Its no big deal, they know your human. Most only look back 5 years anyway. I had pink slips, yep 2 in my career and was called by SWA, JB, and AT. They look at your track record, you busted a type ride but have been a captain for X amount of years with no PC busts or violations.

Not to worry. As time passes the bar keeps being reset lower and lower. Time is on you side.

Ten years from now; Bust- no problem, No college- no problem, Height/weight.... fit in the seat- no problem, DUI- no problem, Prior convictions- no problem, Medical issues- no problem.

All you have to do is want to fly.

Experience............... none required, will train!


M P L

It is my understanding they only way they can find out is if it is logged in your logbook or you tell them.

Not true. Have you ever requested your records from the FAA? Your get a huge stack of copies of EVERYTHING you have ever filled out that the FAA needed to see. You medical apps, your 8710's, your written tests, the temporary certificates that the examiner/check airman has, etc. EVEN the ones that are salmon in color and designate a check ride failure.

I pinked the oral portion of my initial CFI, and guess what. There was a copy of it.

You could try telling a future employer that you have never pinked a ride. And if they do send you the "conditional letter of employment" pending your background check, what do you think they are going to do if you elected to tell them "no" because you think that is the only way they will know, aside from a log book entry?

I don't think you will be getting a job there.

Honesty is the best policy. Lying or getting caught up in one is a nail in the coffin. Even the best have their bad days. Tell the truth and move on. You'll feel better about yourself and know you're not telling a "white lie". If something does happen later in your career and they start digging and find out, you're toast. Good luck!

Agreed, besides, if you handle it well, it takes care of a bunch of the items they want to know about you.

1. Do you take accountability for you actions?
2. How do you handle failure?
3. Can you handle that fact that you are not perfect?
4. Do you assign blame when bad things happen to you?
5. Do you learn from past mistakes and try to improve as a pilot?

etc.

A well handled answer can check off many of the boxes they need to cover.

For the record I did not say to, nor do I advocate lying about failed checkrides.

Did you receive your 8410s from the FAA, as that is the document in question here.

I never said you advocated it, just posted a FACT that you did not seem to know, only speculated on. All I did was post the possible consequences of what could happen if somebody chose to take your speculation as fact. I have seen it happen to people who were not 100% honest during the interview process, but the background check found something they should have told the truth on. Not rolled the dice and hope they don't find out because they never told them.

I'm not sure of the documents designated number, but there it was, a photocopy of the pink slip. As well as the copies of the temps from all the check rides I passed, all my 8710's, all my written tests, all my medical apps, medical certs, etc.

Like I said, have you ever requested your records from the FAA? They charge by the copy, and it ends up being A LOT more than you think it will.

As a Chief Piliot I have personally never seen the massive amounts of paperwork mentioned as the result of an FAA Airman Background Check. The only only thing I have seen from the FAA is a single piece of paper verifying certificates and any past or pending violations or actions. The company records request usually yields the training records and 8410's.

Fair enough, but still doesn't change the FACT that there is a record of check ride failure on file at the FAA.

Whatever anybody wants to tell the FAA when asked the question is up to them.