Anyone who holds a pilot’s license issued by the Federal Aviation Administration who is arrested for Driving Under the Influence (DUI) / Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) is required to report any criminal conviction or DMV administrative action to the FAA.
The following actions must be reported to the FAA within 60 days:
- DUI / DWI court conviction;
- Revocation, suspension, cancellation or restriction of driving privileges;
- Administrative per se orders;
- 10-day civil revocations;
- Express consent revocation/suspension of driving privileges;
Because of the FAA reporting requirements, it’s essential to fight both the criminal court case and the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) cases triggered by a Driving Under the Influence (DUI) / Driving While Intoxicated (DWI) arrest. An experienced criminal defense attorney knows how to aggressively defend both cases.
Upon learning of a DUI / DWI court conviction or administrative action, the FAA likely will require the pilot to submit to a substance abuse or psychiatric evaluation. Depending on the evaluation, an FAA license holder may be required to enroll in a substance abuse treatment program, submit to close monitoring by the FAA, or take random drug or alcohol tests.
Generally, reporting a DUI / DWI conviction or driver’s license suspension to the FAA will not result in a revocation of a pilot’s license. However, failure to report these actions can prompt the FAA to suspend a pilot’s license or refuse to renew it.
Not all FAA license holders fall within these reporting requirements. FAA license holders who are not required to submit a medical certificate, such as aviation mechanics, are not required to report actions that stem from a DUI / DWI arrest.
To successfully comply with the reporting requirement, send a notification letter to the FAA’s Security and Investigation Division within 60 calendar days of the effective date of a DUI / DWI court conviction or administrative action resulting from a drunk driving arrest to:
Federal Aviation Administration
Security and Investigations Division (AMC-700)
P.O. Box 25810
Oklahoma City, OK 73125
