Airline pilot w/ suspended license?

[say again]

What if you've been drinking egg nog all night?

Good egg-nog does involve alcohol!!!

 

[B-J-J Fighter]

FAA takes a dim view of pilots that do not report on their medical applications, driver license actions regardless of whether it involved alcohol or not. No second chances.

Uhhh wrong. I'm living proof. I got a second chance from the FAA. I had to appear before an admin. law judge. I had a good lawyer (my dad) that knew the law and we threatened a counter suit over a technicality. I got a letter in the mail a few days later stating all enforcement actions were being dropped and there would be no record in my file pertaining to this matter. I simply had to go back to the doc and re-apply for my medical. I walked out of the dr's office with another medical and have had zero problems since then and that was 6 or 7 yrs ago. I have worked for 3 different airlines. Its all abut how you handle it in the interview.

 

[boomlrd]

Me too, arrested, DUI, speeding tickets, never been an issue for me and I am on my 4th airline. Now furloughs seem to be the issue for me!

 

[satpak77]

FAA takes a dim view of pilots that do not report on their medical applications, driver license actions regardless of whether it involved alcohol or not. No second chances.

And your source of this is what? Just hanger talk?

 

[navigatro]

Straight from the FAA website:
Frequently Asked Questions


Where do I send my Notification Letter (MS Word) ?
Send the letter to:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Security and Investigations Division (AMC-700)
P.O. Box 25810
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
or
Fax to (405) 954-4989



Do I have to report anything other than alcohol-related convictions?
Yes, under 14 CFR Part 61, you must report alcohol-related administrative actions, whether a conviction took place or not. Administrative actions and convictions are also reportable under Part 67, the airman application for a medical certificate.



If the charge of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is reduced to Reckless, Careless, or Negligent driving by the court, do I have to report it?
No, we do not consider a conviction for Reckless, Careless, or Negligent Driving a reportable motor vehicle action (MVA). However, you must report the first suspension, if any.


How long do I have to report my alcohol-related motor vehicle action (MVA)?
You have 60 days from the effective date of the administrative action (driver license suspension, revocation, or cancellation) or conviction. (The 60-day period does not begin with the arrest date.)

 

[satpak77]

Straight from the FAA website:
Frequently Asked Questions


Where do I send my Notification Letter (MS Word) ?
Send the letter to:
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Security and Investigations Division (AMC-700)
P.O. Box 25810
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
or
Fax to (405) 954-4989



Do I have to report anything other than alcohol-related convictions?
Yes, under 14 CFR Part 61, you must report alcohol-related administrative actions, whether a conviction took place or not. Administrative actions and convictions are also reportable under Part 67, the airman application for a medical certificate.



If the charge of Driving Under the Influence (DUI) is reduced to Reckless, Careless, or Negligent driving by the court, do I have to report it?
No, we do not consider a conviction for Reckless, Careless, or Negligent Driving a reportable motor vehicle action (MVA). However, you must report the first suspension, if any.


How long do I have to report my alcohol-related motor vehicle action (MVA)?
You have 60 days from the effective date of the administrative action (driver license suspension, revocation, or cancellation) or conviction. (The 60-day period does not begin with the arrest date.)

And the "alcohol or not" is addressed where? The "or not" part?

Because I have a lot of speeding tickets and I never reported them.

So where does that leave me? FAA Inspectors on the forum, jump in.

 

[clickclickboom]

I had 1 ticket when i was 18 since i have been pulled over 3 times all warnings.

Lucky Bastard Story:

Driving through the high desert about 3 hours past Joshua Tree on the way to Mammoth to go skiing.

Doing 90mph and if you have driven you go hours with nothing but cacti and sand then all of a sudden you are in some little town for 3 blocks and then nothing again for hours.

Hit a school zone doing 85 and got pulled over by California Highway Patrol. 2 guys in car said i was getting arrested on the spot.

Guy asked me who i was, who's car is it, where was i going, I began explaining..

Yes sir I am an airline pilot and my copilot here and i are going skiing the car is his yes sir,, etc..

He stopped me mid sentence and asked me if I ever even saw the town before hitting the speed trap. I said honestly sir no I didnt.

He said drive slow and have a nice day by the way I have a private pilot checkride tomorrow!!

I said good luck and drove off the luckiest ba-stard in California that day.

 

[satpak77]

that is a lucky story

the fact is that the FAA aerospace medical division indeed has authority over alcohol (something you induce into your body, and something one can be addicted to) and substance abuse, especially when that body holds a FAA issued pilot's license.

but having a heavy foot on the gas pedal is not within the parameters of the FAA aerospace medicine

your local highway patrol is another matter

 

[Diesel]

who the F gets 45 tickets? Your ass is going to jail after 10. 30 you're going for a long time.

 

[satpak77]

that is a lucky story

the fact is that the FAA aerospace medical division indeed has authority over alcohol (something you induce into your body, and something one can be addicted to) and substance abuse, especially when that body holds a FAA issued pilot's license.

but having a heavy foot on the gas pedal is not within the parameters of the FAA aerospace medicine

your local highway patrol is another matter

let me expand on that to say that the FAA is interested in any behavior that indicates a aeromedical issue, such as psycotic (sp?) activity, etc.

But a traffic violations, besides alcohol, by themselves, are not FAA headliners

 

[Hugh Johnson]

Instruction from the medical application:

CONVICTION AND/OR ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION HISTORY:
Letter (v) of this subheading asks if you have ever been: (1) convicted (which may include paying a fine, or forfeiting bond or collateral) of an offense involving driving while intoxicated by, while impaired by, or while under the influence of alcohol or a drug; or (2) convicted or subject to an administrative action by a state or other jurisdiction for an offense for which your license was denied, suspended, cancelled, or revoked or which resulted in attendance at an educational or rehabilitation program. Individual traffic convictions are not required to be reported if they did not involve: alcohol or a drug; suspension, revocation, cancellation, or denial of driving privileges; or attendance at an educational or rehabiltation program. If "yes" is checked, a description of the conviction(s) and/or administrative action(s) must be given in the EXPLANATIONS BOX. The description must include: (1) the alcohol or drug offense for which you were 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.); (2) the name of the state or other jurisdiction involved; and (3) the date of the conviction and/or administrative action. The FAA may check state motor vehicle driver licensing records to verify your responses. Letter (w) of this subheading ask if you have ever had any other (nontraffic) convictions (e.g., assault, battery, public intoxication, robbery, etc.). If so, name the charge for which you were convicted and the date of conviction in the EXPLANATIONS BOX


The highlights are mine. Doesn't seem to be much wiggle room. Pretty straight forward, if your license was suspended, revoked, denied, or cancelled, or you had to go to traffic school (educational program) for speeding tickets, you have to report it on your medical application.

 

[Floatplane]

Had my license suspended in 1985 for getting three speeding tickets within one year. I reported it on a number of applications until the ten year requirement expired, and noticed no adverse effects. Other adverse effects were noted, however, ie: lack of college degree, no military time, scant recent PIC 121 time, etc.

What 10 year requirement are you refering to? As far as I know you are required to report it on every subsequent application after the original offense occurs. If you have no new offenses to report you can just put "no change in history" in the remarks section of the application and you still have to check the box yes.

 

[ackattacker]

I had my license suspended a few years back for a single $15 parking ticket. Didn't even know such a thing was possible. The ridiculous thing is I actually paid the ticket by mail, but it was 2 days late and they increased the fine to $30. The notice from the town never reached me because I had moved, found out months later when the DMV sent me a letter. Luckily never got pulled over.

Anyway I've put it on all my job applications. Huge PITA to explain. Never thought to put in on a medical application...

 

[jafo20]

With regard to interviews, either they want you or they don't. If they want you, the interview board will find some way to look past whatever otherwise disqualifying issue you have. If they don't want you, you can have a perfect record, great times, good references and they'll find some reason to turn you down.

Apply where you want and try not to worry too much.

Speeding tickets are expensive though.

 

[Ty Webb]

Way pre-Vette. I was driving this P magnet.

Are we talking Datsun here . . . . or what? And are you sure that heap can speed . . . oh, that's right, the speed limit was 55 then.

 

[njcapt]

Are we talking Datsun here . . . . or what? And are you sure that heap can speed . . . oh, that's right, the speed limit was 55 then.

Hey, don't be hatin' my hooptie. Bitchin' 1978 Toyota Celica. You're right, the speed limit was 55 in those days and I got busted going downhill two out of the three times.

 

[flyipilot]

I had a 3 month suspension back in 1987 for 3 speeing tkts within 12 mo time in IL. I put it on my FAA med every 6 months since they do ask for it. But, once you put it on ( 1 ) medical application with the dates and details. You can just write "See preveious application" or something like that on all future applications. I was told this from an FAA inspector many years back and I still do it this way. After 20 years, no FAA has contacted me or told me to change it. They are more concerned about DUI, Drug and violent crime stuff than speeding and dumb minor traffic violations. They just want you to be honest and report it all. This way you might not be hiding anything deeper. I have never had any airline ever ask more into it than what I jsut explained. We are all human and we all make silly mistakes in life. The FAA, like the rest of our current govt., just likes to have "control" over everything you do in life.

 

[Headfake14]

I wouldn't worry about a couple bumps in the road with one's history. A good buddy of mine was hired at SWA with an arrest record. Definately not a bad guy, just mis-communication over something and failure to appear....or something like that. No college either. It's ALL in the interview if they want you or not. And don't hide it.

Of course, the further back in your history the better.

Another friend was hired at Delta with a recent busted type ride...self disclosed it in the interview. Never blame someone else and try to explain it. Ten days between last sim and the type ride...any of us could have trouble with not being an FO in that type first.

Good luck brother.

 

[ALIMBO]

What about underage drinking tickets? I got one a couple years ago and the way they said it works is you pay the fine and that's it. It never leaves the towns records.

 

[b18onboost]

What about underage drinking tickets? I got one a couple years ago and the way they said it works is you pay the fine and that's it. It never leaves the towns records.

If it's not on your driving record then there's no need to report it. You can call AOPA for more information. If you have the Commercial Pilot Legal advice then you can also talk to a legal professional.