Deferred DUI

[hoop]

Gentlemen,

I have a "friend" who received a DUI in 96' back in the college days. It was a 6 month deferred sentence. My "friend" would now like to get his PPL. Since then I...uhh, he has searched his criminal record, and nothing shows. BUT, the department of public safety has record of it, and says it will always show, and never go away. Therefore, the question is, does this need to be reported on the medical? Don't want to give them any more than they have to have. Does the FAA look at criminal history, or driving record, or both? I have done a search, but couldn't find specific info. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

[350DRIVER]

Conviction and/or Administrative Action History

They ask on the application whether or not a history of any convictions involving driving while intoxicated by, while impaired by, or while under the influence or alcohol or a drug.



3 5 0

 

[MarineGrunt]

YES. Don't mess around with it either.

On your medical it will say "have you ever been convicted of....." Whether it is on or off your record does not matter.

 

[TDTURBO]

YES. Don't mess around with it either.

On your medical it will say "have you ever been convicted of....." Whether it is on or off your record does not matter.

Well it does. Don't give them anything that doesn't exist. Get a copy of your record from the National Drivers Registry, if it's not on their than it doesn't exist. It can take awhile before it makes its way their, if you have doubts, contact an aviation attorney and have them check. There is no way I would admit to a DUI if their was no record of it, but that's just me.

 

[hoop]

Thanks for the replies guys. I did request a copy of my record from the NDR, and I thought it would look like an actual record with dates, places, etc., but it just said they have found a record that may pertain to me. Guess the thing to do is report the d@mn thing, instead of trying to skirt the whole issue. I would like to ideally fly corporate someday, so after ratings and experience (my goal is to accomplish this in 10 years), how will an employer view something that happened 15 or more years ago? Aside from the "its how bad you want it" factor, is this a pipe dream of mine, or am I doomed in the aviation industry??

 

[350DRIVER]

Aside from the "its how bad you want it" factor, is this a pipe dream of mine, or am I doomed in the aviation industry??

As long as you are up front, honest about it, and admit that you made a mistake and have learned from it then you probably are not "doomed". I would not let a past mistake hold you back from something that you want to do in life. I have met a few pilots over the years that have had a prior dui on the record and they seemed to be able to gain employment by stating the above. I have never experienced going through this process so I am unsure but I would have to assume that with a "sliver tongue" during an interview you can overcome this situation.


Honesty goes a long way in this industry.

good luck,

3 5 0

 

[Gulfstream 200]

I agree. Honesty goes a LONG way.

Be upfront about a DUI from 15 yrs ago....OK....we can live with that.....a dumb college mistake.

catch you in a lie when your background checks come back. Gone Immediately. Never to come back.

You would be surprised what comes back that "isnt on your records" anymore..

 

[TDTURBO]

This could be a career ending issue before you even get started, I would definately consult an aviation attorney regarding an issue that may very well change the rest of your life. You have nothing to lose by looking into it. You may be able to slide on this without any trouble. I would at least check, it's a big leap of faith otherwise.

A freind of mine will be a CFI the rest of his life because of a DUI in college....too bad, he is a great pilot with wife and kids. Lucky for him his wife makes good coin. That may end soon, she has MS.

 

[350DRIVER]

This could be a career ending issue before you even get started, I would definately consult an aviation attorney regarding an issue that may very well change the rest of your life. You have nothing to lose by looking into it. You may be able to slide on this without any trouble. I would at least check, it's a big leap of faith otherwise.

1 dui in 96' should not be "career ending" in any way unless this individual does not come forth with complete honesty conerning this issue. If he does the above then he should be fine, one cannot re-write history and change what has taken place.

keep your chin up and plug away,

3 5 0

 

[hoop]

Thanks for the words of advice and encouragement. This has really weighed on me for some time now. Whats done is done; can't do much about it now. Hopefully, a future employer might show a little mercy and realize that times change and people change.

 

[350DRIVER]

Thanks for the words of advice and encouragement. This has really weighed on me for some time now. Whats done is done; can't do much about it now. Hopefully, a future employer might show a little mercy and realize that times change and people change.

I would encourage anyone in your situation to not give up due to a mistake that happened in the past. Obviously if you were in jail for murder, robbery, kidnapping, etc, then it would be a different story all together. You made mistake and hopefully you learned your lesson (which seems to be the case). . . In a past life when I was in the Coex program they hired some with a dui, not a big deal if you come clean from the start. The problem would most likely occur if you tried to hide something, then game over.

Keep the chin up and good luck-

3 5 0

 

[MarineGrunt]

Well it does. Don't give them anything that doesn't exist. Get a copy of your record from the National Drivers Registry, if it's not on their than it doesn't exist. It can take awhile before it makes its way their, if you have doubts, contact an aviation attorney and have them check. There is no way I would admit to a DUI if their was no record of it, but that's just me.

If you were convicted of it, it DOES exist, even if it is "off your record." Even if it is off your record, it will still show up on your FBI level background check, which is what happens in aviation.

 

[nosehair]

Yep, it exists even if you were not convicted. FBI and certain agencies can find stuff we all thought was gone, or never "existed". They found stuff on me from back in the '60's. And not convictions, either. The FAA can find it. Don't try to hide it. That is the worst.

 

[jetdriven]

even if you werent convicted, expunged, etc the arrest record still remains and can never be erased. You may have to explain that..

 

[hoop]

Thanks jet, I know I have a lot of "splainin" to do as DW says!! Thats cool though, because if I never did go for it, I would always wonder "what if". Thanks for all the replies folks.

 

[RVSM]

Sorry for the slow reply Hoop.
DUI is not a career in the long run if it is a single occurence.
Lots of "hoops" to get a first medical however.
15 yrs ago I already had my PPL-SEL. I got a DUI just when they were getting weird about it. I had to do $$ battery of tests with a shrink to prove I wasn't a professional drinker and I had to send letters of reference to OKC for the next 2 or 3 medicals.
Now all I do is the normal medical.
The initial process was-go get medical from examiner. Get suspense letter from FAA OKC. Jump hoops. Get medical instated from FAA OKC. Subsequent ones I corresponded with OKC first and then did the exam.
I would suggest calling the FAA MED branch in OKC and see what they are going to require to unflag your medical. The testing cost me $600 15 years ago.

HTH

 

[de727ups]

DUI

First of all, the FBI background check is only for certain felonies and a DUI isn't on the list.

I find it hard to believe that if you go to a AME for your first medical in 2004 and you list a DUI from 1996, that it would be a problem. Call around to some different AME's and see if you can find one that will work with you without a hassle. If they will submit the paperwork then all it has to do is get through the FAA once and after that you just put "no change" on your medical.

Time is in your favor. By the time you are qualified for a job where it matters, you should have at least 12 to 15 years between the event and your interview. Talk about it as a learning experience and how it changed your behavior.

I don't see this as a career ender but don't get so much as a speeding ticket if you can help it.

I wouldn't try to hide this if you think it's still in some computer database somewhere.