What should I do now?

[bobbysamd]

Pilot Pushing

You didn't state exactly how "bad" the weather was, but, nevertheless, good decision. I'd hire you. You exercised good judgment. Don't forget one of the Five Hazardous Thought Attitudes in ADM. Follow the rules; they're usually right.

You did the right thing. It's an age-old problem. People should read Chapter 3 about Pilot Pushing in Flying the Line.

I guarantee that if an incident ensued , that "company" of yours would have hung you out to dry. Always, always, put safety first and protect your certificates.

You could stand a few more multi hours to be competitive. Getting your ATP would be a good idea, too, if you haven't already.

At least your Chief Pilot is a standup guy. He is doing you a favor because a layoff will let you collect a full award of unemployment benefits. See if you can get an LOR from him that states all the circumstances about why you left that company and states specifically you were laid off for lack of work. That may obviate any need to disclose a termination on an app.

Good luck with taking the next, big, positive step in your career. Actually, you just took a big, positive step.

 

[bayoubandit]

Outstanding decision! I also think every airline out there wants a guy or gal who makes a decision and sticks to it. I know AA would love to have a person like you based on my experience there. Almost every interviewer will bring up a "situation"you've encountered.You've got a great one here. There is nothing wrong with being terminated when you were in the right and the interviewers know this. Airlines want conservative pilots, not cowboys. I am most impressed that you were able to tell the boss what you think about that situation and stuck with your answer. Good job!

Once mgmt/mx tried to pressure me into a situation I didn't like at a 121 airline. I was an FO at the time and would not give in to their requests to put it mildly. I heard from everyone from why mx to marketing needed the plane. I told the CA they could find another FO or send a mgmt. pilot to come get it. We were at a remote outstation in another country. The CA backed me up and the chief pilot went along with it also. I never heard anything about it later. I told this story on my interview at AA and they sucked it up. They want to see the right thing done even if you have to answer for it later.

Judging from my experience, you won't have any problems with getting an airline job. Good luck!

 

[justApilot]

A lot of good advice. Seeing that your boss was such a dirtbag, I would want to get a copy of your employment records. Just to make sure that nothing negative has been documented without your knowing. Good luck to you. You did the right thing.

 

[AWACoff]

Okay, flamesuit on.
Call me the devil's advocate but you posted:
"...so I did trips that weren't legal or were unsafe in other respects..."

"I refuse to compromise the FARs..."

"Should I go work for the FAA since I am such a strickler for the rules..."

Your post seems contradictory. I'm all for your decision making. If you deem a trip unsafe, you don't go. That's what a PIC does. A competent PIC does not fly illegal and unsafe trips though. I'm guessing those incidents were in the past and not at the same operator that fired you and that you have learned from them (haven't we all broken FARs in the past?..yep). Everything from a DUI to an accident can be talked through in an interview. It's all in how you present yourself. Take responsibility but DO explain thought processes involved and lessons learned. You will succeed in this industry if you want to...guaranteed.

Tenacity.

 

[Timebuilder]

TB for the defense, your honor.

I'll bet those early "bad" decisions were a part of the learning curve, and there is remorse shown for those decisions. This last decision shows a growing maturity in flying, and a greater responsibility being exercised.

I'm asking for a suspended sentence.

Keep flying.

 

[AV1ATRX]

You're right - I did contradict myself. I knew that was going to come back to haunt me, but I don't mind discussing that. When I was a brand new charter pilot, I was afraid to say no, so I did some trips that weren't on the up and up, but I quickly learned that I was doing the wrong thing. I think that may be why my former employers were so very upset with me, because I did one thing at first, and then I wouldn't do it anymore. I guess that complicated things for me, in a way. So, after a couple of trips that I let them push me to do, I figured that if I wanted to be an old pilot, I better start doing things the right way. Does that explain it?

I don't mind criticism, and I don't think you flamed me. I am looking to learn everything I can from this experience, so if anybody sees anything else like that, bring it up. This way I can learn the right way to answer in an interview situation. Thank you all!

 

[Old Crow]

Just another note. Simple law.

An employer may not terminate an employee while he or she is working within the "scope" of their employment. In other words, you legally cannot be fired for using the knowledge that they hired you for as long as you were acting in good faith within the rules and regulations of the FARS and being paid for your services.

That's the law...

 

[skydiverdriver]

Hey Boeingman,
It's nice to hear that you have some appreciation for what it's like for us that have to come up the hard way. Perhaps now, you, and others, can understand that you have no idea what it's like to work for a regional, or even what it took to get that job.

To the original question, I would tell the truth. You never know how they might find out, and you would worry about it for the rest of your life. I have had several people tell me about situations where they didn't tell the truth in an interview, and now can never apply to that airline again, or were even thrown out after they worked there for awhile. The situation you were in is explainable, but lying to a new employer is not. You can make this a plus, don't make another mistake. Your new employer will understand. If you don't tell the whole truth, you miss an opportunity to look like an upstanding person, and you also stoop to your former employer's level. Good luck to you.

 

[bobbysamd]

Wrongful termination

Actually, if a state is an at-will employment state, and most states are, you can be canned at any time for no reason. By the same token, you can resign at any time, for no reason, and without giving notice. Having to give notice to an employer is an old wive's tale. The circumstances of the termination will dictate whether you're eligible for a full award, partial award or no award of unemployment benies.

I got canned from my last aviation job because my students whined to my bosses that they didn't think they'd pass their instrument rides. Truth was, we hadn't finished the course and, no, at that point they wouldn't have passed their rides because they weren't ready to take them. I was given the option of being fired for unprofessional conduct or resigning. I resigned. I knew they figured that if I resigned they would escape paying me unemployment. I told Unemployment the facts. I told it I resigned. Asking for a resignation is tantamount to being fired. I was denied initially and went to hearing, where I explained the circumstances and was awarded full benefits. It pays to know the law.

 

[rjdreamer]

What should I do ?

You did the right thing! As a student pilot I am appalled at the number of times I have read of similiar incidents occuring in our profession. Always stand your ground and maintain your personal minimums. You may rest assured that should you become a smoking hole, the company will Not be blaimed, but your good name will be. Good on you and the best of luck. Remember, attitude determines altitude. You're very much on the way up!!