They have you sign waivers for past employers for PRIA data.

I have never seen a waiver for non-PRIA information, I think they just use the past employers default employment verification process, which is usually "The Work Number" portal these days.

PRIA does not apply to non-aviation employers.

PRIA essentially doesn’t apply to Part 91 operators. I’ve called for employment info and some didn’t call. Just supplied the most recent FAA certificate action, that is, the type rating record, and employment data. Corporate chief pilots could get a “not for attribution” question answered

GF

Sort of. PRIA does not require 91 operators to maintain records, but if they DO maintain records they are required to furnish them in response to a PRIA request. Airlines are required to send a PRIA request to ALL past pilot employers, including part 91 and foreign employers. Similar process for government agency employers, but different forms.

Most 91 operators maintain records, but there's no real accountability, or way to know if they do, so some simply ignore PRIA requests.


This is the wild-card in reference checks, and why you should never lie. Mom-and-Pops are likely to do this. Larger companies will have policies to prevent this, but if somebody has an existing relationship with the person in question, or if the person has a big enough grudge you never know what might transpire.

You'll likely get asked: " What will Joe Blow say about you if we call him?"

You should know the answer because prior to the interview, you should have already had this discussion with all of your recent bosses. If things were a little rough when you left, good chance you can smooth it over a bit now that some time has passed. Worst case, you'll have a sense as to where you stand.

Don't fail to check in with past employers, if it's been a while they might not remember you very well.

Rickair777,

I might been more precise in my post. JB and FDX called about two former pilots of mine and, as we kept records, I offered and was only asked for FAA check rides and presented the pilots in question they’re rating ride results. Another former pilot of mine went to FDX later (funny how that happened), they never contacted me. As we were not 135, technically, the recurrents didn’t matter and those airlines didn’t want them.

Yes, my company (large) had specific rules on what to offer on former employees. I didn’t have anyone where I would have had to give a negative reference; I probably would have done so for a corporate operator. I wouldn’t have wanted to be in the position of having a future dealing with an operator where my “glowing” reference for someone who didn’t deserve it came back to haunt me. I was in a somewhat unique place where that was not unlikely.

I did get a “glowing” reference for a F/A that didn’t reflect my reality, to my regret. OTOH, I did get the facts, good and bad, on a pilot who later replaced me. It’s unfortunate that lawsuits have pretty much eliminated honest references, but I understand. Like a lot things, abuse occurred resulting in good people being punished.


GF