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Getting Hired With Felony?

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JetSpeed219

Well-known member
Joined
Sep 27, 2003
Posts
473
I have a buddy who wants to get into aviation, and he was asking me if he should even waste his time with a felony on his record that is pretty recent. So my question is, would he EVER be able to get a flying job with a felony on his record? This means Airline, Corporate, Freight, Charter, Fractional....etc. Thanks in advance.
 
Probably Not. For sure not airlines as all are required to do a federal background check now complete with fingerprinting.

I guess if the charges were minor, so to speak, maybe. Felony dui or something like that he may eventually out live. In my opinion it would be very hard.
 
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I think it depends on what felony he committed. Many airline applications have a list of felonies - about 30 of them that are automatically disqualifying. They range from assault to treason.

However, if his conviction was non-violent, he might have a shot at a part 121 or 135 job eventually. If he is zero time, it will take him a couple of years to get to the point of applying to the airlines. Obviously, he has to keep his nose clean in the mean time. There is no FAA mandated background check for part 91 jobs. A career flying Gulfstreams is nothing to scoff at.
 
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Felonies

First off, your friend should get copies of all his court records and rap sheets. That way, he'll know exactly what is on his record and can design appropriate interview and application responses. As was written above, some felonies are less serious than others.

Your friend might also discuss with his attorney working out an arrangement with the D.A. and the court to see if something lesser can appear on his record along with the possiibility of his rap being expunged eventually.

The airlines indeed want saints, and they can get them because there are plenty out there. There are plenty of other rewarding pursuits in aviation besides the airlines. You might recommend to your friend that he look into them, if he is indeed serious about making aviation his career.

Hope this helps.
 
Can you even get an ATP with a felony on your record? Doesn't that go against all that "good moral character" stuff?
 
I believe the felony was forgery in the 1st degree, evidentally he tried cashing a forged check at one of those cash and go type places. And no it wasn't me, he is my best friend and wants get into flying very badly.
 
Expunging the rap

JetSpeed219 said:
I believe the felony was forgery in the 1st degree, evidentally he tried cashing a forged check at one of those cash and go type places. And no it wasn't me, he is my best friend and wants get into flying very badly.
Just tell him to speak with his attorney about obtaining his court records, and perhaps getting his conviction expunged. I don't know for sure that can be done, but it cannot hurt to ask.

As far as the ATP "good moral character" requirement is concerned, the poster above may have a point, but a number of ATPs I've known did not meet that requirement! :)

Good luck to your friend.
 
The airlines aren't looking for saints, they are looking for good humans. I know too many people with skeletins in their closets to think otherwise. A one-time stupid trick can be easily overcome, but it takes time to heal these wounds. Your friend should pursue that which he desires to achieve with all of his conviction. Persistence will pay off for the tenacious. Rejection may be the norm at first, and it will hurt. But pain is temporary. Quitting is forever.
 
Tis a good thing

No problem here at all.

In fact, this will be a tremendous boost to his career.
Just tell your friend to forge up a pilots license, SWA ID card, 737 type rating and all Southwest Airlines employment forms. Oh yeah, he also needs to forge up a set of new finger prints if he wants to get past the TSA. I saw some neat stickon ones in the last Mission Impossible movie.

Then, walk into Southwests personnel dept, turn in the forms, and a couple days later............bam he's a 737 FO working for the fastest growing major airline.

That forgery thing could really pay off if he uses it right.






JetSpeed219 said:
I believe the felony was forgery in the 1st degree, evidentally he tried cashing a forged check at one of those cash and go type places. And no it wasn't me, he is my best friend and wants get into flying very badly.
 
Re: Tis a good thing

Clownpilot said:
No problem here at all.

In fact, this will be a tremendous boost to his career.
Just tell your friend to forge up a pilots license, SWA ID card, 737 type rating and all Southwest Airlines employment forms. Oh yeah, he also needs to forge up a set of new finger prints if he wants to get past the TSA. I saw some neat stickon ones in the last Mission Impossible movie.

Then, walk into Southwests personnel dept, turn in the forms, and a couple days later............bam he's a 737 FO working for the fastest growing major airline.

That forgery thing could really pay off if he uses it right.


I wouldn't go through all that trouble to work for Southwest !!
 
JetSpeed219 said:
I believe the felony was forgery in the 1st degree, evidentally he tried cashing a forged check at one of those cash and go type places. And no it wasn't me, he is my best friend and wants get into flying very badly.

I believe Forgery is a disqualifying offense to pass the FBI background checks.... Which would prohibit him from ever getting SIDA access.
 
I have to say this every four or five months ... this is straight from a Federal Attorney's office, and does not apply merely to certain states ... it applies to every state ... here we go again ...

You cannot, I repeat ... you cannot ... get a felony conviction 'expunged' from your record. I don't give two flying $hit$ if you were pardoned by the Pope. If you have ever been convicted of a felony, and you are over the age of eighteen ... it will remain in your Federal records until you die. Any US airline conducting background checks WILL find a felony conviction ... PERIOD!

Someone is going to get their ass burned one day from this particularly bad piece of advice.

Bobby ... you were a paralegal ... you should know this.

Thank you ...

Minh
 
Expunging a rap sheet

Snakum said:
Someone is going to get their ass burned one day from this particularly bad piece of advice.

Bobby ... you were a paralegal ... you should know this.
I still am a paralegal. I do not work in criminal law. I'll take it on your word, but I have heard of convictions vanishing if a person meets certain conditions.

It never hurts to ask, especially if the person asks his attorney.
 
Twelve Five rule

He'll never fly aircraft 12.5 Fed Code 1542.209 section (d.) paragraph (26. (v.) Felony involving dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation. Same goes for Part 135 carriers in Ce402. No joy.

He'll he can't even drive hazmat over the road.
 
Re: Twelve Five rule

aeronautic1 said:
He'll never fly aircraft 12.5 Fed Code 1542.209 section (d.) paragraph (26. (v.) Felony involving dishonesty, fraud or misrepresentation. Same goes for Part 135 carriers in Ce402. No joy.

He'll he can't even drive hazmat over the road.

Hmm, that TSA reg says for 10 years before the date of the application. It's a long time, but it ain't never.
 
Hugh,

I like that quote, " But pain is temporary. Quitting is forever." I have a few "friends" with skeletons in there closet when it comes to driving and the law. But he was able to get accepted to OCS and get his commision before he got injured. Great quote.
 
I'd love to take credit for that great quote, but it's not mine. I'm pretty sure Lance Armstrong gets the credit for that one.
 

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