Hey Everyone. I have read a few post related to this issue but it seems every answer is a little bit different. It’s my passion to become an airline pilot. I just recently started my flight training at a part 141 school, and I’m about halfway through my PPL. My question is, how much of an impact would minor traffic violations effect my eligibility to get hired with the regionals and even the majors like Delta. In 2014 when I was 18 I was in an accident that was my fault for failure to stop at a stop sign. In 2017 I got a ticket for too fast for conditions. A few months ago I got a speeding ticket but it was also written as too fast for conditions. Not long after that I got a ticket for failure to stop at a stop sign ( I technically did but I didn’t stop completely while making a right turn, which I know is still my fault.). Then today I just got a speeding ticket for 68 in a 55. I know this doesn’t look good to an airline employer, but if I were to have a clean record from here on out until my training is complete, should it be a problem by then? I definitely plan on making some changes to my driving habits. I don’t have any DUIs or other convictions.
Kent,
I will be honest, that is a lot of tickets and they show a consistent pattern for willful disregard for the law. Your excuse about stopping at the stop sign, even though you then admit that you didn’t, will not get you very far in an interview. The best thing to do is to just own the mistake.
The good news is that you have time before you apply to the airlines, so if you keep your record 100% clean and own your mistakes, I think you will be fine.
Chris
Kent,
I’ve participated in hiring at 2 airlines and this statement alone would earn you a thumbs down. Aside from not accepting responsibility it simply makes no sense whatsoever (for educational purposes there’s no such thing as “didn’t stop completely”. That literally means YOU DID NOT STOP. Fun fact: I recently heard of a crew that made a similar statement as they taxied into a gate and did $1mil worth of damage to an airplane. There’s a good chance their careers are over). Combine that with your blatant disregard for the law and I’d tell you to save your money on flight training and take up something that requires less responsibility like driving for Uber.
Unfortunately (or fortunately depending on your take) the country is experiencing a pilot shortage and in all likelihood, IF you figure out that the law does in fact apply to you also, you’ll get hired by a Regional with no issues. Behave and put enough years between yourself and your bad behavior and you should be fine getting to a Major. If you don’t and continue as you have you’ll have no one to blame but yourself.
Adam