Originally Posted by UnlimitedAkro

I've have heard this same question from other friends...

Airlines can access all FAA documents (and they will), and if you have ever received a PINK slip for failing and "FAA administered checkride", it will show up on your record. If an airline asks you if you have ever failed a checkride, that is exactly what they mean. Dont even bring up stage checks unless they bring it up.

Now, there are a few airlines that ask in interviews if you have ever failed a stage check OR checkride. It is my understanding that airlines can not access stage check failures at all. But if I were you, and they question said "stage check" I would be honest about it.

More importantly, be sure you end your story with a good note at the end... The airlines want to hire someone they can train. If they only hired people who never failed checkrides, they would be having quite a rough time right now...

So make sure you own up to (what was hopefully just) a small mistake you made to fail, and what you learned from it and how it made you a better pilot.

Taking a negative question in an interview and turning it into a positive story is an effective way to make yourself look really good...

Good luck to you.