DUI Three Days After Being Hired

F

frightinstructor

Well-Known Member
I'm new here, but I got some good feedback on something I posted a few days ago. Maybe some of you can help me with this situation:

I was recently offered a job with a regional; class starts in a few weeks. Three days after being offered the job I was celebrating with friends and got a DUI on the way home.

Before this incident I had a perfect driving record, no criminal record - all clean. The charges are being contested for various reasons, and a conviction (if any) will not occur for several months. I would appreciate any feedback I can get with regard to this situation, specifically with respect to these questions:
When does the airline conduct the background check?

If nothing on this incident shows up on the background check, is there another way they might find out down the road?

I've heard that the FAA doen't typically take action on pilot certificates at the 1st offense. Anybody heard otherwise?

Would you tell the airline about the incident? Think they'd just tell me to not show up for class?

Any other prudent thoughts are much appreciated.
 
Whoops! Bad decision my friend.

Read FAR 61.15(e) says if convicted, you must file form AMC-700 to the FAA Civil Aviation Security Division no later than 60 days after the conviction.

It then goes on to say in 61.15(f), that if you fail to file AMC-700 within the time frame, it is grounds for denial of an application for a certificate or rating and/or revocation of your current certificates and ratings.
 
meritflyer said:
Whoops! Bad decision my friend.
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You think you have to tell me that? Seriously, I understand it was a bad bad bad decision. The worst. I kick my own ass a hundred times a day for this. But now I'm trying to choose the best course of action and hoping for some useful info to help guide me.
 
frightinstructor said:
You think you have to tell me that? Seriously, I understand it was a bad bad bad decision. The worst. I kick my own ass a hundred times a day for this. But now I'm trying to choose the best course of action and hoping for some useful info to help guide me.
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Personally, I would fully disclose this to the FAA and your regional. I have had people have their medical taken away for something on the driving record that was not disclosed. Now, imagine being a new-hire at a regional, losing your medical, and then being told you no longer have a job since you didn't disclose this...

Choose the best way for you to be a stand-up guy/gal so you can learn and move on, instead of having to hide this the next 10 years.

Good luck whatever you decide, and welcome to JC!
 
frightinstructor said:
You think you have to tell me that? Seriously, I understand it was a bad bad bad decision. The worst. I kick my own ass a hundred times a day for this. But now I'm trying to choose the best course of action and hoping for some useful info to help guide me.
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I'd hire an attorney familiar with aviation. Maybe AOPA can recommend one.
 
meritflyer said:
Ditto. He is legally obligated to if convicted. See my prior post.
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You did a nice edit job while I was typing that up!:insane: Yes, I am very familiar with that...however, the line of questioning from the original poster made it sound like they were wanting to avoid disclosing. I apologize in advance if I read too much into it, but that is what I was taking away from it, and thus my response.
 
Stone Cold said:
You did a nice edit job while I was typing that up!:insane: Yes, I am very familiar with that...however, the line of questioning from the original poster made it sound like they were wanting to avoid disclosing. I apologize in advance if I read too much into it, but that is what I was taking away from it, and thus my response.
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I am berry berry sneaky, sir.
 
frightinstructor said:
You think you have to tell me that? Seriously, I understand it was a bad bad bad decision. The worst. I kick my own ass a hundred times a day for this. But now I'm trying to choose the best course of action and hoping for some useful info to help guide me.
Click to expand...

I really have no idea if you could get away with not telling the airline or not. Depending on the company, they've probably already run a check on you, so I guess there's a chance they might not find out about it in the near future. Here's the thing, though: if they do find out about it--which I'd guess they will eventually--they're going to be really pissed that they spent $30,000 training you. I can definately see them firing you on the spot. Then you'll not only have to explain a DUI arrest/conviction on future interviews, but why you got canned from an airline.

If you call up the director of training, explain what happened as honestly as possible, tell them whatever grounds you're fighting the charges on, and be really humble about the whole thing, maybe they won't tell you to scrap the class date. If they do, though, since you're not an employee yet, you might have an easier time in future interviews.

I really have nothing to go on here other than the fact that the airlines I've worked for have been fanatical about honesty. You'd be surprised at the offenses people won't get fired for if they admit they screwed up, seek the appropriate help, and show that they understand the mistakes they made.

I could be completely wrong, but that's what I'd do.
 
:yeahthat:

You really can't go wrong "personallY' with owning up to it to the director of training.

Even if they do let you go... you will have a wonderful "situation" to discuss in your next interview, about how faced with a difficult decision... you took the high road and owned and took responsibility for your actions... even if you aren't "convicted".

That may just save your overall career.

Versus... trying to get away with it... and having them possibly find out down the road... and having that be the reason that they let you go.

That... would be much worse for future interview fodder.

Regardless... get an attorney like others have suggested... a good one... you are talking about your career here so don't skimp. Regardless of the outcome... own your actions... for better or worse. People will notice this.

Bob
 
Get a lawyer and spend whatever you have to in order to get it reduced to a DWI or something. You're not convicted yet and depending on whether it gets reduced you may have nothing to report. That's a big gamble though and I personally would tell them.
 
E_Dawg said:
You're not convicted yet and depending on whether it gets reduced you may have nothing to report.
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I read a little further into 61.15(e)(1-5) and it appears he doesnt even need to be convicted. It says "no later than 60 days from the motor vehicle action".

In 61.15(e)(2) which discusses the report that needs to be filed, it says he needs to report "the date of conviction or the administrative action;"

Looks like he needs to file the form regardless of conviction, reduced charges, or other potential actions which occured from the citation.
 
You want to tell the company. Some people have suggested the Director of Training - which might be fine. However - at most places I'm familiar with the pilot hiring decision, somewhere down the line, involved a Chief Pilot. If they find something on your record you'll almost certainly be talking to a Chief Pilot - therefore, I would try and find a way to disclose this to the appropriate Chief Pilot and throw yourself on their mercy.

Given the hiring difficulties at most regionals these days I'd suspect you'll be OK - but you DEFINATELY want to disclose this, because if you don't and they find out, and they WILL find out, you'll be gone for sure.
 
frightinstructor said:
.....
I was recently offered a job with a regional; class starts in a few weeks. Three days after being offered the job I was celebrating with friends and got a DUI on the way home.

..... The charges are being contested for various reasons, and a conviction (if any) will not occur for several months. .....
If nothing on this incident shows up on the background check, is there another way they might find out down the road?

.........
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I may take some heat from the others here, but you know what, I am not too concerned with this one. You got a DUI. Too bad.

Contesting the charges? Why? You went out knowing you'd be drinking and then decided to get in a car and drive. Not only endangering yourself, but others. No sympathy here.

And then you ask, "...is there another way they might find out down the road?" Sounds like you are trying to hide something. That's responsible.:sarcasm:

Do the right thing like others have said. Own up to it. Go to court, pay your fine and take your punishment. Then inform your airline. And hope they find it you did the responsible thing. I would venture to guess the responsible thing to do would have been to take a cab or have a sober driver. But that's just me. Otherwise, Good Luck on your next intervew.

p.s. Before someone spouts off about Geez, give the guy a break..... My wifes truck was totaled three years ago while her and my two young kids (6 & 3) at the time were in it. Another split second and I would have been attending a funeral because someone was out 'celebrating'. Imagine getting a phone call at midnight while you are out of town on a business trip and hearing that. Sorry, no sympathy here.
 
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