Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
Sorry for the noob questions, but what exactly is PRIA, what is covered, and what information is developed?
Pilot Records Improvement Act ensures that past employers and the FAA share certain info related to pilot performance with airlines who are considering hiring a pilot. Special forms are submitted to the FAA and past employers.
The FAA will return info going back some number of years, and other info forever.
Airlines and 135 operators must maintain certain records, and return records going back five years.
91 Operators do not have to maintain records, but if they DO keep records, they also have to return them.
Non-aviation employers are not part of PRIA
Use google for details, get the most current PRIA AC.
Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
Also, how detailed are airline background investigations?
Depends on the airline. Some bottom-feeder regional may only run the legally required checks, ie PRIA and SIDA. Legacies will be much more thorough, and will go so far as searching the internet, social media, and anything publicly available. They may go so far as to pull criminal and civil records from every jurisdiction you've ever lived in. They got burned by hiring a few ex drug smugglers years ago...
Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
Do they run a credit check?
Maybe. See above.
Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
Does the scope of the background only relate to DOT/airline jobs?
PRIA yes. Other background checks typically no, if they look at past employers they will look at all of them, even if just to verify you worked there and didn't get fired (you want to be "eligible for rehire" at all past employers).
Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
What information do airlines expect to get from employers that have nothing to do with aviation/transportation?
Anything they can. In most cases they're just going to get dates of employment and rehire eligibility, but if somebody wants to talk, they'll listen. Nobody will talk these days (liability), unless it's a small mom-and-pop outfit.
Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
By what timeframe are these backgrounds usually completed? In indoc, 6 months after hire, etc.?
Depends. Some do it all prior to class date, which I prefer because that way everybody knows for sure. I don't care if liars get fired, but it's possible to have some kind of misunderstanding (ie former boss told you it was all good but then trashes you on a reference call). Best to have it all done before you resign from your old job.
Some prefer to save money (since there are often no-shows on class day), and will start the checks only once you're in class. The SIDA stuff has to be done before they let you do IOE, but any additional stuff they wanted to do could in theory take a while.
They never give you notice that you've passed everything, you just kind of assume that if you don't get fired after a few weeks and get authorized for JS and IOE.
Originally Posted by
CrowneVic
I'm familiar with military/security clearance/law enforcement backgrounds and how in depth they are. They are completed BEFORE you ever get the job. Can't imagine an airline background needs to be so comprehensive.
Some of the bigs have historically gone full SSBI equivalent... even beyond that in one notorious case.
Worth noting... the SIDA check will reference the FBI's national database. This is a national security database, not accessible to normal employers. In addition to convictions it will also include arrests for serious crimes (DUI or better is my understanding). It also probably does not expunge anything, ever.
If you can pass a DoD, IC, or LE background check, and don't have anything awkward on social media, you should be fine with airlines.