Excerpts
FAA Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners
These are the sections of the FAA's Guide for Aviation Medical Examiners that refer to alcohol and substance abuse problems including those related to DUI/DWI arrests and convictions and how they affect your medical certificate.
* The alcohol or drug offense for which the applicant was convicted or the type of administrative action involved (e.g., attendance at an alcohol treatment program in lieu of conviction; license denial, suspension, cancellation, or revocation for refusal to be tested; educational safe driving program for multiple speeding convictions; etc.);
* The name of the state or other jurisdiction involved; and
* The date of the conviction and/or administrative action.
If there have been no new convictions or administrative actions since the last conviction, the applicant may enter "previously reported, no change." Convictions and/or administrative actions affecting driving privileges may raise questions about the applicant's fitness for certification and may be cause for disqualification. (See Items 18.n. and 47).
A single driving while intoxicated (DWI) conviction or administrative action usually is not cause for denial if there are no other instances or indications of substance dependence or abuse. The Examiner should inquire regarding the applicant's alcohol use history, the circumstances surrounding the incident, and document those findings in Item 60. (See Item 47).
NOTE: It should be noted that the airman's reporting of alcohol or drug offenses (i.e. motor vehicle action) on the history part of the medical application does not relieve the airmen of the responsibility to report each motor vehicle action to the FAA; Civil Aviation Security Division, AAC-700: P.O. Box 25810; Oklahoma City, OK 73125-0810. [Ed. note: see FAR 61.15(e)]
ITEM 47. PSYCHIATRIC
1. CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS
All Classes: 14CFR67.107,67.207, and 67.307
*** No established medical history or clinical diagnosis of any of the following:
Substance dependence, except where there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance(s) for not less than the preceding 2 years. As used in this section-
"Substance" includes: Alcohol; other sedatives and hypnotics; anxiolytics; opiods; central nervous system stimulant such as cocaine, amphetamines, and similarly acting sympathomimetic; hallucinogens; phencyclidine or similarly acting arylcyclohexylamines; cannabis; inhalants; and other psychoactive drugs and chemicals: and"Substance dependence" means a condition in which a person is dependent on a substance, other than tobacco or ordinary xanthine-containing (e.g., caffeine) beverages as evidenced by -
Increased toleranceManifestation of withdrawal symptoms
Impaired control of use; or
Continued use despite damage to physical health or impairment of social, personal, or occupational functioning.
***No substance abuse within the preceding 2 years defined as:
Use of a substance in a situation in which that use was physically hazardous, if there has been at any other time an instance of the use of a substance also in a situation in which that use was physically hazardous;A verified positive drug test result acquired under an anti-drug program or internal program of the U.S. Department of Transportation or any other Administration within the U.S. Department of Transportation; or
Misuse of a substance that the Federal Air Surgeon, based on case history as appropriate, qualified medical judgment relating to the substance involved, finds-
Makes the person unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held; orMay reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the person unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
III. DISPOSITION
B. Denials
5. Substance dependence refers to the use of substances of dependence which include alcohol and other drugs (i.e., PCP, sedatives and hypnotics, anxiolytics, marijuana, cocaine, opioids, amphetamines, hallucinogens, and other psychoactive drugs or chemicals). Substance dependence is defined and specified as a disqualifying medical condition. It is disqualifying unless there is clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance for not less than the preceding 2 years. Substance dependence is evidenced by one or more of the following: Increased tolerance, manifestation of withdrawal symptoms; impaired control of use; or continued use despite damage to physical health or impairment of social, personal, or occupational functioning.
Substance dependence is accompanied by various deleterious effects on physical health as well as personal or social functioning. There are many other indicators of substance dependence in the history and physical examination. Treatment for substance dependence-related problems, arrests, including charges of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and vocational or marital disruption related to drugs or alcohol consumption are important indicators. Alcohol on the breath at the time of a routine physical examination should arouse a high index of suspicion. Consumption of drugs or alcohol sufficient to cause liver damage is an indication of the presence of alcoholism.
6. Substance abuse. includes the use of the above substances under any one of the following conditions:
a. Use of a substance in the last 2 years in which the use was physically hazardous(e.g., DUI or DWI) if there has been at any other time an instance of the use of a substance also in a situation in which the use was physically hazardous.
b. If a person has received a verified positive drug test result under an anti-drug program of the Department of Transportation or one if its administrations; or
c. The Federal Air Surgeon finds that an applicants misuse of a substance makes him or her unable to safely perform the duties or exercise the privileges of the airman certificate applied for or held, or that may reasonably be expected, for the maximum duration of the airman medical certificate applied for or held, to make the applicant unable to perform those duties or exercise those privileges.
Substance dependence and substance abuse are specified as disqualifying medical conditions.