BaronPete

What exactly is a "suspended imposition?"

de727ups

I'll say people have overcome much bigger obstacle's and been successful in the career. We all run into problems of one sort or another have to persevere through it on our way up.

I can't imagine quitting over what I read at an internet message board. If we had computers back in the mid-70's when I was a kid, I'm sure somebody would have said "you can't be a pilot cause you wear glasses and have 20/200 uncorrected, just give it up".

Where would I be now.....

rickair7777

It's a tough call, and only you can make it. I suspect that eventually you could a job at a regional, and I'm certain you could get general aviation or part 135 work. But the companies who readily hire folks with background issues may not be the best places to work.

How badly do you want to fly? What type of flying job would you be happy with? If you can do without a major airline, you will probably be OK in the long run.

I have no way of knowing for sure, but I suspect that your biggest challenge would arise when it comes to getting hired at a major. Try to get as many opinions on this as you can from major airline pilots, or even call an interiew-prep agency.

PhantomAir

Thanks for the advice guys.
My ME Instructor says to just keep on keepin' on. He's seen people hired with worse things on their record, and only time will it help heal itself. So I am probably going to look at the CFI route for a while.

I'm not really expecting to ever get hired by a major for the fact that I don't have a college degree, so flying for regionals or cargo would be just fine with me.

AmericanEagleFO

Even if it is expunged, it will definitely show up on an FBI background check. Which is what the airlines do. Be open and honest. They will find out.

mmaviator

ae fo-

r u sure it will show up if it's expunged, cause he can try that and maybe make things alittle better? not sure on the laws of expungement?

kodiakallstar

Its going to be an uphill battle for you. If you can walk away from that disaster a better person that would be the best thing. You've now got a reason to do the best you can wherever you go because you're gonna have to, to be able to convince people you're serious about flying and you're a better person than you once were. Good Luck and don't let anyone tell you its over. I know a guy who got caught for multiple felonies when he was 18. He had a rough day but overcame it and is flying professionally. Lots of volunteer work and counseling even after he didn't have to. He turned a negative into a positive.

rickair7777

The expungement laws are simple: They are state/local laws. The US constitution says that FEDERAL law trumps state/local law in every case. The airline background checks are based on federal records which are "snapshots" of state and local records. Anything which gets into the federal records stays there...it's a one-way data transmission...there is no way for states or localities to reach into federal databases and expunge anything.

Since the federal records are used for intelligence and national security purposes, they are not releaseable to to the public. This means that there is no real concern that expunged records might be accessed and used unfairly by private citizens or employers. The airline background check is a national security issue of course...the public and congress are willing to risk unfair treatment of certain transportation workers in exchange for added security. Not perfect, but that's the way it is.

An expungement removes the record or seals it. Nothing more, nothing less. It means that your Fiance or Jiffy Lube cannot access the records when you apply for a job. It DOES NOT mean the event never happened.

Lalo37

I know this is anyone's guess but I just had an interview and have a question about something I did not bring up. I was arrested for trespassing and the charge was later dropped/dismissed. On the airlines application it said "do not list any arrests that did not result in a conviction" which mine did not. With that said, they never asked me "have you been arrested" and I didn't volunteer the information.....do you guys think this might come back and bite me?
If they would have asked I definitely would have been honest because I have nothing to hide, but I didn't think it would be in my best interest to bring it up on my own.

rickair7777

If they said not to list it, and they did not ask about it, then I would not have told them either. It will not come back and bite you.

Where people get in trouble is they lie or omit info when specifically asked, on the assumption that the airline won't find...but the federal records are pretty thorough (although not 100%).