The FAA cares not that there was no conviction and that you were deferred. You were impaired and you chose to drive. I'm in the middle of something similar. Here's my tale thus far:
https://www.pilotsofamerica.com/com...sober-for-19-years-active-in-recovery.126871/
Things the FAA
will ask for:
- Records of your arrest. If you need to, call
- DA, your lawyer (if you had one), the arresting department (if you can get the date of your arrest). You will need as much documentation as you can find, INCLUDING the BAC. If you can find a record of your BAC and it is <.15, you should be good and there should be smooth sailing.
- Likely everything on this document: https://www.faa.gov/about/office_or...nt_FAACertificationAidRequiredInformation.pdf
Beyond this, there could be additional information required, including examinations by mental experts to make sure that you don't have any brain damange. Expect significant scrutiny and prepare as much as possible for a long process,
especially if your BAC was >=0.15 or you have any other sort of alcohol or drug arrest--
even if it didn't lead to prosecution. Minor in possession? Drunk in public when you were a student at university? Possession of paraphanelia? Anything related to drugs or alcohol, and they'll classify you as an abuser, regardless of what you, your family, or friends think about. As another user has said here, regulatory law is different than criminal or civil law. You have to play by their rules.
I can't find any records or anything since the courts get rid of them after 10 years.
This is surprising. Even the small-town court and police office in middle TN (where I got my DUI in 1999!) still had archives. Ask. Beg. Plead. I bet that there are records available. If there are no records at all, the FAA will likely assume the worst and treat you as though you had a BAC >= 0.15.
You will have hoops to jump through. They will be costly and time consuming. You will get frustrated. But holy crap, those 8 perfect ****ing landings you did at night with your CFI in the right seat and their passenger in the back seat will have you coming back for more and you will want to continue to jumping through those hoops as quickly as you can to do more flying.
I was deferred in July 2020, was kicked into the HIMS program, but sill have hope that my SI 3rd class medical will arrive before my birthday in June.