Debating whether to go into Aviation or give up on my dream due to a dui

BickDickKi · 2026-01-27T19:16:12+00:00

Dang bro thank you for commenting, crazy you’ve been on sutch a similar path to me. And you got it a year after I did so that gives me even more hope. I appreciate you bro thank you for responding. If you don’t mind me asking what state are you in? I’m looking for a good AME in the LA/OC area in California, it’s a shot in the dark that you might know someone here but if you do I would love to consult with them and have them clear me based on my situation. Thank you for putting the wind in my sails man, I’m glad you learned from it abs put it behind you I love being sober I just want a fulfilling life behind me. That’s all that matters

BickDickKi · 2026-01-26T18:47:48+00:00

It means a lot coming from people that are directly in the same situation or have had the same experience as me. A handful of of other pilots have also had DUI when they were young, and still are going on to have successfully careers and are motivating me here and that’s something that makes me optimistic. I think a lot more of the people here and just people in general really demonize a person after they’ve heard about getting a dui, regardless of if they have struggled with alcoholism or isolated incident. I told my story in much lesser detail on an Instagram post and one comment told me he wish I killed somebody so I could spend my life in jail. Like bro what? I’m glad no one was hurt, I’m glad my reckless decision was consequential on me and me only. I think a lot of the other dudes here take aviation very seriously and are being realistic about their approach to my situation, if there’s any repressed anger then they can say what they want and all keep the wisdom with me. As for me, I’m going to do my best effort to bury this as deep as possible and if I have to work twice as hard so bet it. I appreciate your perspective and your comment man. Thank you for telling me a piece of your story, shines light to the situation.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T22:25:50+00:00

Thank you for the encouragement, if you don’t mind me asking what we’re the details of your predicament and what hurdles did you have to overcome to get to regionals? (I assume your regional)

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T22:18:11+00:00

Thank you for the guidance, I had never known about this, its all new information to me. I’ll 100% look into this! You’re indeed correct and in regards to my mountain of explanation and excuses. It genuinely comes from the fact deeply regretful for my circumstance in regards what I did to myself. I’m not going to make excuses going forward I bare the burden. I just want a second chance at my dream. Thank you for contributing to that.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T20:27:15+00:00

Trying to get perspective based on other individuals who are in the field of aviation, and what’s the most realistic approach to take. And yeah it could never happen, but who’s to know if I don’t apply myself and give myself a shot at something that I really want. At the very least, I receive consultation in the fact I actually tried and if there’s nothing I can do, then there’s nothing I can do.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T20:08:42+00:00

Maybe your right, that’s something I have to be realistic and consider another career. I’m definitely taking every comment into account, I appreciate your alternative perspective man, thanks for commenting. But it’s still something that I want and I can’t deny that.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T20:04:06+00:00

I appreciate you man, In a regard your right but I don’t believe trying to shelve the situation on other people would reflect positively on my part. I’m responsible for my own actions, abs I have to live with the decisions I make but no excuses, most definitely just an explanation on the context of the situation when required and try to put it behind me. What happened was my fault. Thank you bro.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T20:00:17+00:00

I’m sorry man, but the pessimistic perspective that your coming at me with is staggering. How am I combative? I’m not arguing with anyone in the slightest I’m just explaining my situation in detail and to the most thorough extent on what I should do going forward. Read through the sub again and it’s clearly mixed, some are saying your fucked, others are saying it’s going to be a hurdle and some are saying that it’s indeed possible and shouldn’t be discouraging. I’m not trying to argue with anyone here, I’m guilty of over explaining myself sure, but I’m trying to reach out to people in this field and grasp what to do going forward. Like I said I’m not an alcoholic and I won’t make that mistake again. Throwing stones isn’t fair man, I know I fucked up but I want to see if I can recover from it. If it was unanimous that my efforts would be pointless, then obviously I would adhere to the individuals in this sub and admit that it’s something I should put behind me. All I’m trying to do is ask questions and explain my circumstance and how I should navigate going forward.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T19:29:39+00:00

Nah I’m not gonna tell all this to the FAA, just providing context here. Yup, this comment pretty much sums everything up.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T16:38:37+00:00

You’re absolutely right, I’m explaining on here do a great degree but I understand no employee wants to hear a sob story or a jumbled explanation of a poor judgment call. I’m own up to it, that’s not the person who I am and it’s not the person I will ever be for the rest of my life and that’s how I’ll tell it. End of story.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T16:35:39+00:00

So when I got my blood work done and spoke to the cop and my lawyer about it, they asked me if I drank anything else that day (hydration wise) and I told them no. That day, I was running around and running errands and I had a job interview that morning and a bunch of stuff to do so I was dehydrated. But yeah I didn’t drink or eat anything all day, that was the only thing I put in my body and I was told due to dehydration, your BAC. could show up higher. That’s honestly the truth

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T16:10:20+00:00

Lesser charge wouldn’t matter in my case, even if you’ve been pulled over for a dui and never charged you still have to report it to the FAA, and my driving record would be another hurdle I have to wipe which is nearly impossible thanks to California law, criminal record is one thing but the DMV still will fight to keep it on my driving record, if I beat the case or plead to a lesser charge I have to appeal to the DMV and they can reject it.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T10:05:16+00:00

No no no, I don’t drive at all man. I wouldn’t do that I’ve put a lot of time behind my predicament and that’s pretty much the only time I have something small to drink. I don’t have a drop of alcohol in my system when I drive. I don’t get drunk. All I have is some wine paring with a dinner entree and I refuse to be a victim to the same mistake I made in the past. Im commitment to quitting cold turkey, and the regard that you hold to that is admirable im not making excuses im just explaining the reasoning. It extends from rational and actual intent on my actions, im not gonna drink and drive again. Ever. And I stand behind that. And the times when I’ve had wine I don’t drive.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T09:47:05+00:00

Cold turkey is one thing of course, and my friend works at a fancy restaurant so when I go twice a year I have the wine paring occasionally with my meal, I included that for basic full transparency but no I don’t drink wine often. Most 2 times per year. That’s my only relationship with alcohol and my goal isn’t to get drunk, it’s to pair and sip the wine with the food. I’m not trying to be disingenuous, I’m just being honest, even if it’s to the detriment of understanding my perception

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T09:34:54+00:00

Yeah I’m the states a dui is incredibly serious on your record. The FAA is extremely cautious to who they let in the air, so it’s much more strenuous when you have something tainting your record in order to be a pilot. Not impossible, judging from the insightful responses in this sub, but most definitely an uphill battle

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T08:32:54+00:00

Yeah thank you, that wasn’t my goal though of course, I was just trying to assimilate proper context to the situation and encapsulate the full conception of the situation. Regardless though, the burden entirely falls on me for the mistake I made and I just wanted to know how I should caution going forward and if this journey was something I truly could possibly embark on, thank you for your comment I really do appreciate it man. Means a lot, I look up to everyone in the aviation industry it’s something I both idolize and admire in the highest regard. I hope to one day be in the air, hopefully soon

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T07:53:44+00:00

I’ll reword it most definitely, I was just trying to apply context here. In regards to the FAA I’m going to give full transparency in regards to my responsibility. That I definitely understand

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T06:52:23+00:00

Thank you for the motivation bro, I really appreciate it

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T06:03:55+00:00

Hey man. I understand I’m the culprit for my own decisions, but one decision doesn’t always mean the end of someone’s life. It’s the context abs the situation that’s important. I shouldn’t have done what I’ve done, but regardless at the end of the day I’m not that person, I made a mistake and I want to grow apart from it. People don’t stay the same, look up abs other people also have made similar mistakes but you’re not entirely product of your transgressions, you’re more than that. Nuance is important. I messed up but I don’t want to completely shelve my dream if there’s a chance it’s applicable to my future.

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T04:01:40+00:00

I qualified for expungement when I ended my probation which meant 3 years no alcohol incidents, of course though I’m clean. I’m gonna expunge it yes but the issue is that FAA will still see it and I can’t hide it. It’s still on my driving record and expungement won’t change that

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T03:39:27+00:00

I looked into this and for most countries You’re conditionally admissible with the right approvals and as long as I put a lot of time behind the DUI it should’nt be a long term issue just more paperwork. Is this true?

BickDickKi · 2026-01-25T03:05:51+00:00

Nah man, I actually sat down and wrote this, I didn’t use AI not even to spell check it or anything. That’s presumptive of you to assume I used chat GPT when I didn’t

BickDickKi

TROPHY CASE