How the airlines view it depends entirely on the nature of the crime, your age when it happened, how much time has passed, how you address the issue, and the rest of your record.

Someone who got a felony shoplifting at age 18, has an otherwise clean record, and is now 35 might be able to talk his way around it.

Someone who got an assault with a deadly weapon at age 30, has a few misdemeanors and speeding tickets, and is now 40 is going to be SOL.

 

Also it depends on what part of the airport you operate out of...if you are remote from the scheduled terminal, you may not need a SIDA. The only way to know for sure is check the company's website.

 

An 19 yrs old who as a felony grand theft and is now 33yrs old not even a speeding ticket, CFI between 1500-3500hrs, with ATP and a BS degree


VS.


An CFI 36 yrs old misdemeanor of possession of marijuana, with 1500hrs with a B.S degree and working on his ATP

 

Transportation Security Regulation:

In accordance with Transportation Security Regulation (TSR) 49 CFR, all employees that are granted unescorted access to a Security Identification Display Area (SIDA) and employees that have access to aircraft must undergo a fingerprint based Criminal History Record Check (CHRC). The following is a list of disqualifying crimes:

1. Forgery of certificates, false marking of aircraft and other aircraft registration violation; 49 U.S.C 46306.
2. Interference with air navigation; 49 U.S.C.46308.
3. Improper transportation of a hazardous material; 49 U.S.C. 46312.
4. Aircraft piracy; 49 U.S.C 46502 .
5. Interference with flight crewmembers or flight attendants; 49 U.S.C 46504.
6. Commission of certain crimes aboard aircraft in flight; 49 U.S.C.46506.
7. Carrying a weapon or explosive aboard aircraft ; 49 U.S.C. 46505.
8. Conveying false information and threats ; 49 U.S.C. 46507.
9. Aircraft piracy outside the special aircraft jurisdiction of the United States; 49 U.S.C 46402 (b).
10. Lighting violations involving transporting controlled substances; 49 U.S.C.46315.
11. Unlawful entry into an aircraft or airport area that serves air carriers or foreign carriers contrary to established security requirements; 49 U.S.C. 46314.
12. Destruction of an aircraft or aircraft facility; 18 U.S.C 32 .
13. Murder.
14. Assault with intent to murder.
15. Espionage.
16. Sedition.
17. Kidnapping or hostage taking.
18. Treason.
19. Rape or aggravated sexual abuse.
20. Unlawful possession, use, sale, distribution, or manufacture or an explosive or weapon.
21. Extortion.
22. Armed or felony unarmed robbery.
23. Distribution of or intent to distribute a controlled substance.
24. Felony arson.
25. Felony involving a threat.
26. Felony involving willful destruction of property .
27. Felony involving importation or manufacture of a controlled substance.
28. Felony involving burglary.
29. Felony involving theft.
30. Felony involving dishonesty, fraud and misrepresentation.
31. Felony involving possession or distribution of stolen property.
32. Felony involving aggravated assault.
33. Felony involving bribery.
34. Felony involving illegal possession of a controlled substance punishable by a maximum term of imprisonment of more than 1 year.
35. Violence at international airport; 18 U.S.C. 37.
36. Conspiracy or attempt to commit any of the criminal acts listed above.


In the past ten (10) years, have you ever been convicted or found not guilty by reason of insanity of any of the above listed crimes?

 

Your question is confusing because of the shared stats both pilots have. Let me simplify it for you:

Pilot A: 30+ years old now and had a felony 10-15 years prior
Pilot B: 30+ years old now and has a current misdemeanor

I am pretty sure no airline is going to look at either one in this hiring climate, but assuming you give up on airlines and are asking if ANYONE will look at either of these pilots seriously, I am going to guess Pilot B with the firm caveat that he is enrolled in a rehab program for pot and sees the terrible error in his ways, or at least makes it sound like he does. The reason I think Pilot B will get a better reception is the fact that drug testing is a part of the 91/135 environment anyway, and an employer who hires him will KNOW whether they are back on dope. The same can't be said for stealing cars, there is no test for that. Airplanes are very expensive and there are lots of expensive things around airports so I would be very leery of hiring Pilot A lest he exhibit recidivism.

 

From the post above laying out requirements for a SIDA and disqualifying felonies - it would seem that Pilot A is out of the hunt for ANY job requiring a SIDA badge:
USMCFLYR

 

Policy and good judgement would probably rule this guy out due to the serious nature of the offense, but if he was really exceptional and impressed the interviewers someone might go to bat for him to make an exception since the incident happened when he was young.




This guy is 100% no-go, not a chance, ever. Why? Because he used drugs while holding an CPL. Employers are much less forgiving of behavior problems which occurred AFTER the person becomes a pilot. The higher the level of pilot cert, the less tolerance they will have. An CPL smoking pot? Better not ever get caught.

Also... if the airline knows so does the FAA, and they will presumably be pulling his medical very soon.

At least the car thief was not a pilot at the time of his criminal career.

 

For ten years.

 

Neither..

Next candidate please. I'm not trying to be a jerk just totally honest. There are so many squeaky clean applicants out there now days there is no way either would stand a chance.

 

So Pilot B is out of a valid license. He didn't put that in the question and I assumed B was still valid which would be an odd situation and pretty unlikely as you pointed out. It is definitely worse than a stale felony.