Expert Opinion
AINsight: DUIs and Substance Treatment
The FAA's HIMS program can assist private and corporate pilots, not just airline pilots.

Driving under the influence of alcohol or drug violations must be reported to the FAA. In the past, only “convictions” for DUI needed to be reported on the FAA medical application form 8500-8 (now filled out online through the MedXpress process before each FAA exam with an AME).

Several years ago, the wording for this item (18v) changed to include “arrests and/or convictions.” The implications of this change were significant, as there were many pilots who previously could answer “no” to this question who subsequently had to change their answer to “yes,” even if an alcohol charge had never been convicted and had possibly occurred many years in the past.

Robert Sancetta, M.D.
AIN Contributor
About the author

Dr. Robert Sancetta is a former DC-10 captain with 11,000 flight hours. He has worked as a Senior AME since 1993 and is appointed as AME Consultant to the FAA Federal Air Surgeon.

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