Reporting Requirements

There are two separate reporting requirements after any drug or alcohol offense. Complying with one does not satisfy the requirement of reporting to the other FAA department. 

• You must report within 60 calendar days of any drug-and/or alcohol related conviction or administrative action to the FAA under Part 61.15(e).  If you do not report such occurrences within 60 calendar days, you risk a suspension of your pilot’s license and airman’s medical certificate. Click here to navigate to the FAA website with a notification form and the address/fax to send it in. 
• You must also report the incident at your next FAA medical exam. You are now required to report arrests, convictions and administrative actions by checking “yes" on line 18.v of FAA Form 8500-8. Note: an administrative action could be driver’s license revocation, alcohol class requirements or community service for example). Also, include alcohol-related offenses that were reduced to a lower offense, such as careless driving, and anything that was expunged by the courts. 

If you have had any other alcohol-related legal occurrences in the past, this should have been reported already.  If this is your first medical since October 2008 when the new form came out, then this will also need to be discussed and reported to your medical examiner. 

If this is a second offense, or your first offense with a blood alcohol level of 0.15 or higher, the FAA will ask you to see a Substance Abuse Profession (SAP) for an evaluation. Insurance does not cover this and the out of pocket is typically $500.

The Checklist

• Contact the ALPA Aeromedical office, your Union Legal team, or airline medical advisors
• Contact the HIMS committee to discuss finding an approved SAP if warranted
• Be prepared to bring copies of the following documents to your next FAA medical exam if you have not reported the incident to the FAA yet:
  • • Alcohol test results
    • Police reports
    • Court documents (if any)
    • A personal statement explaining the event and your current drinking habits

Note: You may continue flying on your current medical until the FAA contacts you requesting more information until that time when your next medical is due. 

Helpful Documents

FAA Drug & Alcohol Enforcement Actions Order 2150.3B

Prompt Settlement Policy Guidance for Legal Enforcement Actions

Guide for AME’s Substance of Dependence/Abuse