Dav8rman
Super Trooper.
So it takes a lot of courage to come out in front of everyone and admit your mistakes - but I need advice at this point in my life/career - so here goes
I was 19 - had been instructing for a little over a month - and made a mistake on one of my students endorsement. A week later I was let go from my position In hindsight, it was a mistake that could have easily been averted - but it happened. I've been instructing with my current employer for almost 4 years and have an excellent record here - I would like to think I took steps to make up for the mistake I made when I was younger, but I don't think anything I do will completely make up for it. That mistake combined with my 2 checkride failures (CFI- ground, Multi - flight) have made me unemployable it seems.
I interviewed with a reputable regional a few months ago - made it through the interview, got a pre-offer, but two months down the road received the 'thanks, but no thanks' letter. Turned out I didn't make it through the captains review board - and although the letter didn't say why I wasn't hired - It was certainly not because of my performance on the interview(got the offer after the interview ^ . Its hard to say exactly what it could've have been - but there is a fairly good chance it was because of my past. I've heard of people getting hired with dui's, criminal records, but I haven't heard of many instructors with a situation/past similar to mine - It would be nice to hear if anyone has insight into this situation.
I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent/practical person - and am not oblivious to the dynamics at play in the aviation industry at this time. I understand things are picking up, airlines are hiring, most of the high time pilots are off the streets, and depending on the way the ATP requirement plays out - there might truly be a shortage of pilots in the near future. But all it takes is an exemption to the rule (which is in play at this moment), that will allow students from collegiate programs to get hired with 500-800TT, and we're back to a flooded pilot pool with me on the bottom. Don't get me wrong, I do understand how airlines view the situation as well - since Colgan - in the case of an incident, a pilots past will come under extreme scrutiny, and airlines are trying to limit their liability if it comes down to that.
Currently I meet most regional airline minimums (double actually), have a good network and have at least one recommendation at every regional I've applied for (and I've applied at every regional hiring). But I haven't heard a peep, and I know the common consensus here will be to wait it out and stay strong - but guys its hard watching your instrument students get hired while you wait for that phone call (not joking - it has happened). I guess I'm trying to decide if its truly worth it for me to wait it out given my past - or count my blessings - thank god that I had a fun journey in aviation - and move on. I will be finishing a graduate degree in business in two months - and I've already interviewed at a few places (some where I am likely to make it through the entire recruitment process). The starting salary at most of these places is more than triple what I would make at a regional - and although that should be more than most on here would need to hear before they tell me to 'go for it' I can't help being drawn to sticking it out with aviation - after all I've been working my butt of to make this dream of becoming a pilot come true (although it might be a sunk cost now).
I feel like I'm ranting now - but I'm open to any thoughts, opinions, advice, that anyone here can provide. Some people reading this might even recognize me - but if you do - please keep it anonymous. I apologize if my voice in this blog took a negative tone, the intent was to remain neutral and objective.
I was 19 - had been instructing for a little over a month - and made a mistake on one of my students endorsement. A week later I was let go from my position In hindsight, it was a mistake that could have easily been averted - but it happened. I've been instructing with my current employer for almost 4 years and have an excellent record here - I would like to think I took steps to make up for the mistake I made when I was younger, but I don't think anything I do will completely make up for it. That mistake combined with my 2 checkride failures (CFI- ground, Multi - flight) have made me unemployable it seems.
I interviewed with a reputable regional a few months ago - made it through the interview, got a pre-offer, but two months down the road received the 'thanks, but no thanks' letter. Turned out I didn't make it through the captains review board - and although the letter didn't say why I wasn't hired - It was certainly not because of my performance on the interview(got the offer after the interview ^ . Its hard to say exactly what it could've have been - but there is a fairly good chance it was because of my past. I've heard of people getting hired with dui's, criminal records, but I haven't heard of many instructors with a situation/past similar to mine - It would be nice to hear if anyone has insight into this situation.
I consider myself to be a fairly intelligent/practical person - and am not oblivious to the dynamics at play in the aviation industry at this time. I understand things are picking up, airlines are hiring, most of the high time pilots are off the streets, and depending on the way the ATP requirement plays out - there might truly be a shortage of pilots in the near future. But all it takes is an exemption to the rule (which is in play at this moment), that will allow students from collegiate programs to get hired with 500-800TT, and we're back to a flooded pilot pool with me on the bottom. Don't get me wrong, I do understand how airlines view the situation as well - since Colgan - in the case of an incident, a pilots past will come under extreme scrutiny, and airlines are trying to limit their liability if it comes down to that.
Currently I meet most regional airline minimums (double actually), have a good network and have at least one recommendation at every regional I've applied for (and I've applied at every regional hiring). But I haven't heard a peep, and I know the common consensus here will be to wait it out and stay strong - but guys its hard watching your instrument students get hired while you wait for that phone call (not joking - it has happened). I guess I'm trying to decide if its truly worth it for me to wait it out given my past - or count my blessings - thank god that I had a fun journey in aviation - and move on. I will be finishing a graduate degree in business in two months - and I've already interviewed at a few places (some where I am likely to make it through the entire recruitment process). The starting salary at most of these places is more than triple what I would make at a regional - and although that should be more than most on here would need to hear before they tell me to 'go for it' I can't help being drawn to sticking it out with aviation - after all I've been working my butt of to make this dream of becoming a pilot come true (although it might be a sunk cost now).
I feel like I'm ranting now - but I'm open to any thoughts, opinions, advice, that anyone here can provide. Some people reading this might even recognize me - but if you do - please keep it anonymous. I apologize if my voice in this blog took a negative tone, the intent was to remain neutral and objective.