cavortingcheetah

But this poor fellow consumed weed, as in consume as a synonym for eat. So he ingested the stuff as in eating a hash brownie which was quite possibly made from Afghan Black or Lebanese Blond? That might put a completely different complexion on the situation? Is the drug absorbed into the lining of the gut or the stomach or is it excreted in the normal evacuatory process? I understand from the UK medical department at the Beehive that six weeks for hair is the norm. The point of reference is, as for arsenic, the root of the hair so in order to avoid detection along that route, complete depilation would be necessary which is both extremely painful and expensive.

Fliegenmong

Edited.....'cos I guess a few really wanted me to...

Exascot

OK, no problem then

CY333

love the thread name..accidentally ........LMAO

Exascot

Ah, just had a thought, I presume any hair applies to this test. No way am I waxing all body hair

Best stay off the funny stuff.

1a sound asleep

an illicit substance? Care to elaborate?

1a sound asleep

You probably don't want the lecture but alcohol, cannabis and ecstasy use? Are you really sure you want to be a pilot? Get X tattooed on both hands and don't ever do it again.

After 3 months nothing will be detected.

Bad medicine

As these questions are coming up relatively regularly, I've merged the last few together.

Cheers,

BM

Agaricus bisporus

This thread is hilarious! Is there anyone who actually admits to taking "illicit substances" more than once or doing it deliberately instead of "by accident"? Or of taking substantial quantities instead of a tiny amount? Get real!

Does anyone really expect us to believe "Oh, Officer, I feel so stupid. I only did it once and I'll never do it again!"

Is this the sort of attitude that will lead to filing an MOR on yourself when you've done something silly? There's a fundamental incompatability with flying here, isn't there?

Shell Management

Yes but the airline industry has a culture of preferring to cover this up.

Colibri49

First and foremost, the best advice is to stay off such substances permanently and forever and only to drink alcohol in moderation.

I completely agree that you should go and get a Class1 medical before anything else; that would apply even if illegal substances weren't an issue. So the CAA isn't going to raise an eyebrow if you get the medical done first because many others do just that anyway.

Never admit to anything on questionnaires for a medical, apart from "normal" childhood illnesses like mumps. Tucked into the list of ailments on the tick-box form when I did my first medical for the military many years ago, are innocent-looking things like persistent headaches/migraines, bed-wetting, glandular fever and asthma. These conditions are a definite NO for the military; I'm not sure about the CAA.

The advice I was given by an uncle who flew Hurricanes, Vampires, Harvards and Dakotas was "Don't tell the blighters anything that they can't find out for themselves". Well, none of the "fail if you admit" items applied to me fortunately, but you can make of his advice what you will.

Too bad if anything undesirable is already on your medical records, in which case the advice in my second paragraph still applies.

ppltrainee90

Hi guys, just a quick question that I've been trying to get to the bottom of.
Basically, I'm taking my air law exam and my medical exam soon to be able to fly solo, but from reading the FAA's website something came to my attention.
Basically, about nine months ago I smoke joint of weed with some friends. That was the first time I smoked weed and since then I have never been near it.
Should I take precautions when taking my medical? Is there a high chance that this will show up? And if it does, what are the consequences? Thanks.

Rory Dixon

1) drugs don't get tested on class 2 medicals
2) It is very hard to find traces of THC 9 months after a single use of weed
3) Why do all these people always state that it was a single occurence? Do you all think the rest in the world is stupid?
4) DRUGS and FLYING do not go together!!!!! You have to decide what is important to you. And stick to it.

ppltrainee90

What is a class 2 medical? Is that the kind that I'd take for my air law? If it makes a difference I live in England.
Because it was a single occurrence.
Flying is more important, but (this may not be the case for you) I think it's just nature for people to want to try things in life, so I don't regret doing it.

GolfLima

You may want to do a bit of investigating and revision of air law, this is pretty basic stuff...

Not regretting you did it infers you don't think it was wrong, having a PPL and being in command of an aircraft requires a bit of maturity.

ppltrainee90

There's nothing wrong with taking a risk. Anyway, I've done it, and probably won't do it again. Is there much of a problem?

cavortingcheetah

There could be a very big problem if the medical requires a hair sample analysis for substance abuse. Information on this and other drug related problems, including alcohol, tobacco and women, is readily available on Dr Google and associated websites.
There is one medical examiner in particular at CAA/LGW who was very keen on the hair follicle test being imposed and so it might well have been by now.

Inso far as the FAA is concerned, I copied out the following for digestion from this site:

Removed commercial link. Better to use the FAA website.

(Substance Dependence/Substance Abuse - A diagnosis or medical history of substance dependence is disqualifying unless there is established clinical evidence, satisfactory to the Federal Air Surgeon, of recovery, including sustained total abstinence from the substance(s) for not less than the preceding 2 years. A history of substance abuse within the preceding 2 years is disqualifying. The list of substances includes alcohol and all illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine, etc.) plus certain prescription drugs such as sedatives, anxiolytics, etc.)

So I suppose it could be said with a certain degree of exactitude that the FAA take this sort of thing quite seriously. Regular as opposed to irregular use of marijuana within the last two years disqualifies you from holding an FAA licence? I have always found the FAA office at KPNE to be extremely helpful. Perhaps you should contact them for clarification?

Risk taking poses its own problems in aviation and generally speaking such an attitude is not encouraged among pilots either amateur or professional. In the absence of gross neurological manifestation this characteristic is not likely to be determined at the initial medical stage. The unfortunate attitude which condones such a degree of infantility will, however, usually be determined at the psychology tests administered by an individual airline as part of its recruitment process.

I should state that I have no medical qualifications and that the above a personal thoughts and ruminations based on empirical research generally available on the internet to which I commend your further researches.

michael01fl

don't report it, it was a one time thing, stay away from it and enjoy flying, would you tell a police officer you were speeding yesterday?

ppltrainee90

Thanks for the advice cavortingcheetah.
I'll check into it a bit more. I'm only 16 so if it turns out that I have to wait 2 years, it's not a big problem cause I've got a lot of time.

dlx_xlb

Drugs are only really a problem if you are dependent upon them.. and suffer withdrawal symptoms if not taken..

Or if you conduct safety sensitive aviation activities whilst under the influence of an illicit or a banned drug..

Also if you abuse alcohol or any other legal over the counter drug...

after 9 months and if it was your only time, you won't have a problem if you do get drug tested..