PRIA advice.

esa17

esa17

Well-Known Member
I have something of a dilemma that I really hoped I'd never face. I left my last employer because I refused to fly an unsafe airplane. The owner told me to fly or find a new job, so I did. Later on the FAA investigated and some changes were made in the way the company does things.

The owner is now the chief flight instructor since he fired his Uncle for similar reasons and this is where the problem comes from.

I have been offered a job in AK for the season and they need my records from my previous employer. Because I have to send the request to them I'm afraid the animosity that remains to this day will mess up my new job. How should I go about dealing with this? Send the documents registered receipt requested? At the very best I expect them to slow play the documents and try to hold me up. Yes the owner is that petty.

One of my references for the job was my direct supervisor and he gave me a great reference, if that's relevant.

Thanks guys.
 
As far as I know, your PRIA will only show the certificates and ratings you hold and any any training you received.
 
PRIA will only show very specific information, essentially training done and dates. For example, the PRIA sent to me by Mesa was all of half of one page.

When you're filling out your PRIA authorization form there is a box you can check that will say, essentially, 'Send me a copy as well'. They HAVE to send you a copy of the exact same information they send your employeer. It is always good to check this box -- you'll be able to see exactly what is sent. Sending anything else beyond what is required by the law is probably opening them up to liability -- for the same reasons most employers only verify employment these days and don't get in to anything else.

A company is also required to have a document custodian, forever. I'm not sure if there are any responsibilities as far as how soon a request must be processed, but the worst that could happen is that they'd either ignore it (they're not supposed to do this) or drag their heels sending it back. Either case you're probably already in training. You can be hired before your PRIA comes back.

I remember a fellow in my new hire class at Mesa had a situation where he was afraid because a company he worked for went out of business completely and didn't have any kind of document custodian... Mesa sent off the PRIA request, never heard back and essentially shrugged. They did their part. Maybe this will change with the whole 3407 thing but as far as I know it is still this way right now.

But send the documents certified mail, you get a confirmation of recipt and they keep the signature on file for 180 days. Return recipt requested only for 60 days, and it costs pretty much the same.
 
Isn't PRIA associated with a request for information related to your pilot certificate number and on file with the FAA? What does that have to do with the previous employer? If you have been offered the job then I would be inclinded to think that they want you to work there. If you are concerned that the previous employer might somehow undermine your application, why not take the wind out of his sails and be up front with the new employer. Tell them how you exercised your authority as PIC and made a no-go decision. You showed integrity then. If the new/prospective company doesn't respect that, do you want to jump back into another frying pan?
 
The company is requesting all documents related to my training with the company but they don't really exist. When I was there over a year ago they didn't keep the records they were supposed to for the students, much less the instructors. Throughout my training I only had one instructor, all part 61, and he passed away this past year.

CDNPilotDave said:
Isn't PRIA associated with a request for information related to your pilot certificate number and on file with the FAA? What does that have to do with the previous employer? If you have been offered the job then I would be inclinded to think that they want you to work there. If you are concerned that the previous employer might somehow undermine your application, why not take the wind out of his sails and be up front with the new employer. Tell them how you exercised your authority as PIC and made a no-go decision. You showed integrity then. If the new/prospective company doesn't respect that, do you want to jump back into another frying pan?
Click to expand...
I've already told them the whole story. And, as I said, my direct supervisor at the company was one of my references. I'm just worried that the owner will make up some other story about how things went down.

I guess I want the job so badly I'm just hyper paranoid.
 
Esa17, you need to relax. Seems to me if a false report was filed with the FAA that could be considered fraud, and further, could be classified as slanderous ie. ripe for a suit seeking damages. If you know a good lawyer who would write an educational letter for you to this potential S*%T disturber/petty person might just consider the cost this would run into for him and he may decide to back off. I say again, you showed integrity by opting to not fly an unsafe airplane. That's to be commended. Stick to your guns. Based on the information you provided, you are in the right. RELAX
 
As far as PRIA goes. I believe only training failures will hurt you at a new employer.

As for your new employer calling your former company. Usually they will only confirm that you worked there and if you are eligable for rehire.

The worst they could do in this case as is say no your not eligable for rehire. And perhaps you might have to explain that.

Otherwise you could file a lawsuit against them.
 
Correct me if I'm wrong but PRIA requests are only sent to previous 135/121 employers and the FAA, right?
 
PRIA is only for 135/121, so if that is what they area asking for, you don't have any to send.
 
Usually the company HR department gets the information, not the applicant for the job. The HR should just send a fax or call to verify dates of employment.
 
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