TFR Violator
 

Okay, so I am one of those nasty pilots that have busted the Crawford, TX TFR. It happened shortly after I received my ticket about 4 yrs. ago. That's not an excuse at all and I won't even go into it, it was a big mistake that I have learned from in a big way. So my question is, should I even bother continuing to pursue a career as a pilot? I really have wanted to be an airline pilot as long as I can remember but I know there are tons of applicants with squeaky clean records. I've barely flown since the violation because I am assuming it was a career ender. What do you all think? Also, thanks for all your past posts I've enjoyed reading them.:)

Oh please....... don't be a pansy :)

People make mistakes. People learn from mistakes. You probably got lost, that's a mistake. You probably learned from it. If you decide to pursue a flying career, you should not have any trouble.......

When they ask you about it during the interview, and they will, just tell them the story and how you learned from it. Throw in a "Lets just say my students were the best 20 hours of flight time navigators in the country."

Were you out at TSTC? What ratings did you have? How much TT do you have? What disciplinary actions were taken against you? details.

Na, I wish I was going to TSTC. The details: Got the breifing off DUATS the previous day from Grand Prairie to Stephenville nothing about the TFR expanding, so I thought. I did a touch and go at Stephenville figured I would get some practice with ATC getting flight following. I tried to contact DFW meanwhile I was flying the runway heading south just didn't know how far south I had gotten. Couldn't get DFW because of it, I was in Waco's area. Turned East, and as Quagmire said, got lost, thought Lake whitney was Granbury (just about the same shape) just as I figured that Granbury should be on my left side, an F-16 was there shorlty thereafter. Bearcat something or the other telling me to take a heading of North immediately! I complied with a quickness and a phone call plus a week later I had myself a 90 day suspension. I hadn't flown much since, Im at about 85tt.

Don't let it stop you. Go for the career.

i don't think it should be a career ender, it might make you have to work a little harder to get a job, but it won't stop you from getting one. From the way you stated it, it definitely sounds as if you've learned your lesson, and if you can convey that to the interview board, i don't see why they wouldn't hire you. While your record isn't clean, you might not have the "it can't happen to me" attitude that many other applicants might have, and that could help you out.

And while being a new pilot 4 years ago isn't an excuse, it is a heck of a good reason. I know plenty of CFI's who've forgotten when the president was coming to town and were saved by 121.5 and about an extra 5 miles of airspace.

You're fine! It's a great lesson and your interviewer will enjoy hearing about it. Anyone could have made that mistake with your experience. We're all human, we all make mistakes. Everyday, every airline pilot makes a mistake; it's how we handle it that sets us apart. We don’t back down, we learn and proceed with that lesson guiding us, humbled of course.

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Two important points you make: It was your fault and you learned from it.

The deal breakers in an interview is when you try to place blame elsewhere and/or show that you didn't change your behavior. Your fine, don't let that incident stop you from flying if that's what you want to do.

I have to ask, the most powerful man in the world, the one airspace you absolutely cannot bust, other than his other place of residence (The White House)......HOW? WHY?