Long story short, prior to joining the military I obtained my commercial multi-engine certificate. Along the way, I accumulated 4x busted checks and had to re-take a knowledge test. I was a complete clown in college. This was all mid-2000's.

Since then I have 1,000+ multi-engine fighter and have not had any failed military checks since then, including while going through multiple instructor upgrades and weapons school. I desire to go to the majors but don't know if my clownery from my youth is going to be an issue. Should I be worried? Thanks for any advice.

 

Probably not if you explain it like that. Might cost you a year in regional purgatory but coming from a fighter background that's not necessarily a bad thing anyway.

 

The bad news....the problem is getting past the computer filter with four busts. That's probably auto-round-file for most of the top tier. You'll want to plan on getting as much face-to-face with recruiters as possible, CP meet-n-greets, etc.

Most of us here think 1000 fighter hours would put to rest your past issues in GA as a teenager...

Now here's the worse news: airlines are concerned about colorful pilot training histories, due to Renslow and the colgan crash, and that has been recently re-inforced by the atlas crash in Houston. So they not only consider whether you've overcome your past and mended your ways (you obviously have), but also how your history will play in the media and courtroom in the event you're involved in an accident. The public doesn't understand aviation career nuances... they could easily be lead to believe that after developing a miserable track record as a civilian, you had no choice but to "enlist" to fly fighters because no regional or night turboprop cargo outfit would hire you.

So for expectation management it's possible that you might have an insurmountable issue with some majors. Go full court press for the top tier, but also have a plan B in the back of your mind. I think worst case would be mid-tier/LCC for you.

Regional time would help if it comes to that... more boxes to check, an FAA type, and more flight time.

 

How did you become a fighter pilot with 4 busts?

 

UPT checkrides are a lot easier than GA checkrides.

 

Um, because part 61 evaluations lack consistency and credibility, the DPE cottage industry they feed is a stain on the industry, and ultimately they matter the square root of eff-all to military accessions. That's how. The OP is self-evidence of this fact.

If the Delta-of-the-week wants to shun him over part 61 effetry during college, that's life. You can't change the past, no sense in having to feign contrition over it. If they think you're a PR liability, no amount of mea culpa is gonna change that. Die with your boots on type of thing. With his pedigree, plenty of money to be made outside the airlines. And as rickair777 already highlighted, it's not at all a given that other six-figure income employers would disqualify him outright over part 61 nothingburgers as a mil applicant.

 

UPT "checkrides" are not checkrides. They're the equivalent to 141 stage rides. Nice strawman though. UPT is but one year in the career of a mil pilot. Plenty of real checkrides taken since UPT, all of which put part 61 checks to shame.

Part 61 checks lack credibility and consistency, because the evaluator cadre is a rag tag mess of political fiefdoms (regional FSDOs and their cash-n-grab DPE vassals) scattered all over kingdom come. The irony is that an airline would disqualify someone over part 61 checks while at the same time historically hiring military applicants over civilian ones precisely because they place higher credit on the standardization of military flight training and evaluation, when compared to part 61 and 141. The reason for that cognitive dissonance on the part of the airline is of course, public relations, as rickair777 has pointed out.

 

I’ve done both, and while both are stressful (a checkride is a checkride), they don’t even come close in comparison.

Thinking back through any of my GA checkrides, the most stressful was my PPL. And that was mainly because the examiner asked me several times during the flight if his weight made me uncomfortable. Nice guy, but what an odd flight that was...

 

I see from your profile you’re prior military, so this statement surprised me. Any failed UPT check could be the first of about 5 rides from the end of a military flying career. I found them pretty darn stressful.

I only ever took one GA check (for SE add-on to my commercial ME ticket) long after I was an IP/SEFE in multi-engine heavies, so admittedly the stress level was far less.

 

To the OP, Rickair7777 has lots of valid points, but here’s one bright note if you’re at all interested in Delta. They don’t use a computer to scan apps and automatically reject for check busts, or anything else. I had a few blemishes on my record and was worried about that, but it was for naught.

If your app gets pulled, they will score it manually. Certainly the busts will stand out, but the rest of your flying career will show excellent progress. They have enough people who understand what you’ve accomplished in the military all the way thru the WIC. They get it.

Hopefully you have some good leadership positions and the rest of your app is solid.

Be able to discuss why you busted and what you learned. Certainly don’t try to blame anyone but yourself.

Apply everywhere and take it as it comes. You’ll be fine; I doubt you’ll have to spend time at any regional. Good luck!