Recently the FAA published a “Pilot Minute” YouTube video about AME’s ability to issue medical certificates after an applicant has had a DUI (Driving Under the Influence) violation. I thought this would be a good time to review the subject. An AME can, indeed, issue a medical without deferring the exam to the FAA under certain circumstances. As usual, it depends…. Here are several scenarios.
If there was a single event more than 5 years ago and the BAC (Blood Alcohol Content) was below 0.15, the AME can issue a medical certificate if he feels there is no evidence of substance abuse or dependence. If the event was less than 5 years ago, again with a BAC of less than 0.15 and no evidence of substance abuse or dependence, the AME can still issue a medical certificate. If the BAC is unknown, the applicant refused a BAC, or the BAC was above 0.15, the AME cannot issue a medical certificate and must defer the decision to the FAA for further evaluation. An alcohol Event Status Report, the requirements for which can be found online, needs to be submitted to the FAA for evaluation. Only if the FAA approves certification after evaluating the data submitted, and sends the airman a letter of authorization, can the AME issue the certificate.
If there are two or more events in the airman’s lifetime or a history of dependence or substance abuse disorder, the application must be deferred to the FAA for complete evaluation. You definitely don’t want a second DUI.
If your AME cannot issue at the time of the exam, in many cases issuance will be possible after a thorough evaluation of your situation by the FAA. If you need more information, search “DUI/DWI Alcohol Incidents Disposition Table.” There are links in the table for further information.
Happy flying!
DISCLAIMER: The information contained in this column is the expressed opinion of the author only, and readers are advised to seek the advice of others, including their own AME, and refer to the Federal Aviation Regulations and FAA Aeronautical Information Manual for additional information and clarification
© Copyright 2024. All rights reserved!
