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Dalmd88 wrote:Major tickets, like reckless driving, DUI can be a death sentence to your career. That applies to mechanics as well as pilots.
Dalmd88 wrote:Major tickets, like reckless driving, DUI can be a death sentence to your career. That applies to mechanics as well as pilots.
e38 wrote:Quoting Starlionblue (Reply # 2), "Attitude, pleasant personality, willingness to work hard, receptiveness to instruction, and flying experience are what matter."
there's more . . .
learning2fly, these are all important personal characteristics to possess when interviewing for a pilot position at an airline. However, with regard to the question you posted regarding speeding tickets, there is an additional attribute, and that is HONESTY. At this point you cannot change the fact that you have received a couple of speeding tickets, so you simply have to accept responsibility for them and be completely truthful.
So, a couple of points . . .
First, if the issue of a moving violation comes up on the application itself, just answer the question truthfully. You do not need to expound on it unless the application specifically asks you to do so. In that case, just provide the facts without expressing personal opinion or commenting upon the individual who issued the citations.
Second, once you are at the actual interview, do not bring up the subject of having received a couple of traffic tickets; however, if the interviewer brings it up, again, just be honest and explain exactly what happened. Moreover, they are not so interested in the fact that you received the tickets, but more how you learned from the situation, handled it, and what you have done so as not to have received any more. Interviewers know that everyone makes mistakes in life; it's what you learned from those mistakes and how you handled them is what they are really interested in hearing.
Remember, the fact that you received a couple of speeding tickets is not a big deal; but if you try to hide the fact that you received them or try to avoid responsibility and/or blame somebody else for them--well, that IS a big deal.
HONESTY and INTEGRITY are important.
I recommend being very careful about getting any more speeding tickets. One or two is not significant, but as CosmicCruiser mentioned above, if you get additional speeding tickets, it will look as though you have no regard or respect for rules and regulations and that would most certainly be a reason for an interviewer to disqualify you from further consideration.
With regard to your question about your GPA -- 3.2 -- that is just fine. In the United States that equates to an A / B average and there's nothing wrong with that. Most airlines don't really care about your grades in college, or what your major was, but if they were to see something like 1.8 or 2.0 GPA; then that would probably raise some questions and could possibly indicate potential problems with completing the training program should they hire you. I went to college with people who would put forth absolutely minimum effort and proudly state, "If the minimum wasn't good enough, it wouldn't be the minimum." Ummm, I recommend you NOT adopt this philosophy. An airline would interpret this attitude as settling for mediocrity.
So, the 3.2 is ok, but I recommend you study hard and try not to let it go any lower (at least not below 3.0 if possible).
Lastly, and you didn't ask about this but I'm going to say it anyway . . . be very careful about what you post on social media. Yes, the airlines look at that. You may find it quite humorous to post a video or photos of you and your friends getting drunk at a party or doing something else, but if a company for which you wish to work discovers it, that also could be disqualifying for future consideration.
Darn, trying to get hired by an airline . . . well you have to follow the rules and behave yourself somewhat, but . . . you don't have to be a saint or be perfect--yes, you are still allowed to have some fun!
I hope some of this helps.
e38
bradyj23 wrote:No. Two tickets will absolutely not destroy your career. Especially not when pilots are in demand. Learn from it, be able to explain it, and don’t make it a trend.
TWA772LR wrote:As a millennial who was spoonfed the BS that college is the key to making 6 figures and that a kickass GPA is the key to making 7 figures, I can tell you that's a load of crap. Unless you're in a pipeline program that has a minimum GPA requirement or any kind of campus organization, a company will only care if you get the degree in the end, because all a college degree shows is that you can set a goal and achieve it.
CosmicCruiser wrote:The FAA requires reporting moving violations when you get your FAA flight physical. One or two in the past aren't going to hurt you but a trend will.
AirFiero wrote:Dalmd88 wrote:Major tickets, like reckless driving, DUI can be a death sentence to your career. That applies to mechanics as well as pilots.
Yes, specifically, a DUI will result in your pilots license being suspended.
learning2fly wrote:Hi Everyone, I am currently 20 working on my private pilot license. I have been reading about how speeding tickets are negatively looked upon by airlines. Does having 2 speeding tickets destroy my chances at a major ever and how important is your GPA or college grades when applying to the airlines? I currently have a 3.2 GPA.
Thank You!
e38 wrote:learning2fly, I just wanted to make a brief comment on something you stated above (Reply # 9), "I am also going to go for an M.S. in Aviation Management if that decorates the resume at all."
No, it really doesn't. In general, airlines don't care whether or not you have a Masters degree and it really doesn't do much to enhance your chances of getting hired. They want applicants to get a degree from a reputable, accredited college or university, with a decent GPA (at or above 3.0) and they also don't care what the major or field of study was at that college or university. They just want to see that you have the perseverance, dedication, and intelligence to successfully complete a college/university program. The time and money spent obtaining an advanced degree at this point in your life would not be justified if your current goal is to become an airline pilot.
The only pilots I know (very few) who have Masters degrees are former military officers who received the advanced degree while still on active duty and they did so in order to better compete for promotion to the next rank--it had nothing to do with flying or getting hired by an airline.
My recommendation is to finish your undergraduate program, obtain the appropriate flight ratings, and start building flight hours. Leadership (PIC time) is much more important than an advanced degree. I noticed your other thread, "Career Path Program." I don't think you need to be concerned about that at this time.
Later in life, if you think a Masters degree would add value to your career--you want to pursue a position in airline management or want to branch out beyond aviation--then consider working on an advanced degree at that time. Just as an aside, some of the pilots I know who advanced from line flying to corporate management positions actually got law degrees, although, yes, some did obtain advanced degrees in aviation management as well.
At this time--finish your degree, ratings, flight hours, and PIC time.
e38
TWA772LR wrote:I've never understood that reasoning. Having to go into debt for (at least) tens of thousands of dollars just so that you can show that you can "achieve a goal". I know a recently retired A320 Capt from a US3who had nothing but a HS diploma. Just his career progression showed that he could "achieve a goal". How a BA/BS in nothing related to aviation is going to help you fly a plane is beyond me.because all a college degree shows is that you can set a goal and achieve it.
johns624 wrote:TWA772LR wrote:I've never understood that reasoning. Having to go into debt for (at least) tens of thousands of dollars just so that you can show that you can "achieve a goal". I know a recently retired A320 Capt from a US3who had nothing but a HS diploma. Just his career progression showed that he could "achieve a goal". How a BA/BS in nothing related to aviation is going to help you fly a plane is beyond me.because all a college degree shows is that you can set a goal and achieve it.
johns624 wrote:TWA772LR wrote:I've never understood that reasoning. Having to go into debt for (at least) tens of thousands of dollars just so that you can show that you can "achieve a goal". I know a recently retired A320 Capt from a US3who had nothing but a HS diploma. Just his career progression showed that he could "achieve a goal". How a BA/BS in nothing related to aviation is going to help you fly a plane is beyond me.because all a college degree shows is that you can set a goal and achieve it.
johns624 wrote:TWA772LR wrote:I've never understood that reasoning. Having to go into debt for (at least) tens of thousands of dollars just so that you can show that you can "achieve a goal". I know a recently retired A320 Capt from a US3who had nothing but a HS diploma. Just his career progression showed that he could "achieve a goal". How a BA/BS in nothing related to aviation is going to help you fly a plane is beyond me.because all a college degree shows is that you can set a goal and achieve it.
johns624 wrote:All of which is why universities are big business today and why tuition costs go up much faster than other costs. Because it's "needed", and they have a captive audience.