Hello,
I want to become an airline pilot, but I’m concerned it won’t be possible with my driving record. I have two accidents and 6 other citations for speeding/failure to yield/property damage. None of these were recent. They’re all 5 years or more in the past. By the time I would apply to an airline they would be 7 years or more in the past. Are these simply too many violations to overcome regardless of the time that’s passed? Please don’t sugar coat it. Thank you.
Thomas,
The FAA and the airlines booth consider obeying the law to be a top priority. I’m pretty sure if you had a $100mil jet you wouldn’t hand someone who refuses to the keys.
I never sugarcoat. This is easy. Start obeying the law and you’ll be fine (as long as none are drug or alcohol related), don’t and you won’t. It’s that simple.
Adam
Adam,
Thank you for your response. That is encouraging.
Best,
Tom
Thomas,
2 accidents and 6 other citations, you’re going to want to put some time between you and them, do well in training, pass your checkrides, and build a solid resume/portfolio…and you should have a shot. If your violations/citations don’t have anything to do with alcohol or drug substance(s), you’d have a better chance than if they were.
Brady
Thomas,
That is a pretty poor driving record. However, the fact that you have not had any infractions in five years looks like you have cleaned up your act and improved how you drive. You need to continue to not get tickets and show that you have learned from your youthful mistakes. If you do this, I think you will be fine.
Chris
Thomas,
Start setting that cruise control! Airline pilots have to be able to follow rules and be responsible with a very expensive piece of metal. Start showing your responsible with your own vehicle when no one is watching and you should be alright…
Hannah
Thank you all for the responses. I will certainly be driving very carefully from now on! Hopefully I do well in training and put together a solid enough resume. None of the citations were drug or alcohol related. I am reaching out to airline recruiters to inquire further about this and I’ll make sure I get my med certificate before starting any classes.
Is this what it’s like to have autothrottles with an autopilot. 
Brady
Precisely… 