What must you do if your arrest leads to no conviction but requires attendance in a program?

If an arrest leads to the requirement to attend a program, it is essential to report this to the FAA, as per regulatory obligations. Under Federal Aviation Administration regulations, pilots and operators are required to disclose certain types of information that may affect their certification status. Attendance in a program following an arrest often involves issues relating to safety and fitness for duty, which are critical to maintaining an aviation certificate.

Notifying the FAA serves to ensure compliance with regulations designed to uphold safety standards in aviation. The FAA maintains the authority to assess whether this situation affects the individual's medical certification or operational credentials. Transparency with the FAA in these circumstances is crucial to foster accountability and safety in the aviation industry, and failure to do so could lead to serious repercussions, including revocation of certification.

While informing your flight school might seem responsible, and obtaining a letter from the program can be beneficial in some contexts, these actions do not fulfill the mandatory reporting requirements set forth by the FAA. Similarly, discussing the matter solely with an attorney does not satisfy the obligation to disclose relevant information to aviation authorities. Thus, reporting the incident to the FAA is the correct course of action following an arrest, even if it does not result in a conviction.