How hard will it be to get a 2nd class with my record

A

Anon

Guest
Trying to get a 2nd class medical before spending money on flight training and I have a couple criminal charges from 10-12 years ago and I’m wondering what issues I might face getting a medical certificate.

I don’t have any DUIs but I do have an underage drinking charge that required a 3 month mandatory license suspension, I also have a misdemeanor traffic offense that was plead down to summary and a misdemeanor simple assault charge.

The traffic offense and underage drinking charges have both been expunged and I cannot get any records on them from the courthouse, and only the underage drinking charges shows up on my lifetime driving record

I have a consultation with a HIMS AME scheduled in a couple weeks, mainly looking for advice on what documentation to bring to make this go as smooth as possible, thanks.
 
It’s not just a medical - it sounds like you may be trying to get employment later. Just be aware that any potential future employers may have an issue hiring you with said record - particularly the assault charge.
 
Thanks for the reply, I don’t currently intend to work as a pilot so that’s not a big concern for me, just going for a 2nd class to keep options open in the future
 
You might take a look at Sport Pilot, which doesn't require a medical certificate. If MOSAIC gets implemented next year, a broader set of more capable aircraft will open up to Sport Pilots. You'll still be limited to daytime VFR flight, but that's what most of us do most of the time anyway.

OTOH, if you apply for a medical certificate and are denied, Sport Pilot will no longer be an option.
 
It’s not just a medical - it sounds like you may be trying to get employment later. Just be aware that any potential future employers may have an issue hiring you with said record - particularly the assault charge.
I don't mean to downplay the seriousness of having a criminal record. But during all the flight instructing and contract pilot work I did, nobody ever asked whether I had a criminal history or ran a background check (as far as I know). So having those things in your past does not necessarily rule out flying for a living.
 
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