Taboo Aviation Question FAR135/121

[smokinhole]

Hey Guys, I hate to make this my first post but I have a couple interviews coming up and hoped to get some opinions on the situation I'm in.

I once worked the ramp at a part 121 airline where I mistakenly refused to submit to a part 121 drug test. I had a private certificate at the time. They came back 1.5 yrs later and revoked my certs.

It's been 6 years since thats happened and I recovered and continued flying and have not really had a problem finding part 91 corporate jobs. I just explain that I was young and you don't always make the smartest decisions when you are 20 years old, nor did I understand the connection between throwing bags and my future flying career. Other than that I have a spotless record, not even a speeding ticket..ever!

I've got a few interviews coming up with 135 and 121 carriers and would like to know if I am automatically disqualified or does it carry about the same weight as say a DUI?

According to the regs I am not barred from performing a safety sensitive function, so that shouldn't be an issue. I know I am definitely the black sheep but I'm good at what I do and am not going to let a mistake when I was young ruin my chosen career. I would just like to break out of part 91 corporate flying and get some different experience under my belt.

Any similar experiences or chief pilots out there who have delt with this sort of situation. What is my best tact to take with this, besides being humbled?

Regards,
S.H.

 

[vclean]

Be prepared to explain why you refused a drug test. Being 20 at the time is not a valid excuse. The first thought will be if you felt the test results would be positive, therefore you refused the test. You will be the only applicant with a revoked license history among the other applicants. You are fortunate to have the chance to interview. Practice your interviewing skills, you have a huge hill to climb.

 

[smokinhole]

vclean,
My age at the time is not an excuse, just a piece of relavant information I thought I would give. Honestly, I don't have an excuse or try to make any. I screwed up, plain and simple. Here's a little more backgound. I went out to a college party and was around people smoking pot. The next morning at work I get pulled for a random drug test. I panicked. I thought I would test positive from being around the stuff and thought that if I just did'nt take the the test they would let me do it over in a couple days. I was naive and made a mistake that I'll have to explain for the rest of my career. No ones more regretfull about it than me. For what it's worth - After finding out the ramifications of my decision I went out on my own and had hair samples and certified tests done which proved I was clean for a period dating back 6 months prior to the incident. FAA did'nt give a crap though, they treated me like a first class criminal.

Anyone have any experiences with 135/121 hiring philosophies regarding this type of thing. I've heard plenty of stories about people getting hired with dui's and felonys and I don't feel that this is even in the same league. I would hope I'm not stuck in part 91 flying forever.....although it does has its perks.

S.H.

 

[cougar6903]

What kind of test did they want you to take? Urine? hair?

 

[smokinhole]

What kind of test did they want you to take? Urine? hair?

Standard random urinalysis.

 

[rumpletumbler]

So you were sucking on the weed and didn't want to take the test. PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT PFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFT. Oh but sir I was around people eating poppy seed bagels yesterday. *wink wink* I'd say the truth would always be the best bet. I was talking to some folks about being a Sheriff's deputy a few years ago and I used drugs a plenty when I was young and they had no problem with it. They would have had I lied however. Always tell the truth and there will never be any suprises.

 

[smokinhole]

Don't jump to conclusions. If that were the truth I would have said so. Im not trying to hide anything
I'm trying to get facts.

You could not be more correct about telling the truth. I have been up front with every potential employer I have ever been approached by and have never recieved a bad reaction. They were never excited about it but it has never stopped me from getting a job. Honesty goes along way.

I just want to know about 135/125 hiring philosophies regarding hiring pilots with violations.

S.H.

 

[ThomasR]

It is unfortunate that the assumption is that anyone refusing to be searched is a criminal or involved in criminal activity. That is precisely why we have an ammendment covering such actions.

Random seaches are illegal. Get a lawyer and sue. Pretty soon they will be searching your house to see what magazines you read or anything they can find that might mean you are subversive.

I worked security control in the military. The army knows no Constitution. Officials can do whatever they feel is the most expedient way to solve a problem. There were times when, what would be considered civilian rights, were violated big time. All it takes is suspicion and they can turn your life into hell. There are no individuals in the military, you are part of a machine and as a machine you have no rights; your are treated like a machine, a GI machine.

The Constitution offers you the opportunity to be an individual!!!!

 

[Lori Clark]

SH-

Like the others have said, and yourself has said, honesty is the best policy. You are not the first to have suffered this type of situation. Believe me.
You can overcome it too. It's important that you learn how to answer this line of questioning so as to not raise any disbelief with the interviewers. This is not an automatic disqualifier. So, let me get this straight - the FAA revoked your cert 1 1/2 years after the fact and you only held a PPL? Were you ever convicted of anything? Hmmm.

To answer your question "What is my best tact to take with this, besides being humbled?" Well, the biggest one you've already got - humility. Next would be to talk about the facts, barring all emotion.

The airline is going to look for any negative trends in your past.

Good luck!

Lori

 

[pilotmyf]

Random seaches are illegal. Get a lawyer and sue. Pretty soon they will be searching your house to see what magazines you read or anything they can find that might mean you are subversive.

Just what we need, More litigation ...............