Cautionary Tale
New member
... make sure you consult a HIMS AME PRIOR to submitting for medical or you're screwed. If you stop reading here, just take that away.
You can find a list here:
https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/media/hims independent medical sponsors.pdf
I had extensively researched having two alcohol charges (15+ years ago) prior to going in for my medical- and for whatever reason it was not clear to me that this is a big "no no" which will basically set you back 1 year (per Dr. Chien.) I think I was confused because I had seen posts on here where people with two alcohol charges 10+ years ago had the issue resolved in 3 months.
My offenses occurred 18 and 20 years ago respectively and happened when I was in my early, early 20's. The first was a DUI charge that was dropped and the second a DUI charge on which I plead no contest. So I have one DUI on my record (and it was later expunged; thought expungment is irrelevant to the FAA.)
In both I blew under 0.15 (which is important because I believe over that and you have separate issues.) (Note: I understand the gravity the offenses. I was young, dumb, and would never put myself or others in that situation again.)
At the time of my medical I had about 2 hours of instruction time. I fully disclosed the information on my application. The AME told me 2 alcohol offenses, no matter how long ago, is automatic deferral. He told me the FAA would send me a letter requesting paperwork, and I need not worry as it would be resolved prior to solo (at which time you need a medical certificate.) I assumed we were looking at about 2 months and so I continued training.
I received a letter from the FAA one month later requesting two items: 1. a personal statement on my "relationship" with alcohol then, now, and planned in the future. They also requested the "circumstances" around the charges (no request for court records) 2. a copy of my last 10 years of driving records- which are 100% clean without so much as a speeding ticket. (I thought it would be resolved with this, but Dr. Chien would inform me this was the first of many requests coming.)
I had seen some posts on here that people with 2 DUI charges had resolved the issue in as little as three months, but I decided to contact Dr. Chien who is referenced all over the place here to double check.
I will not bore you with all the details- but Dr. Chien informed me of the following:
1. ANYONE with two alcohol charges who submits a medical application on their own without HIMS consult is at best looking at an 11 month deferral of receiving the medical. This is regardless of time since last offense. (I am unsure why some on P of A have claimed with two offenses they resolved the issue in a 3 months without doing so.)
2. I will have to, at a minimum, prove complete abstinence for minimum 4 months via random alcohol screenings, as well as have numerous consults with HIMS AME and finally a consult with a HIMS psychologist. Once the FAA receives this paperwork they will sit on it for another 3-4 months. Total time approximately 11 months.
3. With the deferred medical, I have now ruled myself out for Sport Pilot's License- which I could have received had without a medical but from which I was disqualified with my deferral. Had I just done the sports pilot I could have flown for the next year while I sorted out the medical process with a AME HIMS PRIOR to formal application. Now I'm basically grounded.
I have seen posts on here advising to "keep training/flying;" however, keep in mind I can't solo which I will be ready for in about 3 weeks. I have been advised I will basically have to pause training for the next year- which means I will lose the vast amount of what I have learned and have to start from scratch when/if I can pick it back up.
Learn from my mistakes in this process.
What I wish I would have done in this process:
1. Not applied for the medical
2. Gotten a sports pilot license and enjoyed flying for the next year
3. In parallel contacted a HIMS AME and begun to work towards resolving medical issues (prior to actually applying for medical.)
4. In one year, once all the testing/consulting work was complete, applied for medical with all paperwork in hand and HIMS AME support.
As a side note of caution- consult a professional on this stuff. DO NOT take the posts on POA from well intentioned members as truth. I saw multiple posts stating "I resolved in 2, 3, 4 months." Also- do not take what you AME tells you as true UNLESS that AME is also HIMS.
Good luck and I hope I have spared some of you from making the same mistake in the process.
You can find a list here:
https://www.faa.gov/pilots/amelocator/media/hims independent medical sponsors.pdf
I had extensively researched having two alcohol charges (15+ years ago) prior to going in for my medical- and for whatever reason it was not clear to me that this is a big "no no" which will basically set you back 1 year (per Dr. Chien.) I think I was confused because I had seen posts on here where people with two alcohol charges 10+ years ago had the issue resolved in 3 months.
My offenses occurred 18 and 20 years ago respectively and happened when I was in my early, early 20's. The first was a DUI charge that was dropped and the second a DUI charge on which I plead no contest. So I have one DUI on my record (and it was later expunged; thought expungment is irrelevant to the FAA.)
In both I blew under 0.15 (which is important because I believe over that and you have separate issues.) (Note: I understand the gravity the offenses. I was young, dumb, and would never put myself or others in that situation again.)
At the time of my medical I had about 2 hours of instruction time. I fully disclosed the information on my application. The AME told me 2 alcohol offenses, no matter how long ago, is automatic deferral. He told me the FAA would send me a letter requesting paperwork, and I need not worry as it would be resolved prior to solo (at which time you need a medical certificate.) I assumed we were looking at about 2 months and so I continued training.
I received a letter from the FAA one month later requesting two items: 1. a personal statement on my "relationship" with alcohol then, now, and planned in the future. They also requested the "circumstances" around the charges (no request for court records) 2. a copy of my last 10 years of driving records- which are 100% clean without so much as a speeding ticket. (I thought it would be resolved with this, but Dr. Chien would inform me this was the first of many requests coming.)
I had seen some posts on here that people with 2 DUI charges had resolved the issue in as little as three months, but I decided to contact Dr. Chien who is referenced all over the place here to double check.
I will not bore you with all the details- but Dr. Chien informed me of the following:
1. ANYONE with two alcohol charges who submits a medical application on their own without HIMS consult is at best looking at an 11 month deferral of receiving the medical. This is regardless of time since last offense. (I am unsure why some on P of A have claimed with two offenses they resolved the issue in a 3 months without doing so.)
2. I will have to, at a minimum, prove complete abstinence for minimum 4 months via random alcohol screenings, as well as have numerous consults with HIMS AME and finally a consult with a HIMS psychologist. Once the FAA receives this paperwork they will sit on it for another 3-4 months. Total time approximately 11 months.
3. With the deferred medical, I have now ruled myself out for Sport Pilot's License- which I could have received had without a medical but from which I was disqualified with my deferral. Had I just done the sports pilot I could have flown for the next year while I sorted out the medical process with a AME HIMS PRIOR to formal application. Now I'm basically grounded.
I have seen posts on here advising to "keep training/flying;" however, keep in mind I can't solo which I will be ready for in about 3 weeks. I have been advised I will basically have to pause training for the next year- which means I will lose the vast amount of what I have learned and have to start from scratch when/if I can pick it back up.
Learn from my mistakes in this process.
What I wish I would have done in this process:
1. Not applied for the medical
2. Gotten a sports pilot license and enjoyed flying for the next year
3. In parallel contacted a HIMS AME and begun to work towards resolving medical issues (prior to actually applying for medical.)
4. In one year, once all the testing/consulting work was complete, applied for medical with all paperwork in hand and HIMS AME support.
As a side note of caution- consult a professional on this stuff. DO NOT take the posts on POA from well intentioned members as truth. I saw multiple posts stating "I resolved in 2, 3, 4 months." Also- do not take what you AME tells you as true UNLESS that AME is also HIMS.
Good luck and I hope I have spared some of you from making the same mistake in the process.
