Pilots (FAA)
For a pilot, a DWI creates a problem most other drivers never face: a federal reporting obligation with a hard deadline. The FAA treats alcohol- and drug-related driving offenses seriously, and missing a deadline or mishandling a disclosure can cost you your certificate, even if the criminal case goes well. If you fly, call us before you send the FAA anything.
The 60-day FAA reporting rule (14 CFR 61.15)
Under federal regulation 14 CFR § 61.15, a pilot must notify the FAA’s Civil Aviation Security Division (AMC-700) in writing within 60 days of a “motor vehicle action.” Two critical points most pilots miss:
- A “motor vehicle action” includes both a conviction and an administrative license action, such as an ALR license suspension for refusing or failing a breath/blood test. That means one DWI arrest can create two separate reportable events, each with its own 60-day clock.
- The 60-day deadline is independent of your criminal case. You may have to report an administrative suspension long before the DWI is ever resolved in court.
The medical certificate (Question 18v)
Separately, you must disclose alcohol/drug-related arrests and convictions on your next airman medical certificate application (FAA Form 8500-8 / MedXPress, Question 18v), regardless of timing. Your Aviation Medical Examiner may defer the application to the FAA’s Aerospace Medical Certification Division, which can require substance-abuse evaluation, counseling, or proof of sobriety.
Consequences of getting it wrong
Missing the 60-day deadline can lead to denial of certificate applications for up to a year, or suspension or revocation of your certificates. And two motor vehicle actions within three years can independently justify suspension or revocation. Because of how these deadlines interact with the ALR process, a pilot needs a DWI lawyer who understands both the state case and the federal fallout, fast.
Are you a pilot facing a DWI in Houston? Call Blass Law at (713) 664-4000. We defend the DWI and help you protect your certificate while the FAA clock is running.
(Related: professional license hub · ALR license hearing · breath & blood test defense)
Reviewed by Jay Blass Cohen, founder of Blass Law PLLC, ACS-CHAL Forensic Lawyer-Scientist, certified Drug Recognition Expert, and SFST instructor, serving Houston since 2009. This article is general information, not legal advice for your situation. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.