alcohol and medical

[Unregistered]

I have a friend who has a private pilot certificate. They have recently told me that they have a problem with alcohol, and do not feel they are able to stop drinking.

To date, there are no DUIs on their driving record, and they are very careful to observe 8-hour rules when flying is involved.

They are concerned that if they seek treatment, they will lose their medical certificate. The person does not work for the airlines, so professional assistance programs are not an option.

Is there an option for my friend to get treatment they need without risking loss of their medical certificate?

Thanks in advance for any advice.

 

[bbchien]

If he gets treatment (3rd class), and can stand a year of "they call you pee" he can get a special after his treatment record is reviewed.....and some of us get these ON THE PHONE if everything else is right.

But he needs for his own protection (no revocation) to not be PIC and to consider turning in his certificate without comment, for cancellation. It's becomes a different situation if he gets revoked.

I would advise him to (1) not fly, (2) get treatment, (3) get into aftercare, wait six months and get a HIMS AME to review his information. Contrary to what HIMSPROGRAM posted, I have had some HIMS psychs report back- "no diagnosis of alcohol dependency" and the testing then just becomes "belt and suspenders" for the agency.

That whole string about HIMS is just by a guy with a axe to grind, who doesn't "get it". When we get the HIMS psych report, "no diagnosis of alcohol dependency" it is really, really helpful. And we DO get them, but he wans't fortunate enough to get such (because there is likely a problem there).

If the agency has that after report, it's SI and some form of guaranteeing aftercare/monitoring -->immediate reissuance.

 

[TMetzinger]

I'll just chime in and say that it's better to get the treatment and fix the problem than it is to try and hide it and manage it.

And, Dr. Bruce, this isn't the sort of thing that would get someone (assuming they were commercial) in HIMS, is it? Assuming that there are no other symptoms other than "I think I'm drinking too much"?

 

[bbchien]

HIMS is really an airline program, designed around company medical benefits which are enforced by the union. When adapted for part 135 commercial pilots, presents serious cost problems. In these situations we try to adopt only the necessary components. ...which is why "HIMSPROGRAM" is so irritating.

Occasionally we get one for whom we engineer only the minimum components....and they go a lifetime denying there ever was a problem. I've seen this before.

 

[Unregistered]

Dr. Bruce - thank you for the information. When you speak of a HIMS AME reviewing information, what type of information is needed for review? Is it just evidence of attending AA consistently, or does "treatment" and "aftercare" need to be more formal than that?

 

[bbchien]

He actually has to be comfortable enough "sponsoring' you, which is the relationship. The airman gets into difficulty, so does he.

He can require nothing but the randoms. But a good addiction guy demands at least 3-monthly visits, spousal interview, and an SAE eval or review of the record. He may require monthly visits to a CADC evaluator or twice weekly AA, with verified attendance. It all depends on what's in the CADC evaluation, which is where one starts. This is the masters' level assessment done by a licensed CADC, according to FAA format (not court DSM format). The HIMS AME will know all this.

Just make the call and get started.