The ‘dont’s’ once hired by an airline

Airline Pilot Questions & Answers
1

What are some things that are unacceptable for a airline pilot to do that would get them reprimanded or fired.

2

Patrick,

The list is extensive. Drinking and driving, drugs, mouthing off, not following procedures, breaking FAA rules and anything that would get somebody fired from any other company.

Chris

3

Patrick,

A LONG time ago someone told me “you’ll have a long happy career as long as you don’t lie, cheat or steal”. Now this may sound obvious and you may even think well why or how would I but you’d be surprised. I’ve been doing this a while and of course as Chris said violating rules, alcohol and drugs are always a biggy, there are MANY really STUPID things that can cost you your job. A few highlights:

  1. Newhire who had just completed his first recurrent training and had a week left of probation decided to party hard and showed up drunk for his deadhead home and was not allowed to board the flight. GONE.
  2. Fairly senior Capt turned in the same uniform receipt for reimbursement a few years in a row. GONE.
  3. Capt snapped the top string on an FA’s “thong”. GONE. (apparently he’d been harassing FA’s for a while but this one was caught on film)
  4. Stealing “mini’s” (the little alcohol bottles) from the galley. GONE.
  5. Capt was arrested for child porn. GONE.
  6. Capt made a wrong turn and got plane stuck in the snow. Tried to “rock” his way out (full forward and reverse thrust repeatedly) then lied about it. Downgraded.

Those are a few of my favs but I think you get the idea.

Adam

4

Thanks Adam for the response that was great to know.

5

Thanks Chris this was a big help.

6

Patrick,

The language directly from our manual says Flight Operations personnel shall not willfully and deliberately violate flight operational policies.

Now, that statement is specifically referring to violating the company’s Ops Specs, but there are many different ways to give the company a reason to fire, discipline, or downgrade a pilot or crew member.

One thing to always keep in mind is that mistakes will happen. When they do, use the company’s safety reporting system to submit a report. It always looks better when you’ve taken ownship of your mistakes. It looks even better when you share any lessons that you learned from them.

Tory