FAA Substance Abuse and Dependence Investigation and Defense
Has the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”) determined that you are disqualified for airman medical certification due to substance abuse or dependence? Has the FAA requested you provide arrest and/or court records regarding a driving-under-the-influence (“DUI”), driving-while-intoxicated (“DWI”), or operating-while-intoxicated (“OWI”) conviction from your past? Has the FAA requested that you provide a personal statement regarding your use of drugs or alcohol? Is the FAA requesting that you undergo evaluation from a HIMS AME, HIMS-trained psychiatrist, HIMS-trained psychologist, or addictionologist? If so, it may be time to consult with an aviation attorney at The Ison Law Firm.
Substance abuse and substance dependence, as defined by the Federal Aviation Regulations are both “disqualifying” psychiatric conditions for FAA airman medical certification. In that, substance abuse and dependence are among the most common “disqualifying” conditions which prevent both general aviation and professional airman from acting as pilot-in-command (“PIC”) of an aircraft. If you find yourself in a situation where you have been convicted of an alcohol-related motor vehicle action, or if you suffer from some type of substance abuse or dependence, it is imperative that your case be properly reviewed and advocated before the FAA. In that, your aviation attorney at The Ison Law Firm will assist in gathering your arrest and court records (if necessary), relevant medical records, conferring with your physicians and counselors, referring you to the appropriate evaluators, reviewing your records, and ultimately advocating to the FAA on your behalf to show either the non-existence and/or remission of abuse or dependence. While you should always provide requested documentation within the time allotted by the FAA, it is advised that you always let an aviation attorney review your personal statement and supporting records prior to submission to the FAA.
If you suffer from abuse or dependence, your attorney at The Ison Law Firm will put your health and well-being first; however, in the event that you feel trapped or otherwise wrongly “mislabeled” as an abuser or dependent by the FAA, let The Ison Law Firm review your case and determine how to best present your file for medical certification to the FAA. Your aviation attorney at The Ison Law Firm knows what to do in the event that your medical application is deferred due to alleged substance abuse or dependence and will work to put you in the best position for FAA medical certification.