Getting hired with a DUI/DWI
 

Does anyone know a person that has been hired at a regional or major with a DUI/DWI conviction in their past? Trying to give some advice to a buddy.

PM me if you do.

Thanks.

I only knew of one guy who I flight instructed with many years ago. He got hired by Champion Air and flew 727's with them for years, now their gone. He's now back to flight instructing, this time in the sim with Flight Safety.

I know a guy at SWA that got one in college.

I had a roommate while at ASA who got a DUI. He's now flying 767s at Delta. It can be done. You need to tell your buddy to NEVER get another one again. Having one will be viewed as an aberation, or temporary lapse of judgement. Having two or more shows a trend and is the kiss of death.

Tell your "buddy":rolleyes: that the best that he/she can do is to just be forthcoming and honest.

I agree - it's all about how you handle the issue and learned/grew from it. I got hired at Delta with a issue in my background - I made myself stand out in other ways, IOE instructor, graduate degree, etc.

How recent it was can make a difference, because it can be hard to show you've learned from a DUI a year ago, vs ten years ago.

I completely agree.

Almost everyone has some "skeleton in their closet". So if you can show an interviewer through post-"incident" performance and attitude that you turned it into a positive learning experience I think they'll overlook the issue.

If someone doesn't take responsibility but rather takes the position that it wasn't their fault [due to some excuse] that would be the kiss of death.

I also agree. I got hired at my regional and now Delta with a skeleton in my closet (not a DUI). In both cases, the incident became a positive focus of the interview. It made me stand out (in a good way) from the others.

Be humble, forthcoming and owe up to it. There is nothing wrong with admitting you made a mistake. But more importantly, be able to explain what you learned from it and what you're doing to mitigate a repeat.

The only hindrance will be the timing. If this is a very recent event, they may not touch your friend for a few years. They want to see that this is an aberration, not a possible trend. With so few hiring, this may not be an issue right now.

In the past, you could get hired with a DUI. Factors that will help...

- If you were very young. If you were 30+, they will assume that you should have known better and will never learn.

- The more time that has passed since the incident, the better. Probably at least 5 years.

- Your honesty and attitude towards the incident.

- High pilot hiring demand. DUI's will not get hired when things are slow because they have so many equally qualified pilots who do not have DUI's. They prefer not to hire DUI's because even if you are a completely changed person, if you are ever involved in an accident the fact that you had a DUI will look bad in the media and during the lawsuit.

On a down note...the Colgan accident REALLY put the spotlight on pilot qualifications. I suspect that airlines will be loathe to hire anyone with any significant blackmarks on their record for a long time to come, maybe forever.

If you have a DUI and are considering investing in flight training, that is probably not a good idea. It might be much harder to overcome that history from here on out. Nobody can say for sure, but it's a lot of time and money to invest with that kind of uncertainty.

I would suggest he give up; there are plenty of us who are perfect to fill any anticipated need. (Sic)

On a serious note, I think Rickair's thoughts are on target, with the additional comment that he/she is going to face an additional hurdle (not a small one either, in our current society dog fighting, child support and drunk driving have assumed biblical proportions) which was self created and I would suggest some serious introspection, perhaps even professional or clerical assistance. This would not only assist in a proper mind set professionally but guard against some of the bitterness that is prevalent on these forms when a pilots career perception does not match reality.

Best of luck-remember America loves a comeback especially when they think they are a part of it.