5 Checkride Failures, regionals?
 

Good morning,

I am current CFI building time towards my ATP. I wanted to reach out to see what everyone’s thoughts are on getting hired at a regional airline with 5 checkride failures?

I am 21 years old, I went to ATP Flight School, while having a baby on the way, driving for Uber at night saving for the baby on the way. If I could do it all over again, I would’ve been more focused on flight school and not so distracted.

My first was my Private Pilot Checkride. The first maneuvers we did were landings, I landed a little “too firm” on my short field landing twice and failed, I was under the impression from my instructor that it should be a firm landing. The examiner did not allow me to complete the rest of the Checkride and I had to go back to our home airport. This is the only checkride I mostly disagree with, and the examiner was the owner of the flight school.

My second was the instrument rating, I had 3 weeks since the last time I had flown and was pretty rough. I failed only on the partial panel RNAV approach. I should’ve taken another flight to regain proficiency and I felt like the examiner was more than fair with this ride.

My third was my commercial multi engine checkride. I was a few thousand feet above the airport we were about to head in to land at and we did an emergency decent to get down to altitude. I did the emergency decent perfectly besides leaving the gear down. By the time I had noticed we were at pattern altitude on downwind for our destination airport and felt it would be unsafe to bring it back up at that point. The examiner agreed against taking it up at that point as well, unfortunately it was a bust because I did forget it. Again, totally my fault and I haven’t ever forgotten the gear again.

Fourth, I was doing my MEI as my initial and the examiner felt like he was having to pull the information out of me. I could understand where he was coming from and thought that was a fair bust as well.

Lastly, was my CFII, I briefed an approach plate wrong which was entirely unacceptable because I have my instrument rating and it was completely my fault.

I do not have a college degree but I’m currently working on it online. I have a pretty solid resume with loads of charity work, Eagle Scout, great references and soon I’m hoping to become a check airmen at the flight school I’m at.

Is it possible for me to get a job at a regional or even a major further after that? If you were in my situation what would you do? What tips do you have to make myself for marketable?

Thanks in advance for all of the help, I appreciate all of the positive and negative comments but please do not be bashful.

Mesa will hire you, without a doubt.

In all honesty, it shows that (at this time in your journey) you do not perform under pressure when stress is at its highest. This is not a very inspiring quality in an airline pilot. Yes someone will hire you, but you need to make some adjustments and changes. Failing airline initial is one thing, failure to perform during an actual emergency with revenue customers onboard is another. I’d consider getting some hours flying boxes around for a bit for more experience.

5 pink slips is a lot.

You should be able to get on with a regional. I would look at AA wholly owned if you want a chance at working at a legacy. It may not be bad idea to get in touch with a recruiter.

I have heard of one maybe two check failures never five. Your failures are lack of SA. It's a major safety issue.

I agree with this. You're still early in your aviation career. As you progress further whether it be with a regional, cargo or Part 91 outfit try to mitigate more failures. If you possess a spotless record going forward, your current failures will affect you less and less as you get more advanced ratings/type rides.

Off to a bad start.

Bottom feeder regional, yes.

For career progression to majors, the opportunities will be pretty limited.

Career Plan B might have to be a "better" regional, after you prove yourself at a bottom feeder regional.

If and only if you can maintain a squeaky clean training record from this point on (most especially in 121) you might have a shot at ULCC or ACMI as the pilot shortage worsens. You'll need the degree. Also any aviation leadership tickets such as check airman, chief pilot would help for sure.

At interviews, you'll need to be able to explain what happened, what you learned, what you changed, and also why it took you so long to figure it out. To put it bluntly you're the position of having to prove that you don't suck, and they're going to want to see a long trend. And you need the degree too.

I'll also do some soul searching, and consider whether your aptitude is up to the task (nobody here can answer that for you). May not want to bang your head on the wall if it's going to be an uphill struggle the whole way.

Guys who have multiple failures whether it be Part 61/141 and 121 still make it to the big leagues. Trust me, legacies have seen all types of failures. Now tell me about them and what did you learn from them is more important to the hiring board.

You wouldn't be invited to an interview if they were bothered by the number of failures...

Ask yourself if you’re ok with being a 20 year captain at a regional that is least appealing to you. If the answer is yes, I think it’s worth a shot. I know a guy with 5 failures flying for trans states. The struggling regionals will give almost anyone a chance to prove themselves in training. It is possible, but your opportunities for career progression will be almost nil. Like others have said, try the AA wholly owneds. Based on the people that I know that have been turned down there I don’t think it’s likely that they’d hire you, but it isn’t outside the realm of possibility. If you do get on somewhere, put in a few years with a spotless record and maybe try the lateral move to an AA wholly owned again.

You're 21, try to see if an AA wholly owned will hire you. Even with a 9 year flow you'll be doing great at a major by 30