Expert: Dottie Norkus - 6/30/2008

Question
Hey,
Thanks for taking my question.  I know you have had several questions about pilots and DUIs.  However I have to ask one in my own way and hope you can help.

I just recently turned 21, and made a bad decision a few days ago and got arrested for Driving under the Influence of Alcohol.  I have not been to court yet, but am expecting the worst.  I have not flown one hour at all for a rating because I am hoping to do that after I graduate next year.  
My question is

How will my recent DUI hinder my chances of being hired as a corporate or commercial airline pilot even though I haven't started flying yet?

Thanks for your time!

Answer
Robby

While having a DUI is a setback, it is not a disqualifier entirely. There have been pilots hired with DUIs. Not being in HR or recruitment, I can only answer from a pilots perspective. When interviewing airlines are obviously looking for candidates with a clean record and some quality flight time (night, IFR, multi engine ect). They also obviously prefer to hire the best applicants. Only a few years ago many airlines were desperate to hire and often took less competitive pilots (DUIS, lack of degree, minimal flight time) that would have been passed over during periods of sparse and very competitive hiring. Currently (6/08), we are back in the latter situation due to the fuel crisis. Only the best of the best are being selected as very few companies are currently hiring. In such a situation, a DUI could very well make the difference in getting hired.

When the time comes to interview for a job (anywhere), you should be open and honest if asked about it and make it clear that the incident was a youthful indiscretion. Hiring boards understand that people make mistakes but they also want to see that you have learned from them. Turn a negative into a positive by stating what you learned from the experience and how you have been make into a better person because of what you went through. You must also keep your record clean to show that it really was a one time mistake!

Read more about the topic at http://forums.flightinfo.com (search DUI) as there are many, many messages about the topic there already.

Also visit the forums at http://www.jetcareers.com

Down the road if you need it, these pilot career counseling services employ former airline recruitment personnel and can provide more insight into your situation (for a fee), what to expect in an interview and more advice on how to best address it:

http://www.cageconsulting.com
http://www.flytheline.com
http://www.jet-jobs.com

Since you have yet to even begin flight training, I must suggest that you get as much career related info as you can before you commit to spend grand sums of money ($50,000-100,000) on career pilot training. Especially since you have not flown even an hour, the reality of the career and what you expect may be two different things.

Check out my page- http://www.pilotcareer.info

...and all the related career links at bottom for all the things you must know to make some informed career decisions. Something you should also note: When a student pilot goes for their aviation medical exam, FAA Form 8500-8 "Application for Airmen Medical" contains an express consent provision which authorizes the National Driver Register (NDR) to release information about the airmans driving record to FAA. The FAA uses these records to determine if the airman has had a reportable alcohol-related motor vehicle action/DUI. So, whatever you do, don't lie about it on FAA paperwork. If you do it could come back to haunt you later when the FAA revokes your certificate for falsification of the form.

Good Luck
Dottie