Three DUI’s/DWI’s In A Lifetime Will Result In Denial Of Medical Application

According a note on page 6 of the spring 2009 issue of the Federal Air Surgeon’s Medical Bulletin, “[t]hree DUIs in a lifetime are considered alcoholism until proven otherwise.” The Bulletin goes on to state that an airman with this history would be required to provide the FAA “with the court documents, a typewritten letter explaining the details of all of the DUI events, a typewritten accounting of the history of their alcohol consumption, and a substance abuse psychiatric and psychological evaluation.” If the airman cannot “prove otherwise”, an airman with this history may still be able to obtain a special issuance medical certificate if the airman can show that he/she has successfully completed treatment, abstained from use for a minimum of two years and received positive evaluations, among other things. It isn’t impossible, but it will take a lot of time, effort and money.