and was arrested for a DUI. The charge was reduced to Negligent Driving (basically, endangering myself or others with alcohol being involved), but I did have my drivers license suspended for 90 days. I did go though an alcohol evaluation and was given a 'no significant problem' result. This was in July, 2007. For auto insurance purposes, the neg driving and suspension will be off my record after three years, and the charge can be wiped from my criminal record after 7 years. I'm assuming an FBI background check would contain all of this anyway, however.

Now, I'm considering going to flight school. From what I can find, as long as I can get a first class medical certificate, there is nothing legally preventing me from becoming a pilot. The question is, will this prevent me from getting a job? I understand that it may be much harder to get hired, but is it possible? Will the airlines look at this incident as a 'youthful indiscretion,' or should I pursue something else?

Thanks for the help!
-Alex

This question was just discussed last week. Just scroll down to the topic "Old Reckless Driving Violation Question." Didn't you notice it?

I did see that thread and found it interesting, but thought my situation was a bit different due to the inclusion of alcohol and a license suspension.

Compared to that other thread, do you think we would be treated similarly by the airlines or would I have a tougher time?

Thanks for your time!
-Alex

The other thread involved a suspension as well.

I'll let one of the guys like rick who knows the industry give you a better idea of whether there is a difference, but the big issue with a DUI tends to be the Canada issue (can't go there). That's should not be a problem for you since, from what you say, you never had a DUI conviction.

No difference at all in the answer with respect to the FAA medical.

With respect to the FAA, they don't care about the semantics (DUI, DWI, Reduced Reckless, Administrative Action, etc)...they just want to know did you get arrested and/or convicted for anything related to driving under the influence of something.

One incident is not a medical disqualifier in and of itself, but may trigger an FAA evaluation to ensure that you do not have an addiction problem. Other than that, you should be fine with the FAA.

As for the airlines, two possible problems...

1. Like NoyGonnaDoIt said, if you cannot enter Canada, you will not be able to get a job at MOST airlines. A small turbo-prop-only commuter might be an exception if they don't go north. I know a DUI will keep you out of Canada for at least 5 years, after which you can get a waiver. I don't know about a DUI reduced to something else. I suspect that you might be OK with Canada, but I also suspect the airlines won't know for sure and will probably just not hire you to be on the safe side. You may be able to head that off at the pass...my recomendadtion would be to do the research to find out what Canada's policy is in your specific case. Get the answer in writing, on letterhead from the Canadian embassy/consulate, or from an attorney if the Canuks won't provide it. Then you can go to an interview and assure them that you can fly to Canada. Do not leave any doubts about this, or they will simply move on to the next applicant.

2. You have a recent DUI, even though it was called something else. Airlines will usually hire such folks only after they run out of applicants who do not have such a history. They will be wary of your judgement and restraint.

Things in your favor:

The charge was reduced to something less ominous, which makes it easier to rationalize.

You were young when it happened. If you don't have ANY other blackmarks, you will get over this as time passes. Unfortunately 2-3 years is probably not enough time 5-7 (or more) is probably what they want to see before employers can really disregard the incident.

Also it sounds like you are not even a private pilot? That's good, if you were already a commercial pilots (even a 250-hour 172 captain) there is an expectation that you should have known better. Non-pilots are not held to the same standards as pilots.

Just to clarify a bit more, the question on the medical is more expansive than that. It's whether you had a conviction for anything related to alcohol or drugs or had your driving privileges suspended or had to go to an educational program. Only the pure "conviction" part deals with alcohol or drugs.

For example, if your got a plain vanilla speeding ticket but had to attend weekend classes as part of the deal, you'd have to report that.

Do have a reference where the FAA interprets it that way? I read that block as inquiring about substance related issues.

The next block excludes generic moving violations from being reported.

My only reference is the form and its instructions. Pull one up and take a look.

http://www.*************/pdffiles/8500-8new.pdf

Generic moving violations are not reportable =if= they did not involve suspension, revocation, education programs...

Ya I think I got a ticket when I was still under my provisional drivers license, and I THINK it required I goto this driving school thing, not completely sure if I HAD TO GO or I chose to, but I did go to that, and I dont report anything on my medical? Should I be?

Read what the application says and you tell us whether you should be reporting it or not.