Driving-while-intoxicated history as a risk marker for general aviation pilots

Area of Science:

• Aviation Safety
• Occupational Health
• Transportation Safety

Background:

• The Federal Aviation Administration mandates background checks for pilots concerning driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) convictions.
• Understanding the link between pilot DWI history and crash risk is vital for aviation safety.
• Previous research has not fully quantified this association in large pilot cohorts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between a history of driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) convictions and the risk of crash involvement among general aviation pilots.
• To determine if DWI history is a significant predictor of pilot-related aviation accidents.

Main Methods:

• A cohort study of 335,672 general aviation pilots was conducted, with follow-up from 1994 to 2000.
• Data on pilot DWI history at baseline and aviation crash involvement were obtained from the National Transportation Safety Board's surveillance system.
• Statistical analysis, including adjusted relative risk and confidence intervals, was used to assess the association.

Main Results:

• 3.4% of pilots in the cohort had a history of DWI.
• Pilots with a DWI history exhibited a 43% increased risk of crash involvement (adjusted relative risk: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.15-1.77).
• Male gender, older age, and inexperience were also associated with increased crash risk.

Conclusions:

• A history of driving-while-intoxicated (DWI) is a significant and valid risk marker for general aviation pilots.
• The findings support the continued use of DWI background checks in pilot safety assessments.
• Further evaluation of the safety benefits derived from DWI background checks is warranted.