CFI Instrument Practical Test Standards, FAA-S-8081-9B, June 2001

II. Technical Subject Areas

B. Aeromedical Factors

6. Alcohol and drugs
a. It is recommended that alcohol should be avoided 24 hours prior to flight, though CFR 91.17 requires only 8 hours "from bottle to throttle"
b. 14 CFR 91.17 Alcohol or Drugs
(a) No person may act or attempt to act as a crewmember of a civil aircraft—
(1) Within 8 hours after the consumption of any alcoholic beverage;
(2) While under the influence of alcohol;
(3) While using any drug that affects the person's faculties in any way contrary to safety; or
(4) While having 0.04 percent by weight or more alcohol in the blood.
(b) Except in an emergency, no pilot of a civil aircraft may allow a person who appears to be intoxicated or who demonstrates by manner or physical indications that the individual is under the influence of drugs (except a medical patient under proper care) to be carried in that aircraft.
(c) A crewmember shall do the following:
(1) On request of a law enforcement officer, submit to a test to indicate the percentage by weight of alcohol in the blood, when—

(i) The law enforcement officer is authorized under State or local law to conduct the test or to have the test conducted; and
(ii) The law enforcement officer is requesting submission to the test to investigate a suspected violation of State or local law governing the same or substantially similar conduct prohibited by paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(4) of this section.
(2) Whenever the Administrator has a reasonable basis to believe that a person may have violated paragraph (a)(1), (a)(2), or (a)(4) of this section, that person shall, upon request by the Administrator, furnish the Administrator, or authorize any clinic, hospital, doctor, or other person to release to the Administrator, the results of each test taken within 4 hours after acting or attempting to act as a crewmember that indicates percentage by weight of alcohol in the blood.
(d) Whenever the Administrator has a reasonable basis to believe that a person may have violated paragraph (a)(3) of this section, that person shall, upon request by the Administrator, furnish the Administrator, or authorize any clinic, hospital, doctor, or other person to release to the Administrator, the results of each test taken within 4 hours after acting or attempting to act as a crewmember that indicates the presence of any drugs in the body.
(e) Any test information obtained by the Administrator under paragraph (c) or (d) of this section may be evaluated in determining a person's qualifications for any airman certificate or possible violations of this chapter and may be used as evidence in any legal proceeding under section 602, 609, or 901 of the Federal Aviation Act of 1958.

c. As little as one ounce of liquor, one beer or four ounces of wine can impair flying skills
d. After moderate drinking, a pilot can be severely impaired for many hours by hangover
e. Pilot performance can be impaired by many prescription and over-the-counter medicatons and by the conditions for which the mediations are taken
f. Judgment, memory, alertness, coordination, vision and ability to make calculations may be impaired by
1) Tranquilizers
2) Sedatives
3) Strong pain relievers
4) Cough suppressants
5) Antihistamines
6) Blood pressure medications
7) Muscle relaxants
8) Agents to control diarrhea
9) Agents to control motion sickness

g. Any medication that depresses the central nervous system (e.g., sedative or antihistamine) increases susceptibility to hypoxia
h. Safest policy is not to fly if taking any medication within 24 hours of flight unless approved by an AME
i. Smoking cigarettes, one pack per day, causes symptoms of hyoxia to be experienced as much as 5,000 feet lower than in a nonsmoker

Instrument Flying Handbook, FAA-H-8083-15, 1999
An Invitation to Fly, Basics for the Private Pilot, Seventh Edition Dennis Glaeser, Sanford Gum and Bruce Walters, 2004, Brooks/Cole
14 CFR 91.17
AIM 8-1-1

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