Does a DUI 3-5 years ago Kill your chances of getting hired?

[N813CA]

A friend of mine at Comair has a DUI 3-5 years ago. Is he screwed at getting hired at another regional? It's only on his driving record as he got it taken off of his criminal record after probation. If you think it is me, than you are wrong. I would just post it is me, as you don't know who I am.

 

[Abernathy]

Let me guess. He went to AA where they convinced him his alcoholism was a "real disease" and he found god, shaped up, and is now living a clean life.

To answer your question, nobody here really knows. I've heard of guys getting hired at non-mesa regionals with DUIs. GoJet may take him. Beggars can't be choosers. Especially ones with DUIs.

 

[DrewBlows]

It's a pretty big handicap when you consider all off the qualified applicants with a clean record. It won't stop someone from getting an interview but you better have a pretty good story when it comes up. A clean record since the DUI likely won't cut it, involvement in HIMS and/or volunteer organizations would be a good start.

 

[SpoilerFault]

I wouldn't think that its entirely a deal breaker but there a number of variables. A good friend of mine got a DUI about five or six years ago and was subsequently hired by a regional and more recently a heavy cargo carrier. There are certainly a ton of highly qualified applicants these days and my friend had a great deal of time ranging from RJ's to 747. Maybe that helped him and overshadowed the DUI, who knows? My disclaimer is that I'm not a pilot and may not fully understand all of the dynamics of your hiring processes. However, I certainly wouldn't lose hope completely and would be honest about the DUI if (when) it comes up in an interview.

 

[N813CA]

Ok. Here is one more big question for him. Since he doesn't have it on his criminal record, and from my understanding the airlines don't look past 5 years on the driving record.... Should he even tell them he got one?

 

[TheRaven]

Ok. Here is one more big question for him. Since he doesn't have it on his criminal record, and from my understanding the airlines don't look past 5 years on the driving record.... Should he even tell them he got one?

With the PRIA if he doesn't and they find it he will never get hired, and if they discover it after he is hired he will be terminated immediately. Complete honesty is best.

 

[Dornier 335]

It's only on his driving record as he got it taken off of his criminal record after probation. If you think it is me, than you are wrong. I would just post it is me, as you don't know who I am.

I am not familiar with DUIs on your driving record, but shouldn't it be possible to remove it by talking to a good traffic attorney? I know quite a bit of pilots who had speeding tickets, paid an attorney and didn't have to worry about anything showing up on their record. I guess it should work for DUIs, too. I assume that with $$$ anything is possible and that there are procedural variations from state to state.

 

[pilotyip]

won't matter during the 2012 hiring boom, just like a college degree will no longer be a show stopper at most airlines due to a shortage of 1500 hour pilots

 

[Max Q]

You either answer truthfully or you don't.

Also, I want to see evidence that "airlines don't look past 5 years". Hell, the state MVR they asked for went back 7. I'm not saying it isn't true. I just find it hard to believe they are only interested in the last 5 years of your driving record.

 

[NoPlaneNoGain]

I think the fingerprints for the FBI background check will go back 10 years, and will show an arrest on record. It may not show what he was arrested for but it may only show the arrest and that in itself will raise questions. Just be honest!

 

[CX880]

Forget it, you're scrwed. The only option for you is to fly for the cartels.

 

[Dornier 335]

This is the US of A. You can get anything done with enough $$$. Just look at our politicians (now & then). Talk to a specialized traffic attorney to get your DUI removed. It'll cost you, but that's the price for a piece of mind.

 

[LJ45]

When your friend gets asked on his medical, or job application, have you ever been arrested for DUI? you would have to say yes, or lie.

 

[JettBoii]

Get out of aviation.

 

[N813CA]

lots of responses and thanks. I can only answer what I know. His fingerprints from the FBI come back clean, as he had to do that to get back into Canada. I have only heard that the drivers record only go back 5 years. As far as "get out of aviation". I don't think i will tell him that. The two drunk pilots that flew NWA from FAR-MSP both got jobs after prision. One is at NWA and the other is at American. As far as a good traffic lawyer.... Thanks I will tell him about that.

 

[satpak77]

Uh, fact check

lots of responses and thanks. I can only answer what I know. His fingerprints from the FBI come back clean, as he had to do that to get back into Canada. I have only heard that the drivers record only go back 5 years. As far as "get out of aviation". I don't think i will tell him that. The two drunk pilots that flew NWA from FAR-MSP both got jobs after prision. One is at NWA and the other is at American. As far as a good traffic lawyer.... Thanks I will tell him about that.

1. FBI record, driving record, etc or not, if he disclosed it on his FAA Medical application (per regs), that record is not "going away".

2. Electronic Print checks on the border (entering USA) do not reveal prior arrests they just hit on outstanding active arrest warrants and any existence on look-out, terror lists. Again this is inbound, INTO the USA. If soccer mom in her mini-van is entering, minimal checks will be done. If a bearded guy from Algeria tries to enter, with blueprints to the Statue of Liberty, CBP will take a DNA sample and give him a colon exam. So his DUI may (and is likely) still "findable". You said he was getting back into Canada, it is unlikely he even interacted with CBP or any other official if he is exiting USA.

- Fingerprints "came back clean" how are you aware of this exact event ? Discuss because I think you are lacking some info on how things work. What do you even mean by "came back clean?"

3. NWA Captain Norman Prouse, returned to NWA, largely because NWA's CEO or another upper manager had struggled with alcholism and realized a bad decision didn't make someone a bad guy. That was 1990. Times are prob different today.

4. Driver's records are held by State authorities. How far it "goes back" is anyones guess, but if a criminal felony conviction exists on his record, it is never going away. Period, end of story.

5. The CoPilot, Robert Kirchner is at or was at Atlas Air as of recent as a 747 Captain. Not American.

6. If he doesn't tell, and they find it, he might be blacklisted forever, via word of mouth by the HR folks at the various companies. Hey, its not impossible in todays age of interconnectivity. If he tells, comes clean, etc, hey, maybe he gets hired.

7. Get a lawyer, etc. The time to do it was 2 minutes after his DUI arrest. 3-5 years later, save your money. Lawyer can't do anything at this point.

QUESTIONS:

Did "your friend" disclose this on his FAA Medical application?
During court/legal proceedings did his employment or even mere fact that he held a FAA pilots license come to light?
Was it the first DUI and if so, why was it not pled down to reckless driving or similar charge. First time arrests for DUI rarely result in actual DUI conviction unless you really earned it (ran over someone, crashed into a building). First time DUI one block from home and no other issues is gonna end up reckless driving.

I raise my "more to the story" flag on this one...

 

[KarmaPolice]

I think DUI's are misdemeanors, but it doesn't really matter. In order to get hired, he would have to lie on his application. They specifically ask for any and all criminal/traffic convictions on every major airline application I've ever seen. If they don't find it, which they probably will, it's a matter of time before the rumor makes it back to the company. Why risk that? Time to go get that MBA and do something else.

 

[Abernathy]

why was it not pled down to reckless driving or similar charge.

DUI laws are so easy here. There needs to be mandatory sentences, like first offense, lose the right to drive for 5 years ("reducible to 3" if the FAA designs the law). That way, guys like this guy's buddy would think twice before driving intoxicated.

 

[Max Q]

I don't know what information the company has access to and how far back it all goes and I'm not willing to find out the embarrassing, shameful, and potentially career ending way. My driving record was horrendous prior to accepting a job with my current employer and I made absolutely certain that it was going to be the first thing I discussed during the interview. Tell your friend to be a man. If his actions lead to undesired consequences, there is only one person to blame. Otherwise, if he owns up to his mistakes, makes a special effort (and I mean seriously flipping go out of your way effort) to discuss this with the company prior to anything else, I think his actions will pay off.

DON'T:

"Okay first question, how's your driving record?"

"It's good" (But only because it was over 10 years ago and/or your rich parents paid a lawyer to have your DUI expunged)

DO:

"Okay, first question, what is your tot..."

"Actually, before I waste our time, I just want to discuss my sh(beep)tty driving record..."

(Obviously, don't interrupt the guy but you get the idea... )

 

[rickair7777]

This is the US of A. You can get anything done with enough $$$. Just look at our politicians (now & then). Talk to a specialized traffic attorney to get your DUI removed. It'll cost you, but that's the price for a piece of mind.

You may be able to get it removed from state/local records, but never the FBI records, which what the TSA background check uses. Even though a DUI is not a TSA no-go offense, the airline will probably still see every arrest and conviction in your FBI record (for significant offenses, parking tickets, minor moving violations, and very minor misdemeanors probably don't show up)

Since the FBI records are used for national-security purposes, you cannot get anything expunged from them. This is OK for most industries because civilian employers don't normally have access to those records...airlines being an exception.