DOT agency
FAA (Federal Aviation Administration)
Regulation
49 CFR Part 40 & 14 CFR Part 120
Format
In-person & 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, in person or 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.
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.
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.