I am 24 with two charges on my record, when I was 17 in high school (2017) I was caught giving a girl weed and charged as an adult with distribution. I was kicked out my parents house and went through a program to have it dismissed and I know my record now shows I was arrested but not convicted. It was stupid I realize and took full responsibility and did what I could to get it behind me. Was doing good until 2019 my father passed and I was hanging with the wrong crowds and a woman in a car I was in didn’t claim her pills everybody ended up being charged with schedual 2 possession I was 19 at this time. Again I went through a drug court program to have it dismissed and paid loads of money to try and put it behind me. I’ve never been a daily drug user just smoked weed at social events here and there but have been clean for over a year now. My concern is I want be able to get my 1st class medical. I realize by the time I start interviewing for a job after my training it will be over 10 years for my 2017 charge and nearly 10 years for my 2019 charge if I start school in January and finish in 3 years. Please don’t sugar coat anything I want to know if I am waisting more time on my dream career. Something I’m willing to put my all into and drop money on an aviation lawyer if that would better help my case.
Seth,
This is a question for an AME (Aviation Medical Examiner). In fact I’d locate a HIMS AME as they specialize in these things. You are looking at spending some time and money jumping through hoops but only they can tell you what is and what isn’t possible.
Adam
Thank you, yes I found that one of the mentors on another question posted a link to AMAS. I’m thinking this will be my best bet and I will just cancel my medical next week until I hear back something promising.
AMAS can help you navigate but only an AME can tell you for certain.
Adam
Seth,
I think you will have a hard time getting a medical. It might be possible, but it is going to require some serious work. There are a few things to think about here:
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The FAA does not care that you went to a drug abatement program and that the charges were dropped. They know that these programs are a way for people to keep things off their record, but they are more concerned with the fact that it actually happened, which it did, conviction or not.
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Being clean for over a year is not a long time in the eyes of the FAA.
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Everybody’s father, mother, grandparent, etc eventually dies. Most people deal with these issues on their own without drugs, all pilots are expected to.
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I am not an attorney, but I am not sure one would do much for you. The feds are not concerned with what your legal record shows, they are concerned with what you actually did, an attorney cannot change what in fact happened.
I have no idea if the FAA will issue you a medical or not, but I do think that it will be a long, tough, expensive road for you to get one.
Chris
Chris,
Thanks Chris, and all I’ve done is pot not to concerned with that when they have bars threw out an airport for people. I don’t believe it will burn bridges for me at all. I don’t drink and I don’t smoke and I work out regularly now. I’m actively trying to help addicts and homeless people in my area wherever I can put my hands at and I’m hoping maybe the good I put out, out weighs the bad. Time will be my friend as I have seen on most of these questions and comments. Thank you for the taking the time and giving me some pointers I realize I screwed up. I think everyone’s personal death is situational, people handle things differently if I had the funds at the time I would of put myself in counseling and found ways to better myself, I know this now and have had many deaths happen since then that were significantly worse than my father dying that I’ve had to deal with and have done so in a healthy way. This doesn’t make me doubtful at all. Ready for my next steps and if that means waiting another couple years that’s fine with me. Life goes on.
Seth,
It is great that you feel the way you do, but the FAA feels differently. They look at marijuana and alcohol very differently, ie one is legal and the other is not.
Chris,
This is very helpful, I was on the phone for about an hour earlier with an HIMS AME and was told to go ahead and get my medical. I will for certain be deferred but they don’t see me being denied. Gonna cost me some extra money to get extra test done to see if I am mentally good but I’m not feeling discouraged still. Was told it will take me another 6 to 12 months of testing and making sure everything is clear plus 4 to 6 grand in test just to pass my medical but this is just part of my consequences the way I look at it. I believe the FAA will see the good I’ve done to better myself and the time and energy I put in to getting this sorted out and will give me a chance. I’m prepared to take extra drug/alcohol test, I’m glad to see they take these precautions honestly. It was a relief talking to the HIMS AME even though it’s “bad news” for most. This takes my doubts away and I appreciate the feed back. Going to stay on the straight and narrow and hopefully be flying with yall in a few years. Thanks again