rickair7777

You will absolutely be expected to remember ALL arrests or convictions, going back forever. If you forget any, they will assume that you lied and blackball you.

atpwannabe

Unfortunately as a convicted felon, he has no chance of getting a job with the airlines. If the charges were dropped and he was exhonerated, that would be "a horse of a different color!!!"

As far as the FAA & airlines holding something against someone...say for example if the courts dropped the charges, person was exhonerated, made a poor decision that was say 5+ years ago and was a misdemeanor, is totally ridiculus. People make mistakes.

If a definite pattern exists, and concrete conclusions can be drawn from what is evident, then,... no,...a person should not be allowed to fly as an airline pilot. Again, if there are dropped charges, or something minor that is 5+ years old and nothing else, then that person should be given equal consideration and placed on a level playing field with other qualified applicants. A rising tide lauches all boats.

People make mistakes. People change for the better. We have all in one or more areas of our lives have asked for a second chance; whether it was relationally, professionally, financially... or even spiritually. This industry along with other industries needs to start affording people that second chance and stop all of this "Puritan type philosphy." ALL FALL SHORT...ALL!!!!!


atp

NYCPilot

What about crimes from 14 years ago?

The apps ask for particular crimes within the last 10 years. Understandable. But why only 10 years?

Why not 5 or 15. Arbitrary?

Do most apps ask if you've been convicted of a crime within the last 10 years or ever?

This would make a difference for me.

I've got something from 14 years ago and would like to apply for a regional FO position, but I'm concerned that this will come back.

andy171773

I don't know if it would be disqualifying for ratings, but the airlines would surely dig it up.. and then it's up to them..they may extend the interview..but he would really have to woo them

best of luck

rickair7777

The TSA requires a 10-year criminal history check of all airline employees who have access to secure areas. There is a list of crimes which are automatically disqualifying if convicted within the last ten years. This is federal law and not negotiable.

I think an airline could ask for a history of any felony convictions, even beyond ten years. But if they don't ask, you don't have to tell them and 14 years should be OK with the TSA.

NYCPilot

Thanks Rickair.

As a follow up, I just perused the entire AirlineApps.com site for the information one needs to supply. One section asks whether within the past 10 years you've been convicted of any of 28 disqualifying offenses. I haven't commited any of them and what I had, was more than 10 years ago (1 misdemeanor/ 1 violation). Thats fine - 14 years ago. The AirlineApps.com site in another section also asks whether one was convicted of any felony, misdemeanor, violation or infraction other than a traffic violation within the past 10 years. I can legally answer no to that also.

So, it seems that I can truthfully answer these questions on the online application.

Here's the bigger question.

When one goes for an interview at the various regional airlines, will they ask verbally or on an additional application form if you've ever been arrested or convicted of a crime, regardless if it's beyond 10 years or not.

For those of you who have gone through the interview process at a few different regionals, do they ask if one has been arrested or convicted of anything (felony, misdemoeanor, violation, etc.) ever?

This would be my only concern.

Also, if someone has been in a similar situation of mine, having an arrest more than 10 years prior to an interview, have they been hired after disclosing such?

I made a couple of stupid mistakes, mostly from hanging out with a bad group of friends when I was younger.


Thanks.

CPOonfinal

I was a bit of a dumb-a** as a kid. I have something in my history that's on that list (near the bottom) that happened 20yrs ago. I would hate to do everything it takes to get to an interview and get denied because of that.

rickair7777

They might. I was asked at least twice that I can recall, but it could vary by state (they have different laws on this sort of thing, but in most places they can ask about felonies and serious misdemeanors going back forever).


Convictions, yes. Arrests? It may vary by state...you cannot ask about arrests in CA, but I have been asked on at least airline interview (in AZ).


Depending on the nature of the crime, the odds are very, very good that it will not be a problem at most airlines. It was a long time ago and the fact that you were young will make a big difference (I assume you were under the age of 25). A few airlines (typically AA and Eagle) may hold it against you.

This assumes the offense was not something socially reprehensible like rape.

Due to variations in state law, you probably need to be prepared to explain ANYTHING about your background which may come up...take full responsibility (don't blame others), tell them briefly what you learned, then SHUT UP. Hopefully the interviewer will move on to other topics.

rickair7777

Looks like you'll have 20 years in the Navy under your belt? Don't worry about anything that happened before that.

NYCPilot

Thanks for the response Rickair.

The two incidences were being a backseat passenger in a stolen car and I was left "holding the bag," so to speak. The two guys who took it were acquaintences of a friend of mine and I stupidly took a ride with them and ended up being the only one who got caught.

In the second case, I was with some kids who stole spraypaint from a hardware store.

My FBI background check shows both of these convictions, but as I said one is from 17 years ago and the other from 14 years ago. Final disposition was a misdemeanor and a violation.

So, in conclusion it seems that on the airlineapps.com questionaire, I can legally say no to these offenses since it is time constricted (10 years). At the actual interview it seems more prudent to admit openly that I have a record and produce a copy of the FBI records indicating this.

My concern is that they will hold this against me.

Since it has been 17 and 14 years from the time I commited these offenses, do you think most regionals will make a big deal of this?

Since that time, I have managed to attain a B.A. degree with several semesters on the deans list, have worked my way up through office jobs and obtained my flight certificates up to CFI's, never having failed any of my rides.

Has anyone else admitted to criminal offenses duirng the interview and still got the job?

What are my chances of getting hired at the regional level?

I love aviation and have worked hard at acquiring my ratings, knowledge and hours but I've come as far as I can go without landing a regional job, which I would be more than happy to have a career at.

I'm just not sure to invest much more in my aspirations as there may be no hope in attaining airline employment.

Any advice is appreciated.