DOT agency
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
Regulation
49 CFR Part 40 & 14 CFR Part 120
Format
Secure telehealth, Pennsylvania-wide
Who this is for
- Airline pilots (Part 121 & 135)
- Corporate and charter pilots
- Flight attendants and flight instructors
- Aircraft maintenance personnel (A&P mechanics)
- Flight dispatchers and ground security coordinators
- Aviation screeners and aviation screening personnel
What to expect
Your initial evaluation is a confidential clinical session of roughly 60–90 minutes, conducted via secure telehealth. The SAP assesses your history and the violation, and issues a specific recommendation for education, counseling, or treatment under 49 CFR §40.293.
After you complete the recommended program, the same SAP performs a follow-up evaluation. Once cleared, your employer arranges a directly observed return-to-duty test, and the SAP issues a follow-up testing plan for at least the first 12 months back on duty.
The evaluation isn't a test you pass or fail, and it isn't there to punish you. It's an honest clinical conversation so the SAP can recommend exactly what 49 CFR §40.293 requires for your situation — no more than necessary. Aviation careers involve real scrutiny, so we're precise and thorough, and we document everything the way the FAA and your employer's DER expect to see it.
Mode-specific details
Medical certificate vs. SAP process: Your FAA airman medical certificate is regulated separately by the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine. For pilots, substance-related medical certificate issues are typically managed through the HIMS program. The SAP process is your return-to-duty pathway under DOT — it does not by itself restore your medical certificate.
Confidentiality: The SAP only releases compliance status to your employer's DER and the MRO. Your full clinical record is not disclosed to your employer.
Coordination with HIMS: Where a pilot is concurrently in HIMS, we coordinate with your HIMS AME and HIMS Independent Medical Sponsor as appropriate.
Pennsylvania aviation personnel we see range from Part 121/135 crews out of Philadelphia International and Pittsburgh International to corporate flight departments, regional airports, and A&P mechanics at MRO facilities statewide. Wherever you're based, the telehealth format means you don't lose additional duty days traveling to an office for the evaluation.
Frequently asked
Does a SAP evaluation restore my FAA medical certificate?+
No. The SAP evaluation is the DOT return-to-duty requirement under 49 CFR Part 40 and 14 CFR Part 120. Your FAA airman medical certificate is a separate process administered by the FAA Office of Aerospace Medicine — typically through HIMS for substance-related issues. The two processes are complementary but distinct, and we coordinate where appropriate.
I'm an aviation mechanic, not a pilot — does this apply to me?+
Yes. 14 CFR Part 120 covers any safety-sensitive aviation employee: pilots, flight attendants, flight instructors, aircraft maintenance personnel, dispatchers, ground security coordinators, and aviation screeners. The SAP process is the same.
Can I do the SAP evaluation while I'm out of state for work?+
Yes. Telehealth SAP evaluations are permitted under DOT rules and are routinely used for aviation personnel who are away from their home base.
What's the relationship between the SAP process and the HIMS program?+
HIMS (Human Intervention Motivation Study) is the FAA's pilot-specific monitoring program for substance-related medical certificate issues. The SAP process is the DOT return-to-duty pathway for testing violations. A pilot with both a positive test and a medical certificate impact may be in both programs simultaneously.
How much does the evaluation cost, and how does telehealth work?+
Pricing is upfront with no surprise fees — see our cost page for the current initial and follow-up rates. Any education or treatment the SAP recommends is billed separately by that provider. The evaluation is a confidential 60–90 minute secure video session; you just need a phone or computer and a private place to talk.
How fast can I be seen in Pennsylvania?+
Most aviation clients get a telehealth appointment within a few business days, evenings included. Call (717) 614-0299 and we'll find the earliest slot that fits around your schedule.
How long does the whole return-to-duty process take?+
It depends on the education or treatment the SAP recommends and how quickly you complete it — the parts you control. The initial evaluation can happen this week; the follow-up evaluation happens after you finish the recommended plan, and your employer then arranges the return-to-duty test. We can't promise a date, but we keep the paperwork moving at every step.
More questions? See all DOT SAP evaluation FAQs →
Other DOT modes we serve
Cost, timing, and what comes next
Serving Pennsylvania statewide