Expert: D. Norkus - 1/5/2008

Question
QUESTION: hi and thank you in advance for answering..I just got a ticket for a dui 2 days ago. I am on leave with a major airline, returning to work Feb.1st.  will they find out about the dui and can I be fired? I have been flying for 16 years.

ANSWER: Rita

You say you have "been flying for 16 years" but not in what capacity.

If you are employed as a pilot and have a DUI, yes it could affect your employment if your certificates are suspended or revoked. As a pilot, you are required to report DUIs to the FAA. If you fail to report your alcohol-related motor vehicle action/MVA (DUI) and the FAA finds out about it, they will open a Letter of Investigation on your pilot certificate which could result in a suspension or revocation when it is completed. I have read that typically not reporting within the time limit (60 calendar days of the effective date of an alcohol-related conviction or administrative action) results in a minimum 30 day suspension of any certificate, rating, or authorization issued.

Even if not reported, the FAA will find out about a DUI. When a pilot goes for their aviation medical exam, FAA Form 8500-8 "Application for Airmen Medical" contains an express consent provision which authorizes the National Driver Register (NDR) to release information about the airmans driving record to FAA. They will use these records to determine if the airman has had a reportable alcohol-related MVA.

A DUI doesn't mean automatic termination. (There are even pilots who have been hired by airlines with old DUIs disclosed on their applications.) If you are a flight deck crew member, you should certainly get professional legal counsel to deal with this matter.

Also, you should definitely contact your union and inquire about what protections they can provide for you in such a situation. Odds are, they have dealt with this scenario before and can provide help.

Read more about pilots and DUIs here- http://flightphysical.com/pilot/dui.htm

You can also contact a FAA DUI investigator Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. CT at (405) 954-4848 with further questions.

Dottie

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks for responding, and to answer your question, I am a flight attendant. Sorry I did not clarify.  Will I have any ramifications at work as such?

Answer
Since you don't have certificates at risk like a pilot, I'd say the threat to your job is pretty low to none. (Providing of course you aren't required to serve any time that would result in a missed assignment. Even then, you need more than one attendance incident for you to be fired- esp under union protection!) If you do end up with a need for some days off and are unlikely to get them, talk to your union rep about your options.

Also, if you are not subject to any mandatory disclosure on a company medical exam (like pilots are on their medical), then the airline won't have any way to find out about what happened.