Application Question
 

Greetings!

I was wondering if anyone here could please provide me some advice on the application with AA.

First, my background. I’m a retired Air Force pilot and former KC-135 qualified Aircraft Commander (PIC). I have two Boeing type ratings. I haven’t flown in nearly seven years, but recently got hired by a regional (Part 121) carrier and have accumulated a little over 40 hours with them thus far.

I think I may have a potential problem/roadblock on my application as it asks if we’ve ever been sent to a military Flying Evaluation Board (FEB) and/or ever lost flying status for whatever reason. In all honesty and to be technically correct, I would have to answer yes—After I left the KC-135 community, I was sent to train to “fly” the MQ-1B Predator (drone). I made it through training with no problems. However, as I was going through their MQT program (a type of IOE, OJT training) I had some difficulties (many of which I felt were beyond my control) and didn’t perform well. In fact, they decided to pull me out of training and sent me to an FEB.

The FEB concluded that there were numerous problems with my unit’s training program and recommended that I be reinstated and go back through training. I was in fact reinstated. I would think it’s important to note in my application that 1) this wasn’t for a “real” aircraft’s training program and that 2) I was in fact reinstated due to what I mentioned. My concern is that if I answer “yes” to that question, the recruiter(s) or whoever reads these might automatically trash my app since I answered yes. I’m wondering if I should just be honest and give the same explanation I gave here or answer “no” (dare I say “white lie”), but then try to give an explanation in an interview if I ever get offered one?

Any thoughts or suggestions on how to proceed would be greatly appreciated! Thank you and I eagerly look forward to contributing and flying with you one day.

Sincerely,

Ruben

I would answer "yes" and write down the story you just gave us. Does it give you an option to do so?

I know Delta just changed a question on their application because many people were showin up to the interview having marked "no, I have not failed anything" and later not getting the job because in the interview they tried to explain away why their "no" was actually in fact a "yes" that needed further explanation

It's a good idea to hire FAPA, cage, or any of those consulting advisors BEFORE you get the interview so you do all this correctly.

Hope that helps.

Copy that! Sounds like great advice. Thank you very much and hopefully this will work. All the best!

Good luck! Just a quick FYI...I know this was mentioned above but I worked with an interview consultant after getting the interview offer and I learned that I may have gotten the call sooner had I hired them BEFORE receiving the call.

They will cross the t's and dot the i's you think you got but missed.

Hi Adanac

When you mentioned consultants, were you referring to FAPA or cage in your first thread? I'm not too sure who they are. Should I get in touch with them even before I send out the app? Thanks again!

Ruben

Not a huge deal - like mentioned, click yes and explain. I have a bud who ejected due to contributing factors on his part. He put it down under the mishap section with a brief explanation and got the interview, but he was super nervous about it. At the interview the first question was, "Tell me about your ejection," and his answer was, "I appreciate you bringing up the elephant in the room," and he went on the explain the accident, what happened, and most importantly what he learned from it. He was hired three weeks later.

Most important about any blemish on your record is that you take ownership of it and talk about what you learned from it.

This was at AA?

On my medical and ATP attachments - I can not set the expiration dates. I've wondered for a long time if anyone else can input a date there (and how). Hopefully my application has not been incomplete all this time.

Each time I try to edit the date I get an error "change failed"

Try a different computer. I tried updating my app from an iPad and it didn't work correctly at times, went to a windows PC with Mozilla and it worked fine.

Sorry I don't get on the computer often and just saw this. I used cage but I've heard fapa is good too. Doesn't matter really they all know how the application / interview process works. Definitely worth the money.