No doubt privacy laws differ around the world, but at least in my country, very little information can be sought from previous employers. Yes, Mr Smith was employed as a pilot of XXX company for xx years. Anything else can lead to litigation.
Internal incident reports are confidential, so if it is not required to be sent on to the regulator, then strict confidentiality applies. (e.g. You bust a company requirement). A company forwarding such information on to the next employer can face serious repercussions.
Also the regulator is bound by certain confidentiality clauses in regard to what details about an individual involved in an incident can be released.
Of course, many times the names get spilled or the circumstance are such that the media will be all over it, e.g. Cpt Sully was never going to remain anonymous.
However, as is mostly the case for 99% of reportable incidents around the world, the name remains confidential.
Naturally, If you do tell an untruth on a job application, if it is later discovered, you may find yourself out of a job and perhaps out of the country. The same goes if you fail to report a reportable incident to your current employer/regulator!
The fact that some airlines state such "incident free" prerequisites is astounding and a huge blemish on a "just" reporting culture that should be encouraged worldwide.
Last edited by Potsie Weber; 22nd Oct 2012 at 09:02.