Office of Aerospace Medicine Technical Reports
FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-85/12
Title and Subtitle: Alcohol rehabilitation of airline pilots.
Report Date: October 1985
Authors: Russell JC, Davis AW.
Abstract: This study involves a survey of medical records for over 500 airline pilots who have been medically certified by the FAA after a diagnosis of alcoholism. The program demonstrates an 85% rate of success since 1976. If a pilot experiences a relapse, he/she is immediately taken off flight duty and recycled back through the program.
In no case where there has been a relapse has it been felt that aviation safety was compromised. The success of this program is due to several unique features, such as the cooperation of the pilots' union, airline companies, and the FAA to identify and treat alcoholic pilots. This program also includes peer identification and referral and an intensive 2-year follow-up of pilots by all three groups mentioned above.
Key Words: pilots, aviation safety, alcoholism, commercial aviation, medicine, flight, surveys, diagnosis (general), records, rehabilitation, alcohols.
No. of Pages: 16
Civil Aerospace Medical Institute
Report No: DOT/FAA/AM-85/12
Title and Subtitle: Alcohol rehabilitation of airline pilots.
Report Date: October 1985
Authors: Russell JC, Davis AW.
Abstract: This study involves a survey of medical records for over 500 airline pilots who have been medically certified by the FAA after a diagnosis of alcoholism. The program demonstrates an 85% rate of success since 1976. If a pilot experiences a relapse, he/she is immediately taken off flight duty and recycled back through the program.
In no case where there has been a relapse has it been felt that aviation safety was compromised. The success of this program is due to several unique features, such as the cooperation of the pilots' union, airline companies, and the FAA to identify and treat alcoholic pilots. This program also includes peer identification and referral and an intensive 2-year follow-up of pilots by all three groups mentioned above.
Key Words: pilots, aviation safety, alcoholism, commercial aviation, medicine, flight, surveys, diagnosis (general), records, rehabilitation, alcohols.
No. of Pages: 16
Last updated: Friday, June 1, 2012