Background checks and driving record
 

I'm about to pull the trigger and go finish my fight training so I can change careers. But, I'm trying to sort out a few things beforehand to make sure I'm actually going to be hireable when I'm done.

To that end...
I'm good to go regarding criminal history/drugs/alcohol/credit.
I'm scheduling a consult with my AME to discuss my medical history before I apply for my medical.
I've done a background check on myself and pulled my driving records. I also have my NDR and State Police records on the way.



About my driving record...
I've pulled my 10-yr driving record in both states I've lived in, and they show nothing. However, I've had 6-7 speeding tickets in the past. Many of the tickets are 20-ish years old, with the most recent being 13 years ago (I'm 45, BTW). One was a reckless driving (not DUI related) for speeding back in 2000, which carries a misdemeanor charge here in VA.


Two questions:

1. With my driving record, is there a place for me commercial aviation? I'm not dead set on 121, and I'm fully aware that the Majors are out, but would regionals still be a possibility if I did want to go 121?

2: Can anyone recommend a better way to check my records? DMV and court records that I have access to only go back 10 and 15 years, respectively. But I want to be as accurate and straightforward as possible during any application process. I tried an online background check service (Truthfinder), and it showed a few old tickets, but there were some inaccuracies as well.


Thanks in advance for your help!

Your last ticket was 13 years ago and you’re in your 40’s? My opinion is your ability to pass a 1st class medical carries more weight. You’re fine.
*I’m just a cog in the wheel with zero insight to HR issues.

Sent you a PM.

Thanks! My next step is a consult with my AME to discuss a few potential issues before I apply for my 1st class medical.

I'm in my 40s. As a teenager I had my license suspended for exceeding 100mph. I've had about 5-6 other tickets. Last ticket was seven years ago. I'm at a major airline and fully disclosed all of the above. Did it hurt my ability to get hired sooner? Probably. Did it add red flags and make my app a non-starter at a legacy or two? Probably.
Thankfully, however, there's still a place for us in aviation!

Thanks! I plan on being 100% upfront about everything, so hopefully I won't have too many issues.

Word of caution-
Don’t get another speeding ticket until you are at your career employer.

Not a single one.

That’s my plan.

Every major/legacy is a little different, but, assuming you don’t add anything new between now and getting hired, you should be fine. I may have been busted going so far over the limit in a 35 mph zone that the cop couldn’t catch me until I stopped at a red light. (I didn’t know I was even being pursued) Companies care about who you are today, not 20 years ago. If your resume is solid you will get a call.

If your resume is solid, you may get a call.

Very well qualified people go their entire career and never get the call. There are far more applicants than jobs with the legacy airlines.

There are a lot of other jobs in aviation other than the legacy airlines, too.

I honestly am having a hard time remembering when I got a speeding ticket. I remember it was on the mass pike, I believe it was near Lee. But it was like 20 years ago. How do I go about accurately reporting it? Pretty sure there was another one too. But again a very long time ago. What if I forget one? Is that a deal breaker? I am going to be applying to the regionals very soon but want to make sure I get everything. Any advice?

Pull your NDR, and applicable state records.

If you can't find the details, I would report the tickets and say you're not certain of the dates. That way if they somehow stumble on one, it will at least correlate to something your reported.

You don't need 100% precision, just give them enough info to relieve any suspicion of dishonesty.

Ok. Thanks!

I pulled every record I could get my hands on in both states I've been licensed in... DMV, State Police, City/County, and my NDR. All came back clean as a whistle. However, 4 tickets showed up when I did an online background check, so you may have luck searching your records that way.

Exactly the technique I used. I estimated the date the best I could (some tickets were over 25 yrs ago) and in the remarks section wrote “dates estimated.” Wasn’t a topic of discussion at the interview. The key is you made the effort and demonstrated you weren’t hiding anything.

I don’t want to hijack the thread, but it’s related. I got a MIP when i was a juvenile that was dismissed. Is this something I should being up on my own in an interview or only answer if asked?

By dismissed you mean arrested but not convicted or plead?

Basically you should not report anything they don't ask for... although if it's a grey area it's generally better to report it if in doubt than risk an employer interpreting the grey area the wrong way.

In the old days airlines commonly asked about arrests and convictions but these days I think they mostly ask about convictions only, lot's of restrictive labor laws.

All of these kinds of disclosures should be made in the application process... I would probably not ever bring something negative up in an interview that wasn't asked in person or on the application. The parts of the interview where you have the floor are your opportunity to cast yourself in a positive light. It's not confessional, don't feel the need to get everything off your chest (especially juvie stuff that they *probably* won't see anyhow).

The only place you commonly have to report arrests which didn't result in a conviction is on the FAA medical form, and that's only for motor-vehicle related issues... I'm assuming the MIP had nothing to do with a vehicle?

Bottom line... a MIP is a trivial issue that they won't care about. If it comes up, just tell them what you learned about following the rules. Minor youthful hijinks are tolerated or maybe almost expected in pilot candidates.

Correct, arrested but charge was dismissed. Nothing to do with a motor vehicle. The application asked nothing related to criminal history.

You're good. They almost certainly will not ask about arrests at an interview but if they do be honest and tell them what you learned. It will be a net positive in that case.

Update:

I was offered the job and again wasn’t asked about any criminal history in the interview. Company background check through a CRA is complete and came back completely clean.