Job Prospect + Arrested (Criminal Conviction)
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Joined: Sep 2020
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From: London
Job Prospect + Arrested (Criminal Conviction)
Hello fellow aviators, I am not sure if this has been asked before on here and I have tried searching for this information but cannot find anything. What impact can a conviction of domestic violence have on job prospects in the UK/EU? I understand drugs and speeding tickets can have a significant impact, however do airline take into consideration other charges such as DV and what the job prospect could be? Thank you
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: GA, USA
Honestly its probably even worse then a drunken driving charge.
Perception definitely is.
Drunken driving is still looked upon as bad it behavior when you’re young and dumb.
At least a significant portion of the male population will see it that way.
Violence towards a domestic partner is a whole different ball game.
Perception definitely is.
Drunken driving is still looked upon as bad it behavior when you’re young and dumb.
At least a significant portion of the male population will see it that way.
Violence towards a domestic partner is a whole different ball game.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2020
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From: London
Thank you! I feel the same but just was not sure how this would create a bad perception. The aircraft operation, passengers, safety etc. is not being jeopardized in anyway shape or form due to such conviction. If anyone has more info, please feel free to share 
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: GA, USA
Driving conviction is a poor choice and some people do get caught on their first transgression.
Domestic violence is a temper issue and that’s a big red flag working with passengers whose wellbeing is dependent on your emotional stability.
Feel free to disagree knowing that even in prison you’d be considered low on the pecking order.
Some things you’re better off waiting with doing until you’re a pilot not before.
Harsh but true.
Domestic violence is a temper issue and that’s a big red flag working with passengers whose wellbeing is dependent on your emotional stability.
Feel free to disagree knowing that even in prison you’d be considered low on the pecking order.
Some things you’re better off waiting with doing until you’re a pilot not before.
Harsh but true.
Joined: Mar 2018
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From: The North
I truly hope every airline in the world would take a DV conviction seriously, "not sure how this would create a bad perception"?? Pilots working for low cost airlines get "bad perception" in our judgemental industry, people convicted of DV shouldn't get anywhere NEAR an airline.
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Joined: Jul 2018
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From: Madrid
I wouldn't even bother I'm afraid. Drink and drugs can convincingly be batted away as "I was young, mixed with the wrong crowd and I made some bad decisions" (even then not guaranteed).
However having lost your temper to the point you resorted to physical violence against your partner, and it was bad enough to be arrested and subsequently convicted of it all .. not a hope I am afraid.
The airline's mind goes to you one day being a captain alongside your FO, perhaps he has done something to p you off. Will old habits jump out? Will a bully appear? Will threatening behaviour come forward? Will you assault him and jeopardise the entire flight? Will you assault a mouthy cabin pursor? A dispatcher who's feeding you nonsense about the reason for the delay/lying to your face? Or you could be the FO flying with an ass**** of a captain (everyone of us has been there) .. are you gonna headbutt him? How about that engineer who is huffing and puffing because you wrote something in the book?
Are you a control freak? Will you be a toxic micromanager?
You will of course insist no such thing, however they dont know that and your conviction tells them in fact you would. It tells them you cannot control yourself, you resort to violence to resolve situations and it tells them you struggle with patience. It tells when you have the stronger hand, you abuse that power. If you were the employer, would you give a stranger with such a conviction your $100+ million dollar jet, and 200+ lives as well as your airline's reputation? Everyday of work there are a shopping list of things which test our patience and that we must control.
Now I am beyond sure we have domestic abusers in the job - but they haven't been caught/convicted. I apologise if I sound harsh, just giving you the absolute reality of how an airline will think/view a candidate with this conviction.
However having lost your temper to the point you resorted to physical violence against your partner, and it was bad enough to be arrested and subsequently convicted of it all .. not a hope I am afraid.
The airline's mind goes to you one day being a captain alongside your FO, perhaps he has done something to p you off. Will old habits jump out? Will a bully appear? Will threatening behaviour come forward? Will you assault him and jeopardise the entire flight? Will you assault a mouthy cabin pursor? A dispatcher who's feeding you nonsense about the reason for the delay/lying to your face? Or you could be the FO flying with an ass**** of a captain (everyone of us has been there) .. are you gonna headbutt him? How about that engineer who is huffing and puffing because you wrote something in the book?
Are you a control freak? Will you be a toxic micromanager?
You will of course insist no such thing, however they dont know that and your conviction tells them in fact you would. It tells them you cannot control yourself, you resort to violence to resolve situations and it tells them you struggle with patience. It tells when you have the stronger hand, you abuse that power. If you were the employer, would you give a stranger with such a conviction your $100+ million dollar jet, and 200+ lives as well as your airline's reputation? Everyday of work there are a shopping list of things which test our patience and that we must control.
Now I am beyond sure we have domestic abusers in the job - but they haven't been caught/convicted. I apologise if I sound harsh, just giving you the absolute reality of how an airline will think/view a candidate with this conviction.
Last edited by PPRuNeUser481044; 22nd November 2024 at 23:40.
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Hong Kong
Hello fellow aviators, I am not sure if this has been asked before on here and I have tried searching for this information but cannot find anything. What impact can a conviction of domestic violence have on job prospects in the UK/EU? I understand drugs and speeding tickets can have a significant impact, however do airline take into consideration other charges such as DV and what the job prospect could be? Thank you
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,759
Likes: 424
From: GA, USA
It was known we had a Captain with a felony DV conviction and we had an FO who had drugged a FA at a previous airline.
In both cases unions managed to convince their employers to let them resign rather than get fired.
However these things don’t stay secret for long.
Thats where you’ll spend the rest of your career, no job security at a low paying scum excuse for an airline.
If…and only if you already had established a career in aviation.
As a starter you’re dead in the water unless you emigrate to a country that doesn’t share background intel with the UK and vice versa.
Any time you’re found out though it will be instant dismissal and training bonds will instantly be collectible.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2020
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From: London
Great feedback from you all, thank you! I have also read the following criteria posted on UK CAA website and I would have imagined airlines would follow similar criteria but I understand it can vary from country to country?The Department for Transport (DfT) sets the list of disqualifying convictions, including offences at the more serious end of the spectrum (with relatively minor offences usually not being included). Disqualifying convictions are selected under the following criteria:
- Any convictions directly related to terrorism
- Convictions that may be inappropriate for someone working in the aviation industry (e.g. immigration offences)
- Convictions over which someone could be subject to undue influence/coercion
- Convictions that call into question an individual's integrity and trustworthiness
Joined: Dec 2001
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: GA, USA
What the CAA states on their website is largely meaningless as they’re not an airline nor do they hire pilots in any number.
Airside access ID’s have more stringent requirements and background checks.
You may already be disqualified from a ramp access badge.
Airside access ID’s have more stringent requirements and background checks.
You may already be disqualified from a ramp access badge.
Joined: Sep 2023
Posts: 296
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From: newbury
Great feedback from you all, thank you! I have also read the following criteria posted on UK CAA website and I would have imagined airlines would follow similar criteria but I understand it can vary from country to country?The Department for Transport (DfT) sets the list of disqualifying convictions, including offences at the more serious end of the spectrum (with relatively minor offences usually not being included). Disqualifying convictions are selected under the following criteria:
- Any convictions directly related to terrorism
- Convictions that may be inappropriate for someone working in the aviation industry (e.g. immigration offences)
- Convictions over which someone could be subject to undue influence/coercion
- Convictions that call into question an individual's integrity and trustworthiness
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 18
Likes: 1
From: Brussels, Belgium
Airlines are pretty strict when it comes to this. CAA only recommends. Everyone here is on point. Only way to work would be GA or Business Aviation which IMO is extremely hard.
Also, even if you're under investigation, the airline has the right to let you go.
Also, even if you're under investigation, the airline has the right to let you go.
Joined: Dec 2005
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From: Hong Kong
Try to get a non-flying airline job working airside.
Then you'll know if you can get an airline job and an airside pass without blowing £50-100k to find out that you can't.
Then you'll know if you can get an airline job and an airside pass without blowing £50-100k to find out that you can't.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2020
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From: London
I have already spent in excess £100k so no going back now! I am sure I cannot be the only person going through such situation and if the airline sets a criteria, a lot of the time it is enough to declare such incidents for the purpose of vetting and often times you will be given opportunity to explain during the interview stages. I find it difficult that as a result of this, they would stop accepting application as this is not 'equal opportunities'. I hope they take previous character into references also. I know a person who was arrested for assault charges in USA and did a behavior course as part of the proceedings in USA and now is flying for a major airline in UK and he is young in his twenties! Let us see, I guess being optimistic is the best way to go about this.
Joined: Jul 2024
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From: Outbush
I have already spent in excess £100k so no going back now! I am sure I cannot be the only person going through such situation and if the airline sets a criteria, a lot of the time it is enough to declare such incidents for the purpose of vetting and often times you will be given opportunity to explain during the interview stages. I find it difficult that as a result of this, they would stop accepting application as this is not 'equal opportunities'. I hope they take previous character into references also. I know a person who was arrested for assault charges in USA and did a behavior course as part of the proceedings in USA and now is flying for a major airline in UK and he is young in his twenties! Let us see, I guess being optimistic is the best way to go about this.
A criminal past with a DV conviction will be a showstopper for you.
Time to face the reality of your past, and future.
Harsh, but so is DV.
Don't waste any more money on this
And BTW, it has got stuff all to do with equal opportunities
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 1,171
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From: uk
You could self fund a basic DBS and see what comes up because that's what an airline and airport security will see when you apply for an airside pass. That will happen after you've been given a job offer which is unlikely if you are honest at interview because the conversation will be something like 'the chances of you getting an airside pass are small to nil so we won't be offering you a job'. Obviously if you are not honest at interview and get offered a job, when the DBS comes back it will probably be a very short conversation along the lines of 'Dear Mr rj, you lied about your past, wasted our time and money, please return any company material we have already sent you'.
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2020
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From: London
Guys thank you for all the feedback. If it is just a basic DBS then I do not have to worry as this will not show up as this is a 'spent' conviction. If it was 'unspent' then this would be something I would be required to declare under the Rehabilitation offenders Act 1974. That being said, if I apply for airlines and they ask for 'spent' conviction then this is a completely different matter. I have done a lot of research for major airlines in UK and the entry requirement for someone that has criminal history have been directed to UK CAA website, referring to CAP 2159. "Applicants will fail the criminal records check if it reveals an unspent conviction for a disqualifying offence. Under the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974".
PPRuNe Handmaiden
Joined: Feb 1997
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From: Duit On Mon Dei
Just chiming in here. What sort of flying are you intending to do? Many countries will not grant you a visa if you have a serious crime conviction. Eg the US will not allow an ESTA and you'll have to apply for a visa and there's no guarantee they'll approve it. This could be quite restrictive depending on the airline. Worth investigating.