Criminal background checks
 

Will the FAA not issue a medical certificate, especially a 1st class(later down the road on to ATP) if you have any convictions? Does it only include things after the age of 18? I mean, I made mistakes in the past and I regret doing them.

if its on your record it will come up

So have my dreams been shattered and broken because of these convictions?

no of course not. but be aware if it is brought up in an interview be honest and as brief as u can

Well i'm going to be training for a FW-PPL. Should I just get a 3rd class certificate for now? or should i just get a 1st class certificate?

Maybe, maybe not. But if you get a shot at the airlines you should feel very, very lucky. There are thousands of motivated, hard working people out there who have kept their noses clean.

However, if your crimes are very minor things which are typical of youthfull stupidity (public drunkeness, urination, trespassing with no intent to steal, minor drug use, underage possession etc) they will not be a real problem with the airlines...assuming you demonstrate you have grown up.

If we are talkng real crimes like theft or violence then you have a problem.

It's almost always best to get a First Class before committing to pilot training with a career goal.

I suspect that if your problems were prior to age 18, the FAA might not hold them against you, especially if they were expunged.

You should probably talk to an aviation lawyer before you talk to the FAA or get a medical...even with a third class, you have to list convictions on the form, so they would know about them if you went for a first class later on. It's possible that you do not have to report stuff prior to age 18, but you need a lawyer to tell you for sure.

Also, the government has a seperate requirement for all airline employees to have a clean record for ten years. This only applies to certain crimes (see below). If this applies to you, you definately need to talk to a lawyer to see if being under age will exempt you (I think not).


Transportation Security Regulation:

In accordance with Transportation Security Regulation (TSR) 49 CFR, all employees that are granted unescorted access to a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) and employees that have access to aircraft must undergo a fingerprint based Criminal History Record Check (CHRC). The following is a list of disqualifying crimes:

1. Forgery of certificates, false marking of aircraft and other aircraft registration violation; 49 U.S.C 46306.
2. Interference with air navigation; 49 U.S.C.46308.
3. Improper transportation of a hazardous material; 49 U.S.C. 46312.
4. Aircraft piracy; 49 U.S.C 46502 .
5. Interference with flight crewmembers or flight attendants; 49 U.S.C 46504.
6. Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight; 49 U.S.C.46506.
7. Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard aircraft ; 49 U.S.C. 46505.
8. Conveying false information and threats ; 49 U.S.C. 46507.
9. Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; 49 U.S.C 46402 (b).
10. Lighting violations involving transporting controlled substances; 49 U.S.C.46315.
11. Unlawful entry into an aircraft or airport area that serves air carriers or foreign carriers contrary to established security requirements; 49 U.S.C. 46314.
12. Destruction of an aircraft or aircraft facility; 18 U.S.C 32 .
13. Murder.
14. Assault with intent to murder.
15. Espionage.
16. Sedition.
17. Kidnapping or hostage taking.
18. Treason.
19. Rape or aggravated sexual abuse.
20. Unlawful possession, use, sale, distribution, or manufacture or an explosive or weapon.
21. Extortion.
22. Armed or felony unarmed robbery.
23. Distribution of or intent to distribute a controlled substance.
24. Felony arson.
25. Felony involving a threat.
26. Felony involving willful destruction of property .
27. Felony involving importation or manufacture of a controlled substance.
28. Felony involving burglary.
29. Felony involving theft.
30. Felony involving dishonesty, fraud and misrepresentation.
31. Felony involving possession or distribution of stolen property.
32. Felony involving aggravated assault.
33. Felony involving bribery.
34. Felony involving illegal possession of a controlled substance punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 1 year.
35. Violence at international airport; 18 U.S.C. 37.
36. Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the criminal acts listed above.

mm, good info! thank you! i was looking for that and I didn't know where to begin. If I were to not get a first class, Is it possible for me to just talk to a aviation lawyer and see if we could get things waived?

Not sure what you want waived...the TSA requirements have nothing to do with pilot medicals or pilot certificates. The TSA only comes into play when you apply to work at an airline. I'm am very certain that that requirement is NOT waiverable under any circumstances...what you would need to do is see if they even count juvenile offenses, or try to get it expunged. An expungenent should work for TSA I think. If it does count against you, then you will need to work as a CFI, corporate, or possibly 135 pilot until the ten years is up. I'm not sure if the TSA rules apply to 135 operations?

If you are looking to waive the requirement for a first class...well, they evaluate each person on a case-by-case basis anyway. It depends on the nature of the crime, your age, how long ago it was, and your attitude. They may also require a physcological exam to make sure you don't have "issues" which might have led to criminal behavior. Once you overcome this hurdle to get a first class you will never again have a problem with it on a medical...best to do that before you spend money on training.

But, yes talk to an aviation lawyer who has done some aeromedical work.