Anyone Hired/Turned Down as a Result of DUI?
 

This question is specific to Skywest since I'm considering quitting my job and getting into their Pathway Program. So it's a big commitment for me. I have asked this question elsewhere before, but never got a straight answer. So please don't bash me.

Has anyone with a DUI (less than 5 years), expunged or not been hired or turned down because of it?.
Canada doesn't allow entry for DUI unless 10 years have passed.

Does the airline hire you and just assign you to non-Canada routes or simply not hire?
PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE, No hypothetical. ONLY answer if you've actually experienced or seen this.

Thank you

Do a search here, DUI , a good amount of info comes up. Hours and time since the event factor in.

Another thing is the rest of your application, hours, experience, training & driving record, the usual stuff.

Another option would be to go somewhere else, until it’s far enough back that it matters less.

I can’t see getting an absolute answer, details matter.

When I search DUI, hundreds of results come up with zero of them being about DUI. Maybe you can try for yourself or show me how to do a better search?

Thanks

How close are you to your ATP mins? I doubt it would exclude you from the pathway program because when you are in the pathway program you don't actually work here, you are part of the cadet program. Are you talking about going to one of the partner schools to get tuition reimbursement or what?

If you don't want us to speculate, just call the HR department and see if you can get someone to talk through scenarios with you.

Anyone Hired/Turned Down as a Result of DUI?
 

I’m not a professional pilot but here is my $0.02. Just look at the regional’s job postings. Most, if not all, demand that you are able to enter Canada in their wording. Hell here is some of that wording on OO’s website:

“No pilot who has been convicted of any criminal offense that will prohibit him/her of gaining Canadian clearance will be hired to fly.”

MQ’s requirement:

“Ability to travel into and out of the U.S. and to all cities/countries served by Envoy”

After about five years you can apply for “rehabilitation” via the Canadian Consulate General’s office. You can apply at any time but >5yrs has the most success. I would have the waiver IN HAND prior to applying for any pilot job that has the requirements.

They have already accepted me into the Pathway (with partial tuition reimbursement) . My concern is quitting my well paying job (which I can't get back if I quit), getting into pathway, finish it, and then being told I can't be hired because of the DUI.

I know and I've seen those wordings. On the other hand I've seen a lot of conflicting information that they might hire if desperate enough (especially these days) and just not not send the pilot to Canada.
Another important thing is my DUI has been expunged. I'm hoping to find someone with a similar situation who can tell me the expungement helped them or it didn't matter and they still couldn't get hired. That way I can make my decision. I don't want to risk my job at this point.

We hire a lot of pilots every month, like over 100, so I wouldn't quite say we are desperate.

If it is expunged why are you worried? Did you go through the proper procedures to get out of the FBI system? If I were worried about it I would take a trip up to Canada and see if they stop me at the border.

Expungement is a nebulous subject. In my opinion, you’re fine. Get a full criminal records check (state you were arrested in, and Fed). See what comes up.
There are issues though.
Cities, counties, states, and regions do not necessarily share data AND/OR have their own “special” database system that is not part of NLETS. That information won’t be shared with Canada via an NLETS query; only NLETS data will be shared. I would bet $1M that the Canadians wouldn’t know you had a DUI conviction.
I’m not a Canada Border Services officer but I am a (“retired”) immigration/ customs officer for a nearby nation (and I’m also Canadian lol). In my experience, even if a foreigner admitted to a crime, an admission of guilt of a historic conviction is not substantial enough to permanently preclude their admission. Evidence would be necessary to substantiate whether or not they are definitively inadmissible. The burden of proof is always on the alien; it’s not the governments job to prove you’re admissible. IIRC, I would let them continue on their travel but tell them to gather the documents prior to their next admission. If they were a real sh*tbag I would boot them back to Canada and make it difficult. I digress.
I would be honest with your application for employment; more so if they **specifically** ask for expunged convictions (very common today). You could consult with your attorney but again, expungements are quite nebulous.

I joined the pathway program, studied and scheduled an interview etc. during the HR portion of the interview I openly told the interviewer I was convicted of a dui before I got into flying. it was within 4-5 years. long story short, I got a call with a job offer(took longer than expected for them to get back to me) and they told me they were happy I disclosed such information upfront. i never got mine expunged, and even if you do, it can still show up during a backround check from my understanding.
that being said, I handled the canada stuff on my end, and I would recommend you do the same. You are not eligible for criminal rehabilitation until 5 years after your sentencing/probation has ended, thus you have to apply for a temporary residence permit (which can grant you canadian entry for up to 3 years).
You should reach out to your advocate and tell them upfront first and get the answers you need before you interview.
DONT GET ANOTHER ONE.

The last thing I would want is add a deportation to my record. Can you tell me what you mean by getting it out of FBI system? I don't think that's even possible.

You know what I mean when I say "desperate" in today's pilot shortage. Don't take it as an insult, but a need for as many pilots as possible.

Thanks.This is a very useful response. How likely/difficult was Canada to give you the TRP?

Your point being?

Just trying to be nice and give you an additional resource of information. Also, reaching out to the individual(s) that run the programs for say “SkyWest” or any Airline would be able to provide more detailed guidance on your particular situation and whether or not you would be hire able. If the past is any indication of the future “SkyWest” has been fair and hired individual(s) with issues that pertain to alcohol/drug violations and/or Special Issuance medicals.

Just providing an additional resource of information pertaining to your situation. Nothing more. If you really want the answers pertaining to “SkyWest” or any airline for the matter contact the individual(s) that are in charge of the Drug/Alcohol programs for their respective airlines. The contacts can be found on that website as well.

He was just giving you some more information to add to your research, no reason to get an attitude with him. If you are so quick to get an attitude with someone that is trying to help you out, maybe you should go to Mesa.

At the end of the day, this is NOT the best place to obtain the information you are looking for. You don't know who anyone is, whether they work here or not, and what experiences they have or have not had. As the previous poster also said, the best place to get information is going to be directly from the airline you want to fly for.

The SkyWest pilot career guide says, "No pilot who has been convicted of any criminal offense that will prohibit him/her of gaining Canadian clearance will be hired to fly."

So the only people that are going to be able to tell you if there is a possibility of an exception, is the people that do the hiring or HR.

I wouldn’t quit your job until you have a job offer from SkyWest. You’ll be able to hold a normal job as a cadet. Once you have your hours they’ll offer you the job. Only quit when you have a job offer in writing. Just be honest and disclose it when asked to and you should be fine.

I could be reading your posts the wrong way but you seem to come off as slightly confrontational. If so I would check that prior to interview. SkyWest won’t hire someone who is demanding.

People have been hired with a DUI but only if they have access to Canada again.

I was. Would help for it to be 5+ years (including for the AME) plus a low threshold BAC. Less then 0.12 for instance. Getting the Canadian clearance is MUCH easier then becoming an FO. And an old dui alone won’t stop future mainline progression. Can be argued.
Good luck. Press on.

My story... I got charged with a DUI in June 2016 while employed by SkyWest. It was reduced to careless driving. Drivers license suspended for 1 year. I was out of work from Feb 2017 to Dec 2017... HIMS! Upon return to work I went in and out of Canada numerous times, through customs the whole deal. Never had any issues with anything. I messed up and owned up to my error. Did everything in my power to right my behavior. I am now employed by a major US carrier. It’s not an enviable situation you’re in, but with hard work and a lot humility it’s not the end of the world. I am living proof of that.

Best advice I have ever seen given on any thread. Thank you for sharing.

Note how he wasn’t convicted of DUI thus that would not preclude his admission into Canada. Sounds like an attorney did good work.

Did that dance too (w/ no attorney). Received a careless due to low BAC- which is nice and all- but implied consent had already done the damage and taken the drivers license for "x" days. Which means you hit the national drivers license register. Which means the FAA knows. Which means Canada knows. And your employer knows.

So admit the f up and grow from it. Its not easy- just worth it.

You absolutely do not need 10 years to be able to apply to enter Canada. 10 years is required for what they call Criminal Rehabilitation. A CR essentially erases your DUI to Canada so that you can travel there anytime you want without restriction. If you do not meet the 10 years you will have to get a Temporary Resident Permit. It is a basic application and, with a Job Offer from a company that operates into Canada, is almost a guarantee to get one. I guarantee you there are vast amounts of pilots in the industry that have DUI's. DUI's are much more common than people think and I know pilots with them that frequently travel into Canada.

Having said that, any regional will require you to be able to travel to every country they operate in. They may interview you and give you a CJO before you prove you can enter Canada, but they will not allow you to start class without showing them a travel permit to Canada (TRP or CR).

Great post. Congrats to you and for being a good example for others. Take ownership, learn and press forward.