I've heard of more than one pilot get themselves back to the airlines after blowing the big one and know a few personally. They've had certificates revoked for various reasons and came out of it having learned a whole lot.

That having learned a whole lot needs to come across in the interview.

Do not breathe one word about "it's not my fault." If you or your lawyer missed deadlines for whatever reason, state it. "Hurricane Katrina changed my priorities and I had to let the certificates go. I probably would have stopped flying anyways to deal with that problem. I now know and do keep copies of my logbooks in safe places and am very careful to stay out of the gray areas that could trigger an investigation, no matter who ultimately prevails."

For re-training, you will need a certified copy of your last 8710 and/or medical (or both!), staple it into your new logbook, and then the 3 hours in the last 90 days before taking each checkride. Sit down with a DPE and/or the FAA inspector who'll be doing your checkrides and make sure work through the process in an efficient manner. When you do fly, do so in such a conservative manner that the Feds will have no reason to question you, let alone start an investigation.

Good luck!


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