Can I become a pilot with this criminal history

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CavalierRigg@reddit

Goddamn, I mean this in truly the nicest way possible, but you gotta work on writing and using punctuation. Yes, it’s the internet, but it was legitimately hard to follow your train of thought because your writing looks like a rambling, run-on sentence.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

Haha I just changed it your the second person to tell me that

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MEINSHNAKE@reddit

You’re^

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

Didn’t know this was a English class

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CorporalCrash@reddit

An english class*

Sorry OP I couldn't resist lol

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cosmictap@reddit

An english class*

*An English class

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CorporalCrash@reddit

This is amazing

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HateJobLoveManU@reddit

Bro can’t spell and wants to know about doing a job that’s way harder mentally than spelling is

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AVeryHeavyBurtation@reddit

I'm somewhat of a grammar enthusiast, and I've noticed that /r/flying has the best grammar of any subreddit I'm subscribed to, on average. The worst is /r/Dirtbikes, with special mention to the motorcycle repair subreddit, /r/fixxit. Something about describing motorcycle problems makes people switch into stream of consciousness, no punctuation mode, like OP.

Speaking of whom, /u/AirlineNegative155, I've identified 6 ways people respond to having their writing called out on reddit. Your first reply in this thread was way number 1: Generally appreciative, includes people who make corrections without responding. Then you switched to way number 3: "This reddit, not a school assignment."

Thank you for coming to my ted talk.

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DukeofApex@reddit

Not that it adds to the discussion, but what are numbers 2, 4, 5 and 6?

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KITTYONFYRE@reddit

how someone handles corrections is a super important part of being a pilot, and this is not how you would want to see your crewmate responding to a correction.

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CDN_Gunner@reddit

Details matter, especially if you want to be a pilot.

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elkab0ng@reddit

He told him discretely.

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micahpmtn@reddit

There's far more to the story than the OP is revealing. None of this makes sense.

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First-Length6323@reddit

If its on your record you will never fly for a reputable airline. If you were a minor and HR cannot find it in a background check you are fine dont mention it. If you mention it, game over.

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ChiefDaddyJ@reddit

How did you get arrested at a gun show for having a concealed firearm?

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

I was underage and can’t have one at that age

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sound-of-impact@reddit

Someone sold you a gun underage? This doesn't make sense.

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grateful_bean@reddit

Have you seen America?

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Kdmtiburon004@reddit

You’ve clearly never been to a gun show

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x4457@reddit

Happens all the time, which is also a crime.

Also, you're missing the concept of theft here.

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TheRealPizza@reddit

He said obtained instead of purchased which leads me to believe he stole a gun

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Flying_Dentist77@reddit

yeah that is a dick move.

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haveanairforceday@reddit

Gun shows often have strict rules about firearms. Must be locked/inspected/zip tied. Cant be concealed. Cant loaded. Etc

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PleaseGreaseTheL@reddit

Not showing it off obviously-enough to all his friends, DUH. Concealed the badass new toy, clear offense

/s obviously, but I also am curious how this happened tbh

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Apart_Shelter_5722@reddit

Maybe its where he was concealing it :0

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jbc247@reddit

A criminal defense lawyer in your state would be able to answer this immediately. If it’s Texas, the answer is, no, you don’t have to disclose it. However, many people think their arrest was expunged and it wasn’t.

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uninformedASI@reddit

A general criminal defense lawyer in any state is not necessarily going to be able to answer questions pertaining to FAA reporting obligations accurately. FAA regulatory compliance doesn’t necessarily fall under their scope, though many non-aviation attorneys will happily opine on a legal matter without any knowledge in or proven track record of aviation regulations. This is, in an informed, albeit somewhat jaded viewpoint, dogshit advice. Getting something expunged doesn’t actually mean it goes away forever for every federal agency and I promise it doesn’t mean that you can get away free from FAA enforcement for failure to report. Just ask any pilots who have had the FAA come down on them for a DUI. Talk to an aviation attorney specifically.

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jbc247@reddit

I agree, but OP was asking about becoming a pilot.

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MiniTab@reddit

That’s good advice.

Just to add the caveat, that if it’s truly expunged (which is different than “sealed”), you can legally state at that point it never happened.

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YugeWaterBottle@reddit

You've been automatically approved for the FFDO program.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

You’re the second person to say this I don’t get it why 😂?

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YugeWaterBottle@reddit

FFDOs are pilots that volunteered for a special program to carry a firearm on the flight deck. They're usually a little strange. The type of person who might get arrested for doing something stupid like underage concealed weapons.

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brongchong@reddit

No, chodes that carry yuge water bottles who are afraid of guns are strange.

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DOUBLE_DOINKED@reddit

Found the FFDO

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deer_god11@reddit

I don't necessarily disagree with the FFDO program but I've only ever heard of pilots meeting FFDOs who SHOULD NOT be FFDOs.

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DuelingPushkin@reddit

Could that be because the responsible ones don't advertise it?

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Ok-Selection4206@reddit

The other crew has to know. You are required to inform them if you are transporting it.

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Flimsy-Ad-858@reddit

Yeah it's basically this. The guys who make a thing out of being one, shouldn't be one.

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Valid__Salad@reddit

I’ve only flown with one FFDO and it was interesting. Seemed like it added an extra, unnecessary step when we had to change planes four times.

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notmymain_name@reddit

I had a couple of misdemeanors when I was 17 that were expunged after 2 years. I didn’t disclose them on any app and never heard a single peep about it. Successfully hired at multiple airlines.

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LRJetCowboy@reddit

But were you tried and found guilty or did you plead guilty? You’ve failed to connect the dots between arrest and charges being dropped.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

I was offered a diversion program meaning I did community service and charges were dropped. I didn’t plead anything because it never went to trial.

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LRJetCowboy@reddit

I’m not an attorney and this isn’t legal advice but, read the questions carefully and answer honestly. It sounds like you were not convicted of or adjudicated as guilty of a crime?

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Ok-Selection4206@reddit

Did it even happen?

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planegoeswoosh@reddit

Doesn't that mean you technically dont have criminal charge so technically you dont have to disclose it ? Or i am mixing stuff up?

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

Thats how it should be and I mean that’s how it technically is at 90% of jobs but any job that requires state licensing like health care, child care, police or aviation can still see it

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ebeing@reddit

o thats how it is then, you should not claim that.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

Do you guys just down vote for fun ? 🤦‍♂️

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TheLizardKing39@reddit

First time on reddit, huh?

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ArtistEngineer@reddit

I was expecting grand theft aero.

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Raccoon_Ratatouille@reddit

Can you travel internationally or are there restrictions on what countries let you enter them?

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Mammoth_Impress_3108@reddit

They might not be able to go to Montenegro

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AWACS_Bandog@reddit

do they check if you're circumsized?

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militaryrat155@reddit

Incredible reference

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

No

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Veggie-Smoothie@reddit

No you can't travel internationally or no you don't have any restrictions?

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DonnerPartyPicnic@reddit

Yes

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GivenToFly@reddit

Just spit out my dinner, thanks.

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m4a785m@reddit

Yes, they can't not

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b_vitamin@reddit

Yes you can or yes you can’t?

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

No I don’t have any restrictions

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Raccoon_Ratatouille@reddit

I don’t think that would be a showstopper then, but you’re going against a lot of competition who don’t have any arrests on their record. I’d consider it a strike against you so make damn sure you don’t get in any other trouble or fail checkride, etc. I’m very pro-interview prep to start with but it’s especially crucial for folks with a skeleton in their closet like this because you’re going to have to check that box on the application and you probably will be asked about it in an interview.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

Got it thanks for the insight!

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Ok_Commercial_1109@reddit

No

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Working_Football1586@reddit

When you say obtained are we talking theft of a firearm or just an illegal purchase? Big difference.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

No no not theft lol

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valspare@reddit

He said "obtained" a firearm, which is not "purchased" or "was sold".

So obtained while underage seems like theft.

Can you recover? Maybe. It'll take some time to put distance and a track record if progress away from your criminal background.

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jjamesr539@reddit

It occurred before you were 18 and you weren’t convicted of anything. The record will be sealed because you were a minor, it’s not one of the very short list of things they’d be able to see anyway, and dropped charges aren’t a criminal record regardless. You’re fine.

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Hung_Like_A_Mare@reddit

Charges dropped… so no conviction? All the airline apps I’ve ever seen have asked only about convictions, not arrests.

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Imaginary_Amoeba3461@reddit

I know of a guy with worse charges who is employed by a airline.

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about15yogurts@reddit

Be forward and honest with it and you’re going to be just fine. Pretty sure it’s not a tsa disqualifying offense and your chrc should be g2g. But double check everything with an aviation lawyer.

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razulebismarck@reddit

They can’t stop you from getting a license.

Now getting employment is a different story but given what you described it “shouldn’t” be an issue.

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Designer_Solid4271@reddit

Can you get a pilots license? Yes. How far you go just depends, but one sure fire way to not find out is to not try.

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ebeing@reddit

if you've had nothing after that incident, hire a lawyer and try to get it expunged.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

It is expunged

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Big_Assignment5949@reddit

You'll be contacted to be an FFDO when you complete your ATP.

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AirlineNegative155@reddit (OP)

Is that a joke?😂 and do you think I can actually get a atp with this history?

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NTSBgroupread@reddit

Its a hilarious joke, absolutely crushed it.

Get an ATP? Yeah, probably. Get a job... most likely but expect to explain it. The more experienced can chime in.

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Brotein40@reddit

When you eventually apply for a job, regardless of what industry you’ll be in, get a second set of eyes on your grammar and punctuation.

But you should be fine.

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rFlyingTower@reddit

This is a copy of the original post body for posterity:

When I was 17 around 4 years ago I was at a gun show and got a gun and I was arrested at the gunshow for possession of concealed firearm. I got a diversion program and my charges were dropped. My record was expunged. (The FAA and airlines can still see it though). I was not a bad kid at the time I know everyone says that lol but I was volunteering at Mayo Clinic I volunteered at retirement homes and wrote post cards to seniors I had no prior criminal history and was good in school. And up until now I haven’t got in any more trouble. how likely is this to prevent me from getting a job at an airline and FAA?

Any insight would be greatly appreciated that you 🙏

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