Please Help!! Do Regionals, Specifically Express Jet, Use NIDA 5 Panel or NIDA 9 Drug Screens on New Hires?
Question by MelissaBaby: Please help!! Do regionals, specifically Express Jet, use NIDA 5 panel or NIDA 9 drug screens on new hires?
I have some interviews with Express Jet and some other regionals in the coming days and weeks. My doctor had recently prescribed me “restoril” or “tamazepam” to help me with some minor insomnia. I called an AME to double check about this and he informed me that pilots are not supposed to take this medication so I discontinued it. He warned me however that restoril and other “benzodiazepines” have long half-lives and could still be detectable when I go in for my interviews, even though I discontinued it. He also said that airlines are only required to give a “NIDA 5 panel test”, which doesn’t test for this class of medications, but the “NIDA 9 panel” does. Do any pilots out there know which test Express Jet, Mesa, American Eagle, and other regionals use for new hires? Perhaps I should delay my interviews a few more weeks. Moral of the story: always consult with an AME before you start any new medication!! Please only answer the question!!! I do not need advice!! Thank you so much = )
Any input from 121 pilots out there would be helpful. I don’t want to delay my interviews. I think it is probably best to just be up front at the interview.
Best answer:
Answer by Tim W
Hi Melissa. That’s a tough situation, especially if your interviews are already scheduled. (they don’t look kindly on rescheduling an interview as this is a sign of disinterest). It sounds like you did the right thing and contacted your AME and he gave you some good ‘under the table’ information. I know you don’t want any “clever” advice so I won’t give you any. I have 2 friends who fly for Express Jet so maybe one of them will know the answer for you. The FAA is so retarted sometimes… pilots are human too and the FAA would rather have pilots fly with no sleep than pilots who are treated effectively for a temporary condition. Good luck to you.
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