Originally Posted by
Kimchiflyrice
Hey, All.
I’m having issues. I did most of my training at ATP and was going through a lot of personal stuff during that time. My dad was diagnosed with cancer and I was involved in a major car wreck. Excuses aside, I failed 5 checkrides throughout my training.
I’ve recently hit my 1500 hours and have found it incredibly difficult to get a 121 job. If my application doesn’t get rejected, I do in the interview. 5 failures is a lot. Above average. Most fail 2. This is not a reflection of the pilot that I am today. It’s been 3 years since my last failure, but still an issue.
I suppose I am here out of desperation. I need advice because the rejections are hitting me hard and I don’t know how to move on from here. Being an instructor is great, but it takes a toll on me and I’m at the end of my rope.
If you have any positive suggestions, it would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
You stated that your checkride failures are not a reflection of the pilot you are today. Understood. What you need is something that does reflect the the pilot you are today, and that something will be found in building some distance and space and a spotless work history and track record. Three years is a start, but not a lot of time or distance.
There may be some valid reasons why your training was not a success, but you may also have some difficulty finding someone to listen to those reasons. First you need to get to that point, and what will get you there is establishing a strong work history. You can put the past behind you.
Others have noted that failed checkrides never go away, and they're correct. There's a balance to everything, however, and what you need right now is the ability to paint a picture of what you hope others will see in you.
Understand that the 121 world is neither the be-all nor end-all of aviation. There are many career paths, many choices. Not all of them are open to everyone; not everyone can find a military training billet. Not everyone has a degree. Not everyone has a future here or there, but that doesn't need to stay true forever, and likewise just because one direction is not the path, does not preclude another. Choose another method to skin the cat.
You can come back to the cat later, if you wish.
If you're instructing right now, look to 135. Look to ag, look to doing something else, somewhere, that involves your being vetted, checked, and approved under a program that's known and recognized. Go fly jumpers for a while. Spend a summer flying air attack on a fire contract. Go do air ambulance, cloud seeding, aerial photography or survey work.
The real question is how badly do you want it?