ATP Bust

[kyler432]

Is it possible to get hired by a major airline (when and if they start hiring again) if I busted my ATP upgrade check ride at a regional airline? Will I be at this company for the rest of my life?

[SNS3Guppy]

Of course that's not going to prevent you from going anywhere. Presently your options for moving to a major are nearly zero, but not because of the failed practical test. There's just no movement, and furloughs are in the works nearly everywhere. That means you have time to overcome your recent shortfall, make the failure a success, and move on.

You'll surely be asked in every interview you attend if you've ever failed a checkride or practical test or proficiency check. Answering yes isn't the problem. How you handled it is how you'll be judged. The correct answer is that you learned from it, and the correct follow up is to show how you learned.

I failed the oral exam for my initial flight instructor certificate. After an eight hour oral, the examiner entered the room following a break, and told me I was being discontinued...pink slipped (flunked). Earlier in the day, I'd been asked to name all the aviation weather reports and forecasts, and name the valid times of issuance for each. I said I couldn't quote it, but knew where to look, and offered the book Aviation Weather Services. At the time, I was told "that's the correct response." Never the less, the test was discontinued several hours later.

I was very discouraged. I went home, and decided I'd try again. I studied hard, practically memorized the handbook. I knew it inside and out. When I returned, the inspector asked me if I'd studied, and I replied yes. I wanted to show him. Instead, he simply said "good, then we don't need to talk about it. Let's go fly." And we flew. I was issued the certificate. After I was handed my new temporary certificate, the inspector told me he'd been under the gun to fail a certain percentage of applicants, and as I came at the end of the month, he failed me to meet the quota. And with that, I was done, free to start instructing.

If asked about this practical test, I'll tell the truth, show that I failed it, that I renewed my determination to try harder, studied more, and passed with flying colors. I'll explain that for the rest of my career I'll think back on that example every time I approach a checkride, and redouble my efforts to study and prepare. I'll explain that it made me a better pilot, a better student, and a better professional. I'll show it as a growth and learning experience...just as you will when you explain your recent failed ride.

Nobody is perfect. There are a lot of pilots out there who haven't demonstrated perfection in every aspect of their careers. I'm one of them, you are too.

A couple of years ago I was involved in a mishap following an engine failure at low altitude. There was aircraft damage, albeit fairly minor. I was not at fault. I can show that event as a strength and a success, and it's served well in interviews and applications since. Some employers won't bother to call back when they see it on the application. One was in the process of hiring me, then rejected me based on it. But where one or two doors have closed, many more have opened, and I'm working a good job presently with strong potential...and who found my experiences not a sign of weakness, but a strength.

As you explore and overcome your own experiences, I believe you'll find the same.

[tu154pilot]

Hi Kyler432,
As a former pilot interviewer and recruiter for a major US airline, let me assure you that this failure will not keep you from moving up to the 'big leagues' at some point. Basically, in the case of a checkride failure, we look for the pilot to accept responsibility, tell us what he/she learned from the experience and be prepared to discuss it in a mature/professional manner. Additionally, as SNS3Guppy accurately pointed out, it will be sometime before we are recruiting (I say we, indicating most of the US airline industry), so we will be looking for a successful checkride track record from this point on. Anyone can have a bad day, all we want to see is that you accept responsibility and have a clean training history from that point forward. Hope that helps, and best of luck to you in your career! :ok:

[kyler432]

Thanks tu154pilot and SNS3Guppy for the encouragement. I realize that it will be a while before airline start hiring, but I have heard it is good to get applications in early and then update them every six months. I was just a little depressed filling out the applications and having to list my last check ride as a bust.

[SNS3Guppy]

When you record your past, don't forget that the picture others see is only the picture you paint. It's not just what you say, but how you say it. Nobody knows you, or anything about you, except what you tell them. You can think of it somewhat like being in court, but being the only one allowed to talk. The floor is yours; make the most of it.

Remember that your mission is to get a foot in the door, and that's all.