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Just washed out, now what?

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Run Away from Key Lime. Pilots need a union badly there (perhaps not ALPA). Mgmt will hose you any chance they get. You areliterally taking your life in your hands to get some time. DO NOT PAY FOR SIC time there.
 
“maybe you should blow your brains out with a shotgun?? that would end all your problems.”
Wow zman – I assume this is sarcasm but man you’re really being helpful here aren’t you???


Avernas
Sorry to hear you washed out in training but you need to realize you are not the only one and that you can overcome this. You sound almost as if you’ve given up on aviation and if you want to try something else - go for it, you might like it even more.

However, if you want to keep flying I’d say put this event behind you and move on. Go back to your previous job now if you left on good terms. This way you’ll stay current and can refocus and start looking for your other options.

Was it the simulator portion you failed or the ground school or both? Learn from it, study MUCH more next time you’re in training; maybe offer someone a free dinner if they go over the systems with you before your class, etc.? If it was the simulator part, as a former check airman at a regional I can tell you that probably you didn’t “chair-fly” enough. 121 training can be very intense, usually 6-7 sessions and they want to include every possible scenario into those sessions. If someone is struggling with proper call outs, procedures, etc, they’ll fall apart when things “begin to break” - engine fires, etc.

So next time around, and that time WILL come if you want it to, you’ll chair fly EVERY procedure in the book with a friend before you head out to the simulator.

As far as your future with the airlines? - I’d say it can be very bright if you want it to be!

Well first of all - do not EVER lie about what happened! Some people here compared it to a busted checkride. Well, I think it’s more serious than that. Airlines worry about “un-trainable” pilots because we are being viewed as expenditure. Pretty much anyone can be trained but they do not want to spend more money than they have to. This was a 121 event and it will stay on your record pretty much for ever. All airlines do background checks – ALL OF THEM!

However, it is NOT the end of the world.

I used to do recruiting too and have seen many applicants with similar stories. The main thing we wanted to see was an applicant who was humble and who’d learned from his/her mistakes but most importantly one that had moved on!!! If I saw an applicant who’d washed out of training at brand “Z” and returned to his/her previous job and maybe six months later moved on to airline “Q” where he/she successfully completed training, and the person was honest and forthcoming with the information and took steps NOT to repeat previous mistakes - he/she was good to go.

Why? Because this is the kind of a person who has learned from his/her own mistakes and not just “other pilot’s mistakes.” It is also someone who will give it at least 200% to prove to others, but most importantly to himself/herself that they can do it!

My advice to you is:

1) Look for ANY flying job right now to stay current
2) Regroup, research what went wrong
3)Learn from it!
4) LET’S DO IT AGAIN!!!

Good luck to you!!!

Sincerely,
av80r
 
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CoATP said:
Run Away from Key Lime. Pilots need a union badly there (perhaps not ALPA). Mgmt will hose you any chance they get. You areliterally taking your life in your hands to get some time. DO NOT PAY FOR SIC time there.
I sent him to keylime for the experience. Yes the mgmt is scary. I dont dissagree with that. I was there for 18 months and got what I needed and got out. Keylime is just the stepping stone and with 1700 hours it looks like he has most of the 135 mins to get on with them.
I saw another post for gulfstream.. That would be good for him also.
 
Two things to remember:

1) IF you washed out of a training program it does not mean you are not a good pilot....it simply means that you and that piece of equipment were not a good match at that particular time (for that duty position).

2) Sometimes busting a checkride can be the best thing to happen to a pilot -- I have seen it snap lassez-faire (sp?) pilots out of their doldrums and make them into real pros. It's all in how you look at it.
 
Not wishing to cast poo on the system but I know super competent f/o s who have been to upgrade and busted mainly because they had exhibit A as the check airman.I know f/os who I would not trust as far as I would throw them,they are now Captains simply because they rode with exhibit B.

The result you seek may or my not lie within control!
 
3 good friends of mine:

1) Washed out of Mesa Initial, DHC-8 - Now at Skywest about to upgrade

2) Washed out of Cape Air Initial, C-402 - Went to Expressjet 2 months later

3) Washed out of Chautaqua initial, SF340 - Went to Eagle, now JetBlue

Don't sweat it bro... Try again, but try harder,,,,

-Bag
 
kommutrdog said:
Wish I could, but I'm in too deep.
It's called "escalation commitment".

It is the same reason the woman in the trailer stays with mullet boy with the rusted out Trans-am that keeps beating her.
 
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I know of 3 pilots who could not pass their Capt upgrade and they are now doing well at Jetblue. So, it really does not matter. As long as you know how to answer interview questions, they do not care about past checkrides and how you did in training. So, go for it and do not worry about it.

Marty
 
There is some good advice in this thread. In addition to what's been said, I suggest you call HR for the company that you left and request a copy of your training records. Tell them that you would like to see what would be turned over for a PRIA (Pilot's Record Inprovement Act) request. This will allow you to see what future potential employers will see, so you can address the situation properly when the topic comes up (which it will) on an interview. For example, you don't want to tell an interviewer that you busted a checkride for not holding altitude, and your records say you screwed up an ILS. The interviewer won't wonder why you are lying (even if you think you are not), he (she) will just note that you are lying and put you in the "no way Jose" file.
 
Dix-Bag said:
1) Washed out of Mesa Initial, DHC-8 -
-Bag

Failure rate reached over 60% at one point. Situation is imporving now. Would not even blink at this one during an interview if I were on the board. I would feel sorry for the guy and apoligize for Mesa's treatment of newhires with reguards to the Dash - 8 program.
 
...what av80r said, plus, if you made any friends in class, keep in touch and try to find a mentor who will discuss things with you and provide that "little extra" advice or ass kicking as required to get developing yourself NOW for your next job. Make sure you have total trust in and respect for that person.
 
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DrewBlows said:
There is some good advice in this thread. In addition to what's been said, I suggest you call HR for the company that you left and request a copy of your training records. Tell them that you would like to see what would be turned over for a PRIA (Pilot's Record Inprovement Act) request. This will allow you to see what future potential employers will see, so you can address the situation properly when the topic comes up (which it will) on an interview. For example, you don't want to tell an interviewer that you busted a checkride for not holding altitude, and your records say you screwed up an ILS. The interviewer won't wonder why you are lying (even if you think you are not), he (she) will just note that you are lying and put you in the "no way Jose" file.

I agree. Actually, any air carrier you work for (or trained with) is required by law to give you a copy of all their PRIA records (you usually fill out a form or check a box or something). so it's not big deal to verify with HR that they are going to send you yours. good to have anyway. good luck.

how about freight doggin? talk about getting experience! Some people have had good words about Ameriflight. I interviewed there back in the day and got pretty good vibes all things considered. witj your time you'd prob get the 99 pretty quick. just remember to pack your ice pick in your flight bag!
 

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