Starting from nothing with DWI

F

frak87

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Dec 23, 2024
Messages
6
Display Name
Display name:
frak87
Reposted by recommendation.

"If I am starting from zero to get minimally PPL and have 1 dui arrest with conviction and 2nd dui arrest that was reduced to reckless driving, does that mean direct to HIMS?

For what it's worth, both incidents are over 10 years ago. I do not drink now, though I do not go to any programs or anything.

I have not started with any training due to this because the stuff I read on here, it seems like it will take two or more years to even get a SI, then training and flight school.

Getting a PPL seemed like something I could afford to do with a wife and 3 kids, but now I don't know what I am looking at as far as costs and what to expect if I do attempt to continue this path."

Since posting the above Dec 23, I have started digging into information on my two cases in order to get the BAC's. Once I obtain those, then I will book a consult with an AME to see what they say and go from there.

I was hoping someone might have a similar situation and could possibly share rough costs going through HIMS to get cleared.
 
www.pilotsofamerica.com

FAQ: DUI's and alcohol/drug abuse

I'm starting this thread in order to collect information about DUI/DWI and alcohol/drug abuse issues and pilot medicals. New pilots and Student Pilots: if you have ever had a DUI or issues with drugs/alcohol, please read some of these threads first! ------- Student pilot: 21 year old DUI...
www.pilotsofamerica.com www.pilotsofamerica.com

Next - believe the MDs that post here - they know what they are talking about. lbfjrmd and bbchien.

Additionally, an expert attorney (who posts for information only and not a attorney of record for you or anyone else unless you decide to hire him) midlifeflyer
 
Last edited:
To approach this like FAA does:

Have you got the BAC on the two offenses. Two, is at a minimum, ABUSE by definition. It's about the arrests and so the plead down, counts.
:( (Published alcohol behavior events). Unless you have BACs both 0.149 or less this is ABUSE.

Can you subtantiate no other offenses (DMV searches in any state in which you've had a license)
Are you currently abstinent or do you continue to drink AT ALL.
If FAA randomed you right now would it be negative....


B
 
Last edited:
bbchien said:
To approach this like FAA does:

Have you got the BAC on the two offenses. Two, is at a minimum, ABUSE by definition. It's about the arrests and so the plead down, counts.
:( (Published alcohol behavior events). Unless you have BACs both 0.149 or less this is ABUSE.

Can you subtantiate no other offenses (DMV searches in any state in which you've had a license)
Are you currently abstinent or do you continue to drink AT ALL.
If FAA randomed you right now would it be negative....


B
Click to expand...
Currently I guess I am planning/preparing for the worst and assuming they will treat or classify as abuse. Maybe it's loaded of what kind of hoops I am looking at jumping through.
I only have BAC for the one currently and it was below 0.149. I need to go through the county I believe and submit for the discovery on the other case to obtain the BAC and that could take a little bit of time.

No other DUI/DWI offences in other states.

I am currently abstinent.

If the FAA gave me a random, the results would be negative.

Thanks for your response, I know from reading other related posts people are or can be touchy about this stuff.
 
Based on reading through the threads here and self-digging, I exchanged the chip on my shoulder for a 24 hour chip and had my first meeting and got it logged. I figure that even if I wait to start any sort of flight training, I can do something productive a couple times a week at a minimum, in order to start to appease the FAA in the future. I still need to find somewhere local to me for the random UA's. Most of my low effort of searching seems to apply for businesses or probation. I never see an option for voluntary random UA's. (Any recommendations appreciated)

I will be scheduling a consult with an AME that came highly recommended in Austin to start paving a solid path forward, now that I have my BAC's for both incidents.

I read in one of the other DUI related posts that AggieMike88 shared back in June of 2020.(pasted below) I wonder how accurate this budget is now, being 4.5 years later?

  • A $9000 to $12,000 budget to pay for they various things the FAA will require of you. This includes the direct costs of exams as well as the travel costs to the different professionals whom you need to see during this journey
  • A neuro cognative psychological screen of extreme depth that only a very few HIMS psychologists can administer, paid for out of your pocket. Health insurance is unlikely to cover this costs. These very few HIMS psychologists are not publicly listed and you can only see them by referral of the Senior HIMS AME's
  • Direct sponsorship with a Senior HIMS AME, to whom you report to frequently and to whom you must demonstrate you are doing what is required to earn the medical certificate. There are very, very few of these AME’s, so plan onfrequent travel to see the one who is working your case. A list of the HIMS AME's can be found on the FAA.gov website
  • 90 days of intensive alcohol dependency treatment. This will likely be in the form of in-patient treatment.
  • 100% sobriety and abstinence from all alcohol. Wine with girlfriend and beer or shots with buddies is now verboten, für immer, for ever, zauvijek, pour toujours, aeternum!!
  • Documented routine attendance with alcohol dependency meetings (think Alcoholics Anonymous or similar), and this could be for a significant amount of time.
  • Many, many random pee in the cup whiz quizzes all documenting you are remaining 100% sober
  • And much, much more.

I know this will unfortunately take a long time to go through the system on this, but hey, maybe by the time I get a medical, I will be going through flight school with one of my kids.
 
I have lightly looked into it, but I would eventually like to have the possibility of a career. I don't know if I have put any nails in the coffin on sport pilot by filling out the Medexpress application. The Medexpress application has not been touched by an AME yet, so I am not sure how I stand on the potential for going sport pilot for the time being.

What are rentals for Sport pilot like?
 
bflynn said:
Do you enjoy boating?
Click to expand...
We have 4 boats, only one runs... The rest are projects in various stages of construction, mainly due to them being stored at work and nobody wants to stay the extra time after work to mess with them.
 
frak87 said:
I have lightly looked into it, but I would eventually like to have the possibility of a career. I don't know if I have put any nails in the coffin on sport pilot by filling out the Medexpress application. The Medexpress application has not been touched by an AME yet, so I am not sure how I stand on the potential for going sport pilot for the time being.
Click to expand...
If an AME doesn't open it, the application will just disappear. Which is what you want to happen at this point. Even if you decide to go for a medical, you should have a consultation with a HIMS AME prior to any live exam.
frak87 said:
What are rentals for Sport pilot like?
Click to expand...
It varies by area. But hopefully there will soon be a lot more aircraft that qualify. And there's no reason you couldn't go for Sport first, and then decide whether getting a Private would be worth all the hassle.
 
Back
Top