Pilot Legal action against an airline

[FlyGuy34]

During training with a regional airline, I resigned as a pilot. A month later I was sent a letter in the mail from that airline telling me that they did not accept my letter of resignation and that they were calling the sepeartion from the airline as a termination. My union is weak and did notthing for me to help me get rid of the termination on my record. I was with the airline for over a 1 1/2 years and never failed a PC. Can anyone tell me what kind of lawyer I need to get or where I coold go for legal representation?? A labor lawyer seems good but they do not know how the airline pilot training works so its hard for them to fight for me. An Aviation lawyer only deals with FAA violations and accidents. Can anyone help me out?? I appreciate it. Thanks.

 

[GogglesPisano]

It sounds like a raw deal. What's in it for them to put in on record as a termination rather than a resignation?

Sorry I have no advice, only consolation.

 

[English]

flyguy34,


I'm sorry to say, I think you are stuck.

The only reason I can think of (since you didn't volunteer a reason) to resign during training is because you were failing training. Was this an upgrade? I'm not clear on the circumstances, as you wrote that you had been with the airline for 1 1/2 years and never failed a PC.

Regardless of whether you could get this slanted to call it a resignation, you'd still have to explain why you failed training. Any resignation tendered during training is a red flag, in my opinion.

 

[Jeff Helgeson]

Call AOPA legal services.

That is a good start. They have a list of aviation attorney's

 

[English]

flyguy34,


Weren't you also terminated from Island Air as well?

Maybe you should seek a professional career conselor's advice on all this before you start waving the legal flags. I suspect there is a reason your union did not go to bat for you.

Two terminations in the course of three months is not good. Both terminations were during training - also not good.

It's one thing to have union representation. It's another thing for you to threaten legal action outside the union. Even if you were to prevail on the first termination, you'd still have to explain the second one. And, with a lawsuit, you might not ever get the chance to explain your side of the story. Ever hear the term "blacklisted"?

I suggest trying to go through the union again. And, you need professional help here (counseling) or you might not ever fly for a 121 carrier again.

I would try Lori Clark at www.flytheline.com or several of the other professionals on this board who have experience in career counseling.


Just my opinion - I'd hate to see you make a bad situation worse.

 

[EternalOptimist]

I work for a law firm that handles a variety of legal matters. One of the attorneys I work closely with handles employment-related litigation. PM me for more details if you are interested in talking to an attorney.