Background Checks
12-30-2011, 08:50 AM
#1
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 12
Background Checks
Was wondering if someone could share some light on what information the regionals have access to when they do their background checks of a potential pilot new hire. I am ex US Air Force and had a top secret security clearance and a spotless record until I recieved a public intoxication citation about five years ago in Texas. I went through the Texas Dept of Public Safety's background check contractor (got fingerprinted and paid the fee) and requested my own record. I recieved it in the mail the other day and it shows that I have no criminal record or clear as they refer to it. A PI is a class C misdemeanor (same as a speeding ticket) in Texas. I was wondering if I should disclose this information if going through an Airline interview when it does not show up on my record because I don't know if the information the Airline will have will be more detailed. If so, does this one indiscretion kill my chance of getting hired by a regional?
12-30-2011, 03:33 PM
#3
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,020
The airlines will have access to several possible sources of info...
State/local records. This will be based on where you report that you have lived. All airlines may not bother with this...in sme cases they can look up public records online but in many places you have to physically visit a courthouse to pull state or local records. Majors are more likely to do this than regionals.
Background check services. These may collect and store copies of court records from numerous locations and match your name for a fee. Not all locations allow their records to be downloaded, but you can google these companies and for a fee run a check on yourself to se what comes up.
FBI Database. Airlines get to see this because of the TSA background check requirements. However...even if you meet TSA standards the airline still sees your record. In the case of some deleted records, the record will still exist but no details will be visible. An airline will only know that "something" happened on that date...and will wonder why you didn't tell them. But most misdemeanors do not appear in the feds database anyway. You can get a copy of your own record.
But with all that said, you are really going out on a limb if you lie about your background. For one thing, that record is probably reportable on a FAA medical exam (read the fine print). If you lie on that form, your misdemeanor just became a felony (the FAA arranges to throw people in jail for that).
I assume this incident ended your military career? Is there any documentation, such as a non-standard separation code on your D-214 or a general discharge?
How old were you when this happened? If you were under 25, an airline might just write it off to youthful exuberance. But over thirty, they will assume you have issue(s). It's one thing to get drunk, a lot of us do that now and then, but in order to get a PI you usually have to tick off a cop.
State/local records. This will be based on where you report that you have lived. All airlines may not bother with this...in sme cases they can look up public records online but in many places you have to physically visit a courthouse to pull state or local records. Majors are more likely to do this than regionals.
Background check services. These may collect and store copies of court records from numerous locations and match your name for a fee. Not all locations allow their records to be downloaded, but you can google these companies and for a fee run a check on yourself to se what comes up.
FBI Database. Airlines get to see this because of the TSA background check requirements. However...even if you meet TSA standards the airline still sees your record. In the case of some deleted records, the record will still exist but no details will be visible. An airline will only know that "something" happened on that date...and will wonder why you didn't tell them. But most misdemeanors do not appear in the feds database anyway. You can get a copy of your own record.
But with all that said, you are really going out on a limb if you lie about your background. For one thing, that record is probably reportable on a FAA medical exam (read the fine print). If you lie on that form, your misdemeanor just became a felony (the FAA arranges to throw people in jail for that).
I assume this incident ended your military career? Is there any documentation, such as a non-standard separation code on your D-214 or a general discharge?
How old were you when this happened? If you were under 25, an airline might just write it off to youthful exuberance. But over thirty, they will assume you have issue(s). It's one thing to get drunk, a lot of us do that now and then, but in order to get a PI you usually have to tick off a cop.
12-31-2011, 04:01 AM
#4
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 12
The airlines will have access to several possible sources of info...
State/local records. This will be based on where you report that you have lived. All airlines may not bother with this...in sme cases they can look up public records online but in many places you have to physically visit a courthouse to pull state or local records. Majors are more likely to do this than regionals.
Background check services. These may collect and store copies of court records from numerous locations and match your name for a fee. Not all locations allow their records to be downloaded, but you can google these companies and for a fee run a check on yourself to se what comes up.
FBI Database. Airlines get to see this because of the TSA background check requirements. However...even if you meet TSA standards the airline still sees your record. In the case of some deleted records, the record will still exist but no details will be visible. An airline will only know that "something" happened on that date...and will wonder why you didn't tell them. But most misdemeanors do not appear in the feds database anyway. You can get a copy of your own record.
But with all that said, you are really going out on a limb if you lie about your background. For one thing, that record is probably reportable on a FAA medical exam (read the fine print). If you lie on that form, your misdemeanor just became a felony (the FAA arranges to throw people in jail for that).
I assume this incident ended your military career? Is there any documentation, such as a non-standard separation code on your D-214 or a general discharge?
How old were you when this happened? If you were under 25, an airline might just write it off to youthful exuberance. But over thirty, they will assume you have issue(s). It's one thing to get drunk, a lot of us do that now and then, but in order to get a PI you usually have to tick off a cop.
State/local records. This will be based on where you report that you have lived. All airlines may not bother with this...in sme cases they can look up public records online but in many places you have to physically visit a courthouse to pull state or local records. Majors are more likely to do this than regionals.
Background check services. These may collect and store copies of court records from numerous locations and match your name for a fee. Not all locations allow their records to be downloaded, but you can google these companies and for a fee run a check on yourself to se what comes up.
FBI Database. Airlines get to see this because of the TSA background check requirements. However...even if you meet TSA standards the airline still sees your record. In the case of some deleted records, the record will still exist but no details will be visible. An airline will only know that "something" happened on that date...and will wonder why you didn't tell them. But most misdemeanors do not appear in the feds database anyway. You can get a copy of your own record.
But with all that said, you are really going out on a limb if you lie about your background. For one thing, that record is probably reportable on a FAA medical exam (read the fine print). If you lie on that form, your misdemeanor just became a felony (the FAA arranges to throw people in jail for that).
I assume this incident ended your military career? Is there any documentation, such as a non-standard separation code on your D-214 or a general discharge?
How old were you when this happened? If you were under 25, an airline might just write it off to youthful exuberance. But over thirty, they will assume you have issue(s). It's one thing to get drunk, a lot of us do that now and then, but in order to get a PI you usually have to tick off a cop.
12-31-2011, 04:13 AM
#5
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,020
Like I said, I doubt it will be in the FBI file unless it started out as assaulting a police officer or something serious and then got reduced.
As far as other records, it's just a crapshoot on what kind of check they run and how well the local records system in question is maintained (often not very well). The most reliable background is to pull county records from all the places you have lived, but that can be expensive. Some majors will probably do that, but few regionals.
If you are honest about it, I suppose the impact will be affected by the back story. Were just walking home minding your own business and they grabbed you? If you can prove that (police report, court docs) it might not be a big deal. But like I said before...there is usually some egregious behavior leading up to that.
Depending on the details of the situation, my guess is that you could get hired by a bottom feeder regional, maybe even a better regional if you completed some kind of HIMS program. Did they FAA medical make you do anything like HIMS or eval?
As far as other records, it's just a crapshoot on what kind of check they run and how well the local records system in question is maintained (often not very well). The most reliable background is to pull county records from all the places you have lived, but that can be expensive. Some majors will probably do that, but few regionals.
If you are honest about it, I suppose the impact will be affected by the back story. Were just walking home minding your own business and they grabbed you? If you can prove that (police report, court docs) it might not be a big deal. But like I said before...there is usually some egregious behavior leading up to that.
Depending on the details of the situation, my guess is that you could get hired by a bottom feeder regional, maybe even a better regional if you completed some kind of HIMS program. Did they FAA medical make you do anything like HIMS or eval?
12-31-2011, 04:54 AM
#6
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 12
Like I said, I doubt it will be in the FBI file unless it started out as assaulting a police officer or something serious and then got reduced.
As far as other records, it's just a crapshoot on what kind of check they run and how well the local records system in question is maintained (often not very well). The most reliable background is to pull county records from all the places you have lived, but that can be expensive. Some majors will probably do that, but few regionals.
If you are honest about it, I suppose the impact will be affected by the back story. Were just walking home minding your own business and they grabbed you? If you can prove that (police report, court docs) it might not be a big deal. But like I said before...there is usually some egregious behavior leading up to that.
Depending on the details of the situation, my guess is that you could get hired by a bottom feeder regional, maybe even a better regional if you completed some kind of HIMS program. Did they FAA medical make you do anything like HIMS or eval?
As far as other records, it's just a crapshoot on what kind of check they run and how well the local records system in question is maintained (often not very well). The most reliable background is to pull county records from all the places you have lived, but that can be expensive. Some majors will probably do that, but few regionals.
If you are honest about it, I suppose the impact will be affected by the back story. Were just walking home minding your own business and they grabbed you? If you can prove that (police report, court docs) it might not be a big deal. But like I said before...there is usually some egregious behavior leading up to that.
Depending on the details of the situation, my guess is that you could get hired by a bottom feeder regional, maybe even a better regional if you completed some kind of HIMS program. Did they FAA medical make you do anything like HIMS or eval?
12-31-2011, 03:44 PM
#7
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 40,020
You should have checked yes to block w. on form 8500. This would have required disclosure of details, which probably would initiated a dependency evaluation (at significant expense to you).
If you have checked no on that box since the date of the conviction, you might want to talk an aviation lawyer.
01-01-2012, 01:14 AM
#8
Ref +8
Joined APC: Aug 2007
Position: North by Midwest
Posts: 383
Lets just slow down a second, ya'll making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Yes, you should tell them about the misdemeanor that occurred five years ago; no they will not likely care about it, it is a petty offense and the magic numbers are 5 and 10 years. Not like it is a DUI or domestic violence anyway.
As for will it show in a background: highly unlikely. The FBI database is a reference only, the airlines are allowed to cross reference you, but they do not get to look at records and dig through your life. Additionally, TSA will run a background through the NCIC for detailed criminal history, which is as tied in with the FBI reference base, your misdemeanor may have been reported to NCIC depending on the agency that issued the citation.
Best advice, just be honest and tell them you got cited for DD and when they asked for the details tell the truth and it will likely be a non-issue because, who cares at the regionals anyway.
Yes, you should tell them about the misdemeanor that occurred five years ago; no they will not likely care about it, it is a petty offense and the magic numbers are 5 and 10 years. Not like it is a DUI or domestic violence anyway.
As for will it show in a background: highly unlikely. The FBI database is a reference only, the airlines are allowed to cross reference you, but they do not get to look at records and dig through your life. Additionally, TSA will run a background through the NCIC for detailed criminal history, which is as tied in with the FBI reference base, your misdemeanor may have been reported to NCIC depending on the agency that issued the citation.
Best advice, just be honest and tell them you got cited for DD and when they asked for the details tell the truth and it will likely be a non-issue because, who cares at the regionals anyway.
01-01-2012, 05:22 AM
#9
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 12
You should have checked yes to block w. on form 8500. This would have required disclosure of details, which probably would initiated a dependency evaluation (at significant expense to you).
If you have checked no on that box since the date of the conviction, you might want to talk an aviation lawyer.
If you have checked no on that box since the date of the conviction, you might want to talk an aviation lawyer.
01-01-2012, 05:30 AM
#10
On Reserve
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Nov 2011
Posts: 12
Lets just slow down a second, ya'll making a mountain out of a mole hill.
Yes, you should tell them about the misdemeanor that occurred five years ago; no they will not likely care about it, it is a petty offense and the magic numbers are 5 and 10 years. Not like it is a DUI or domestic violence anyway.
As for will it show in a background: highly unlikely. The FBI database is a reference only, the airlines are allowed to cross reference you, but they do not get to look at records and dig through your life. Additionally, TSA will run a background through the NCIC for detailed criminal history, which is as tied in with the FBI reference base, your misdemeanor may have been reported to NCIC depending on the agency that issued the citation.
Best advice, just be honest and tell them you got cited for DD and when they asked for the details tell the truth and it will likely be a non-issue because, who cares at the regionals anyway.
Yes, you should tell them about the misdemeanor that occurred five years ago; no they will not likely care about it, it is a petty offense and the magic numbers are 5 and 10 years. Not like it is a DUI or domestic violence anyway.
As for will it show in a background: highly unlikely. The FBI database is a reference only, the airlines are allowed to cross reference you, but they do not get to look at records and dig through your life. Additionally, TSA will run a background through the NCIC for detailed criminal history, which is as tied in with the FBI reference base, your misdemeanor may have been reported to NCIC depending on the agency that issued the citation.
Best advice, just be honest and tell them you got cited for DD and when they asked for the details tell the truth and it will likely be a non-issue because, who cares at the regionals anyway.
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