Driving under the influence carries serious consequences. The consequences of a DUI are potentially even higher if someone has a pilot's license.
Pilot's licenses are governed by the Federal Aviation Regulations. These regulations require a pilot to self report any DUI conviction or administrative sanction results from a DUI. This means that if a Pilot is arrested for DUI in Oregon, he could have report both a DMV suspension and a criminal convicted. Pilots must report these sanctions within 60 days.
A certificate, rating or authorization can be suspended or revoked for a year if a pilot has 2 motor vehicle actions within 3 years. The FAA defines "motor vehicle actions" to include both DUI convictions and administrative license suspensions. For this reason, a pilot could conceivably suffer a suspension of his pilot's license based on one event of drinking and driving. A single count of refusing to take a breath test can result in a year suspension of a certificate, rating or authorization.
A pilot who is accused of driving under the influence should contact a DUI attorney immediately. The best way to protect a pilot's license from a DUI conviction or administrative sanction is to avoid them altogether. It is also important to note that most airlines will not hire a pilot with a DUI conviction on his record regardless of his licensing status. This makes defending a DUI all the more important for pilots.
