Alcohol and Aviation: They Don't Mix

It’s challenging enough flying a high performance aircraft stone sober. Lord help the pilot that’s even slightly impaired. The FAA strongly agrees with that sentiment. That’s why the Eight Hours Bottle to Throttle rule was instituted (FAR 91.17). Likewise, if a pilot gets even one Driving While Impaired (DWI) conviction, all hell breaks loose. The FAA assumes that if you are dumb enough to drink while driving you just might be dumb enough to drink while flying. In other words, they are trying to keep you from killing you and your passengers.

Let’s assume for a minute that in spite of my sermon, you might have a lapse and have “just one too many” before going home. Let’s further assume you goofed up and the local constabulary pulled you over and gave you a DWI citation.

What happens next? Well, first of all you are required by the FAA to report any drug or alcohol related citation within 60 days.

See this link for more information:

(https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/ash/ash_programs/investigations/airmen_duidwi). Don’t forget! They regularly check the National Driver Database and an unreported DWI will pop up.

That’s when the “Men in Black” might show up at your front door. When you do report a DWI the FAA will contact you for further information. Make sure you promptly comply. They’ll probably want a written statement from you as well as police, court and lab reports including your Blood Alcohol Level.

Assuming you first report alcohol problems when you are applying for a medical certificate, your Aviation Medical Examiner (AME) will be following a pretty rigid protocol. If you have a past history of alcohol related events but have reported them to the FAA and they have cleared you for issuance of a medical, bring the letter from them proving this to the AME. He’ll ask you a few questions to determine if you still are “on the straight and narrow.”

If he thinks you are OK, he can issue a medical certificate.

If you had a single event more than five years ago with a blood alcohol level (BAL) less than 0.15 you’ll have to do a little homework before seeing the AME. The FAA wants you to complete a “Airman Drug and Alcohol Personal Statement."

The outline for this is found on Page 3 of a document called “FAA Certification Aid-HIMS Drug and Alcohol-Initial.”

See this link for more information:

(https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ama/guide/media/FAA_Certification_Aid_DA_Initial.pdf).

The AME will want information regarding the incident including date, events surrounding the incident, history of other events, or any prior treatment programs. He’ll collect your Airman Drug and Alcohol Personal Statement as well as a copy of your BAL and send them to the FAA for reference. The good news is that he can issue a Medical Certificate on the spot. If you have had a single DUI within 5 years or a DUI at any time with a BAL of 0.15 or above your AME will have to fill out a so-called “Alcohol Event Status Report for AME.”

See this link for more information:

(https://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/avs/offices/aam/ame/guide/media/AlcoholStatusReportforAME.pdf).

If you take a look at this document it calls for deferral unless you have all the police and court records, BAL report, driving record report in hand and have not required a treatment program for substance abuse. In short, you’ll probably be deferred to the FAA for further evaluation.

If you have had two or more DWI’s in your entire life or if you have a history of a dependence or substance use disorder you will have to be deferred. The FAA will want all the stuff we just mentioned. In addition they will want you to consult with a “HIMS-AME” (Human Intervention Motivational Study Aviation Medical Examiner). This individual has received additional training in the evaluation and support of substance or alcohol related conditions and other mental health conditions. He will evaluate your case following the protocol outlined in the FAA Certification Aid-HIMS Drug and Alcohol-Initial document we mentioned above. He/she will help you get all the documentation the FAA requires and submit that along with his evaluation to the FAA. They’ll mull it over and hand down a yes or no decision on your medical certificate. You will probably be put in an ongoing program of monitoring under a Special Issuance. As you can see it is a long winding road that you’ll have to follow if you get into trouble with booze. The best treatment is prevention. Use a designated driver! Fly wisely. See you next month!

As always, comments, questions and suggestions are welcome: jdlakinmd@gmail.com. Also, we’ve moved our office to Airlake Airport’s FBO (KLVN)!

Call 952-469-4414 or email hannah@wpflights.com for a flight physical appointment.