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I understand about integrity and character, however what you are telling me is that regardless of being exhonarated, found by the courts of not having committed any wrongdoing and cleared by the investigation of the State Attorney's Office, HR is basically still going to side w/the arresting agency?:eek: What then do we have the court system for???:confused:

Quote:

Originally Posted by atpwannabe

What about this:

1 bad check conviction - 2000

Charges dropped/dismissed:
burglary - 2005
battery - 2003
Resisting w/o violence - 2003

All are misdemeanors except for the burglary. It's a felony charge. However, after the DA did their investigation, they dismissed the charges against me in all the dropped cases. Will that be held against me? Do the airlines look at the fact that charges were dropped and I have only one conviction?

Any advice?

Sir, I'm always trying to find a way to help and encourage people with their aviation aspirations, but in this case I don't think you could get a regional job. For the federal background check, many crimes are DISQUALIFYING (federal law). You should download that list, most airlines will have a form on their application site, and compare it to your record.

I think you will also have to disclose any arrests, and frankly even if you meet the federal requirement, your background will most likely prevent you from being hired by an airline for 10 years or more. This is my opinion only of course.

Additionally, there is a requirement that you be of good moral character to hold an ATP (FAR 61.153). I'm not sure how this is determined, but you would want to check with the FAA to find out if you would allowed to hold an ATP, and when.

If you really want to fly professionally, you could do the CFI thing, try to get on with a 135 cargo operator to build experince, then look for a corporate or charter job. Lot's of opportunity there, and no required background checks in corporate. Not sure about 135 background checks.

Good Luck

rickair7777:

As a matter of fact, I contacted one of the flight academies and told the Director of Flight Ops what my situation was. He said that after conferring with their contacts at the TSA and FAA, that I should have no problem with getting hired at the regional level as long as I was not convicted and those charges were indeed dropped.

I got $50 saying he was just trying to sell you something....those flight academy types are used car salesmen with epaulettes.

Believe you me, I have a few colleagues in the HR arena of the airlines. I plan on contacting them before I spend a dime of my money. Even if I'm not hired by the regionals,:o, just as rickair7777 suggested there is always corporate and Part 135. Flying missionary flights is an option as well. I'm anticipating my ordination to the diaconate (becoming an ordained deacon).:)

Quote:

Originally Posted by atpwannabe

Well, that's a start, assuming the salesman was telling the truth. HOWEVER, the TSA & FAA are only concerned with minum legal requirements...they are the government and to them the lack of the conviction means legally it never happened. An airline may have a different point of view, especially with multiple events. Just my opinion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by atpwannabe

How old are you?

I'm 44 and I know what thinking, "This guy waited until his forties to do the things teenagers do?" No. Not the case.

These infractions took place in Fort Pierce, Florida. The town and location says it all. You have some over-zealous LEO's still out there. For example, a burglary charge carrys a bond of no less than 40-50K. After the bond judge looked at my "record", he set bond @ $2500.00. Later, I was released on my own recognizance. Go figure.

In addition, even though I was not criminally prosecuted, I'm being prosecuted civilly and vocationally everytime I fill out a job application. The State will not expunge these charges...although they have been dropped.:eek: Seems really unfair to me.

You know, as a matter of fact, if there are some pilots out there who are HR people, or you are in HR, please by all means...weigh in on this. Getting info straight from the horse's mouth is worth its wieght in gold. I need to know NOW what my chances and options are.

Please advise!!!

Quote:

Originally Posted by calcapt

ryane946

Pilots are getting hired every day. It's not just the cream of the crop who are getting the jobs or the ones who know someone. A recent new hire at my airline did not even have any college (almost unheard of today) and was hired over certainly more qualified candidates (as numbers go). He didn't know a single pilot here either. I talked with a pilot who sat on his review board and was told that they (the board) felt he had a special quality about him that would offset any shortage of college. I fly with new guys on a regular basis and the one thing that they mostly have in common is that they all have a positive attitude and they all busted their @ss to get here. For the most part they are a happy bunch with little "I'm owed something" attitude. They didn't listen to all their peers who told them that they would never get through the interview, or how many resumes were already ahead of them or how their flight time or what they flew would not be good enough. They didn't listen to any of that - they just worked hard and did the best that they could and surprise - THEY GOT THE JOB! They kept working hard! When they got knocked down - they got up!

I honestly believe that hard work, perseverance and a positive attitude will win out almost every time over just numbers on a resume. It is not a perfect world and sometimes the most deserved are passed over; however, in most cases, the ones who work the hardest and maintain a positive attitude are the ones who will prevail in the end. Probably the same guys and gals who head to the front of the parking lot when they shop.

Although this quote is from another thread, I have to agree. Even with my one conviction and (3) dropped charges, I still believe that I can make it to the regionals as an FO. I will have to get through my No's first.;) Like calcapt says, hard work, perserverance and attitude are the keys to success in any industry.