From what I've seen, just one will sometimes be overlooked, but in a competitive industry it could still follow you around.    Many times airlines check your driving record,a history of traffic and alcohol violations thorws a red flag. Even repeated speeding tickets can hurt you.  If it is a one time event, I would be ready to explain it during an interview, that it was a momentary lapse of judgement, and you learned your lesson and would never allow it to happen again.

Yeah, like I said, they are looking for a pattern of destructive, anti-authoritive behavior.  One DUI is not a career ender, but several would be.  When I was in Pro Av in college, we had one guy who in just two years had four DUIs.  The Aviation department head finally pulled him aside and told him there was no future in aviation for him anymore and he should change majors.

WHATEVER YOU DO, DO NOT TRY TO HIDE THIS FROM THE FAA. DO NOT LIE, OR OMIT, OR COVER-UP IN ANY WAY.

Assuming this is your first and last DUI, even if there's a conviction, you may have a chance.
But if you go through all the trouble and expense of getting the ratings you want, while hoping the FAA doesn't find out about your DUI, and they do at some later date, you will most likely have all your certs yanked, probably
permanently.

The FAA is very sensitive about being lied to... don't upset them. Don't even think about it. Many pilots have lost everything this way... DUIs, criminal convictions, medical conditions, etc, etc. If anyone else besides you knows about it, the FAA may find out. And when they do, they will tear up your certs... mostly because you tried to make them look stupid.



As for the wisest way to reveal it to them... my advice is to consult an aviation attorney, even in an online forum. Or call AOPA; they offer legal advice for pilots.

I'd also recommend you check out this thread on the PoA forums (assuming you're not the same person, LOL):

http://www.pilotsofamerica.com/forum/showthread.php?t=34318


The bottom line is that even if it is thrown out in court, it may still be on record. Sometimes the FAA (or aviation employer, or insurance company) asks "is there a record?" sometimes they ask "were you ever?". Find out what you need to know about the status of this DUI, even when it's "all over".... and DON'T TRY TO HIDE IT FROM THE FAA.

And one more piece of advice: don't drink and drive. 

over here in the states, if you are UNDER the legal limit, you may still be "drunk" but they can not charge you with DUI. ... DUI is basically only if you are OVER the legal limit.



In my State.. South Carolina, USA:: http://dui.drivinglaws.org/scarolina.php

First DUI Conviction

With a Blood Alcohol Content Under .10
License Suspension - 6 Months
Fine - $400
Jail – Minimum of 48 Hours – Maximum of 30 Days, or
48 Hours of Public Service Employment

With a Blood Alcohol Content .10 and Under .16
License Suspension - 6 Months
Fine - $500
Jail – Minimum of 72 Hours – Maximum of 30 Days, or
72 Hours of Public Service Employment

With a Blood Alcohol Content Above .16
License Suspension - 6 Months
Fine - $1,000
Jail – Minimum of 30 Days – Maximum of 90 Days, or
30 Days of Public Service Employment



If you blow OVER a .2.... forget about EVER getting your license back... EVER! You will never be able to drive a car, or fly a plane, or drive a Semi-Truck again.

Northwest 102 wrote on Feb 17^th, 2010 at 5:06pm:

Make sure you keep track of the status of that DUI, even when it is expunged. Assume nothing. Remember, you will be responsible for reporting this at every medical exam, etc. for as long as you hold any airman's certs.

It may turn out that you are free, at some point, to check "none" when it comes to DUIs, but make sure you are certain about that.

Steve M wrote on Feb 17^th, 2010 at 9:47pm:
Good advice.  Most states have a program for first offenders where, if you comply with all the court's requirements, after five years the charge will be removed from your record.  This would then no longer require reporting it to either the FAA or a future employer. 

expat wrote on Feb 18^th, 2010 at 4:22am:


There are so many technicalities that you can get off on its ridiculous.  For example, the officer in most states has to have an intital cause to stop you, in other words you have to break a traffic law.  We once had a guy get off scott free because the officer listed the initial cause to stop him as illegal lighting, because he was driving with his fog lights on.  Well if you scrutinize the law, fog lights are legal, so the initial cause was tossed out, and the DUI, even though he blew a .18!  Even though he was guilty of driving drunk, he got off because the officer didn't have probable cause to stop him.