Sealed marijuana case and becoming a pilot
#1
New Hire
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Aug 2018
Posts: 1
Sealed marijuana case and becoming a pilot
How much of a burden would it be to get hired with a sealed marijuana misdemeanor? I say sealed because I was never convicted the file was just sealed (different from expunged). I'm currently 21 years old and was arrested when I was 20. It would probably take 5 years or so for me to build the necessary hours to get hired by a regional as well.
#2
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Aug 2013
Posts: 445
How much of a burden would it be to get hired with a sealed marijuana misdemeanor? I say sealed because I was never convicted the file was just sealed (different from expunged). I'm currently 21 years old and was arrested when I was 20. It would probably take 5 years or so for me to build the necessary hours to get hired by a regional as well.
#3
Re. the FAA...
Read questions 18(v) and 18(w) VERYT carefully. Answer them LITERALLY, do NOT attempt to "read into" the meaning of those questions.
Based on what you said, I think you can answer no to both unless there was a vehicle involved.
Re. the airlines...
You'll most likely be fine after a few years, even if they do find out (assuming you keep a clean record). They will ask questions on the application and in person. Most folks with industry experience will tell you to answer them LITERALLY and honestly.
You should generally NOT answer questions they did not ask. Reason being, these days they are typically limited by labor laws (varies by state) about asking certain questions about your criminal history. There are some questions they might like to know the answer to, but can't ask directly. But if you volunteer the info, they might consider it in their decision (even if they're not supposed to).
Interview are not "confessional", you don't have to (and should not) "come clean" about everything in your background unless they ask.
However... there's one time when you might want to come clean at an interview. If you have a serious background issue (serious felony, politically sensitive crime), you might want to get that out in the open up front. Otherwise they might hire you, and then possibly fire you after the background checks turn up the issue. Then you've already quit your old job, and just gotten fired from an airline, which is PRIA reportable. Might be better to not get hired in the first place, then to quit the old job, start training, and then get fired. This would only apply in an unusual case like a serious crime which was expunged but still searchable in the media, or something like a #METOO accusation. If it's ugly enough, they'd probably fire you and deal with any lawsuits rather than risk having your name associated with their brand.
Read questions 18(v) and 18(w) VERYT carefully. Answer them LITERALLY, do NOT attempt to "read into" the meaning of those questions.
Based on what you said, I think you can answer no to both unless there was a vehicle involved.
Re. the airlines...
You'll most likely be fine after a few years, even if they do find out (assuming you keep a clean record). They will ask questions on the application and in person. Most folks with industry experience will tell you to answer them LITERALLY and honestly.
You should generally NOT answer questions they did not ask. Reason being, these days they are typically limited by labor laws (varies by state) about asking certain questions about your criminal history. There are some questions they might like to know the answer to, but can't ask directly. But if you volunteer the info, they might consider it in their decision (even if they're not supposed to).
Interview are not "confessional", you don't have to (and should not) "come clean" about everything in your background unless they ask.
However... there's one time when you might want to come clean at an interview. If you have a serious background issue (serious felony, politically sensitive crime), you might want to get that out in the open up front. Otherwise they might hire you, and then possibly fire you after the background checks turn up the issue. Then you've already quit your old job, and just gotten fired from an airline, which is PRIA reportable. Might be better to not get hired in the first place, then to quit the old job, start training, and then get fired. This would only apply in an unusual case like a serious crime which was expunged but still searchable in the media, or something like a #METOO accusation. If it's ugly enough, they'd probably fire you and deal with any lawsuits rather than risk having your name associated with their brand.
#4
Sealed doesnt always mean sealed when it comes to airline backgrounds , SIDA etc, but you will be fine as long as you dont pick up any more issues along the way. I believe that if you declare past drug use on your FAA medical they will require you to go pee in a cup regardless of how long ago it was (I heard this a while back, not sure how true)
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Posts: 459
Sometimes. It depends on basing, and where the company is based. For example, Frontier pilots based in Denver have a SIDA badge however, my wife worked for Republic and now for Delta she’s never had a SIDA badge.
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Last edited by rickair7777; 08-22-2018 at 03:32 PM. Reason: SECURITY
#10
Not necessarily. Technically a authorized crew badge allows you to be in designated areas on the ramp, and within the footprint of your aircraft for preflight/postflight. A few airports might have different requirements, but SIDA badges aren’t universal and if we had to have one for every ramp that’d be a heavy lanyard.