flyguy78

I am currently about to start my flight training in a few months. I recently totaled my truck in a snowstorm due to losing control on black ice on the interstate. I had no control and my vehicle slid left into the cab of an oncoming 18 wheeler and then bounced me into a guard rail. The wreck was technically my fault and I was wondering if having an auto wreck like this on my driving record would affect my hiring status down the road with an airline employer?

I would appreciate any feedback!

jedinein

By the time you are ready for a flying job and assuming nothing physically happened to you, this should be in the distant past. If no points were earned and no ticket issued, it didn't happen, UNLESS there is a question on the interview or application that specifically asks if you've ever been in a car accident or something similar to that. Then you respond with a 30 second explanation of what happened and what you are doing to prevent recurrences (moved to a warmer climate, bought better snow tires, slowed down--good for anyone under 25 when the accident happened, give yourself more room in risky situations, etc.)

rickair7777

Aviation employers are not particularly concerned with a single auto accident, even at-fault it can happen to anyone.

They are more concerned with your overall driving record. Numerous recent speeding tickets or other moving violations are cause for concern. More significant things like reckless driving are more likely to be a show stopper, and a DUI is almost the kiss of death these days.

If your record was poor when you were very young, but you shaped up well before age 25 you should be OK as long as you have a few years of clean history. The more serious the history, the longer you may need to wait before they are comfortable that the behavior is behind you.

In your case, even if you got a ticket I doubt they would care at all since black ice can take anyone by surprise...of course a southern-based employer might not even know what black ice is. I would be more concerned with your overall traffic record not this one incident. If you were not cited, the airlines will probably never even know.

flyguy78

Great thanks alot!

rickt86

Dont worry about it dude, I know a ton of pilots, Dad, Uncle, Grandpa (was in the good ol days), and a ton of friends of those following people as well as people I know, Jump pilots/RJ guys/CFI's ETC. We get moving violations, that's all they are, they are tickets, not REAL crimes, its even worded on your medical that way. If it comes up on an interview someday about your tickets when you were young, just BE HONEST, its what makes you REAL, and an average hard working guy.

Honestly in IMHO someone that's 40 and has never had a ticket, is either super lucky, or going to be that weird guy, and I have met them, we are trying to find another guy to jumper dump with us out here, and I honestly am surprised by some of the guys I have met trying to work here, if you know what that means (dry people).

Have I got tickets? Yes I am 23 and have 2 or 3. But they make for stories, even when hired to fly jump planes I explain my driving history and I am honest. What tickets did I get? My most recent was moving to California for the winter jumper dumper job, I have right now, which maybe permanent. But I drove from NJ to California, pretty much one end to the other on RT 80, to take on a 3 month (might be longer) job dumping jumpers. In Leramie (sp?) WY I got a ticket for 84 in a 65. Did I mention I did the drive in 4 days, basically 3, i only drove 1hr 40min the last day (couldnt miss a night in Reno!) Anyone that has lived a little will laugh at that and be more interested in the LIFE EXPERIENCE of driving across America, and switching lives like that, and see the ticket as a cost of doing it. One other I was in HS and on the NJ Turnpike went through a speed trap in Clark NJ, anyone who knows that area knows its a speed trap, I was going to six flags the day after I graduated HS and a highway cop got me doing like 73 in a 55, which was a 65 1/2 a mile before, I was going with the flow but went in the left lane and he got me, I normally avoid the left lane for that reason, and in NJ if you go slower than the flow you get RUN OVER, and I was young and stupid and enjoying my first day out of HS, it happens man, if you get one or two between 18 and 25 it happens but keep them to 1 or 2 if you can. As you get older if it doesn't change I would assume it would show you cant mature. But they could make for a story that makes you seem human, mature, smart, and REAL and get you a job over someone with no tickets whose 40 dry and I hate to be blunt but just not your middle of the road average guy. Airlines want someone people can relate to, connect with, and enjoy the personality of. They want a good pilot FIRST, but when you have 2 they will pick the one with the things I just listed.

If you want the short version, dont worry about it I know a ton of pilots, we all got a few tickets, esp while younger, the ones I know older got older, got less, and got jobs with Airlines.

rickt86

Oh this was about an at fault accident, crud, well same thing applies, it was snowy, you drove, you crashed, AND YOU LEARNED FROM IT, and apply it to your flying....thats all that matters period, your GLAD YOU HAD IT HAPPEN IN A CAR NOT A PLANE, and now take ice and the weather serious....thats all you ever have to say