I am thinking of taking my hobby of flying to the next level and going the airline route. When a prospective employer preforms a background check will any medical related information show up? I hear the airline background checks are quite thorough, as they should be. The reason I ask is because I am a private person and don't need my medical information "out there". I currently have a 3rd class medical, and should have no problem obtaining a 1st class. I worry that they would come back to me and ask "Why didn't you disclose such and such a visit with a doctor from years ago?"
Background check and medical records
- Thread starter blandclaw
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Deleted member 27505
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Is "such and such" significant? Did you intentionally withhold "such and such"? Is "such and such" something you didn't previously realize was significant and just didn't think to mention at the time, but presently, possessed of greater perspicacity realize you may not legally withhold in application for a Class I Medical?
I encourage all pilots of means to continue flying as a hobby. Sustain the joy. Keep the fun. Yet not all folks who want to fly have the means to do so. If you need a day job, you probably can't afford to fly as a hobby. There are exceptions, but generally speaking, due to structural socio/economic imperatives, as of today's date, if you can't afford to fly as a hobby, you probably do not want to pursue flying as a job. It is highly likely that pursuing expertise/credentialing and employment as a plumber or electrician will provide you a better income and a much greater QOL than a pursuit of a flying job. It's also likely that investment banking surely will.
I encourage all pilots of means to continue flying as a hobby. Sustain the joy. Keep the fun. Yet not all folks who want to fly have the means to do so. If you need a day job, you probably can't afford to fly as a hobby. There are exceptions, but generally speaking, due to structural socio/economic imperatives, as of today's date, if you can't afford to fly as a hobby, you probably do not want to pursue flying as a job. It is highly likely that pursuing expertise/credentialing and employment as a plumber or electrician will provide you a better income and a much greater QOL than a pursuit of a flying job. It's also likely that investment banking surely will.
FlightSurgeon
Well-Known Member
It does not sound like your question pertains to what the FAA can find out, but rather what an employer can find out. Your personal medical information is protected under HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996), and there are stiff penalties if a medical professional releases your information without your consent. Your personal medical information can probably be obtained through legal means (subpoena) by the government if for example the FAA wanted to pursue a false medical application. Your employer however does not have that kind of legal power.
On the other hand, your application for a medical certificate is not protected by HIPAA. That information is the property of the FAA and they can do with it as they see fit, although it is protected. Again your employer does not have the legal means to access this. If you have real concerns that your medical history contains something that could damage your career in the future it is probably best to get the opinion of a lawyer. Maybe @MidlifeFlyer in the Aviation Attorney section could shine some light here?
Aaron Florkowski, MD
FAA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner
www.kansascityame.com
On the other hand, your application for a medical certificate is not protected by HIPAA. That information is the property of the FAA and they can do with it as they see fit, although it is protected. Again your employer does not have the legal means to access this. If you have real concerns that your medical history contains something that could damage your career in the future it is probably best to get the opinion of a lawyer. Maybe @MidlifeFlyer in the Aviation Attorney section could shine some light here?
Aaron Florkowski, MD
FAA Designated Aviation Medical Examiner
www.kansascityame.com
MidlifeFlyer
Well-Known Member
Not much, although I can say that none of the extensive checks I've done to try to collect a judgment have included medical information., and the sources I've used have gone much deeper than the typical background check which tends to focus on criminal record and credit rating.
Screaming_Emu
Well-Known Member
Just disclose what you think should be disclosed. Do you really want to go your entire career hoping that a skeleton doesn't fall out of your closet and ruin it all?