ClarenceOver

Which ones? Maybe they will look over my busted check rides...

Akbush

I had guys in my class with DUIs.....one guy had 2 of them. I bet they would lol considering they cant find pilots now anyways to fill classes....unless your being sarcastic

ClarenceOver

PM me which airlines they are. I was being serious.

Akbush

private messages sent to ya

rickair7777

In the past I would have always assumed that a DUI was worse than a checkride bust.

But with the Colgan accident still very much in the spotlight due to the ATP rule and FAR 117, maybe they'd rather hire DUIs.

But I would assume mesa at the very least would hire you, word is they hire anyone over the phone if you meet the legal requirement: Background good enough for SIDA, ATP Mins (or close enough that they can get you there with sim time), and a 1C medical. Somebody can correct me if that's wrong, but I got it from a line CA who I've known for many years. But you don't want to spend your career at mesa, I'd suggest having a non-airline an exit strategy in case you get stuck.

GoBlue

I know a guy who flies for SKW that had an "at fault" accident, so it is certainly possible. The majors may be a different story.

Timbo

This reminds me of an incident from about 30 years ago, when I was in KC135 school at Castle AFB, in Merced, CA. I had reserved a C152 to take my girlfriend for a ride, but when I got out to the Merced FBO, there was a crowd of people standing around the plane, pointing and poking at the prop and the top of wings...

I went inside to ask what's going on with that, and the guy behind the counter said, "You won't believe this, but see that guy over there? He's a student pilot, and he flew that airplane UNDER some high tension power lines to impress his friends, didn't quite make it..."

I went out to take a closer look. The top side of both wings had black streaks running over each rib, front to back, (electrical arcing type) and the prop had a big ding in it, with some arcing there as well.

Not sure what the FAA did to him, because he was a "Student", but I told him he needed to join the Army ASAP, "They are always looking for crazy guys to fly helicopters, you just passed the test..."

So tell us why you thought you could get over the mountain in the first place??

And why you had no "Plan B" in case you couldn't.

And have you considered flying heli's for the Army?

Swedish Blender

I know a guy who ran a Baron out of gas flying 135 and he is at UPS.

Aviator89

Definitly possible to still be a pilot in the 121 world. Chances are getting on at a major may be more difficult, but like others have said not impossible. I know of people who have had DUI's that are still major pilots.... This happened as you were a private pilot with very low time. You learned from your mistake. Make sure you have a good explanation for your mistake, how you learned from it etc. ready to go for an interview. How you answer that question will be the deciding factor as whether or not an airline would hire you. Sure, they dont want people with a history of accidents, but if you dont fail any checkrides or have problems in sim teaining from here on out you show you are a perfectly capable pilot. Interview prep in your case would help alot.
Keep your chin up, all things are possible. This is no kiss of death in my honest opinion. Just be thankful your are alive and well to keep doing what you love.

Lastly. Performance charts!!! Climb, speed, distance to climb! These would have helped you.

SimJumpSeat

Can't resist....got to put my two cents in on this one.

1. Congratulations on not killing yourself and others....things obviously could have been much worse.

2. I wouldn't put too much stock in what people say on this forum. There are lots of opinions on here that don't amount to anything more than hot air.

3. Own the accident.....keep a great attitude....be humble and get used to telling the story from a learning perspective. Most CFIT incidents are fatal.....maybe you can keep someone else from making the same mistake by passing along the info at safety seminars or articles in flying magazine, etc. That would most likely impress an interviewer rather than scare them.

4. You are a private pilot.....your job is to get the experience without killing yourself, just like everyone else flying professionally. Any pilot in any aircraft or position, even professional, under 100 hours is challenging. ie: like a new regional FO fresh out of flight instruction.......it's all relative.

5. There is a reason why a commercial license requires 250 hours. Unless you are just a bad pilot who continues to make bad decisions and busts checkrides, IMHO you should have the same opportunities as others, within reason.

6. If this is the career you have chosen and you are fully committed to making it so, go for it 100% and learn early to tune out the criticism that you opened yourself up to when you posted your question on this forum.