Failed annual recurrent line check
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2020
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From: N/A
Failed annual recurrent line check
As the title says, i failed my recurrent (a320), first fail in my entire career. Everything was smooth up until the landing roll out, my fingers slipped and failed to deploy both thrust reversers to idle. Startled effect took place, attempted a second time and only the right thrust lever went on rev idle. Captain took over thrust control and use max reversers. The icing on the cake was that prior to descent, i briefed that i intended to vacate first exit on the runway due to the nature of the busy airfield, performance calculations met the criteria with autobrakes low but normally we would disconnect the autobrakes earlier. Because of the thrust control issue combined with the startled effect, i braked significantly harder to commit to the first exit where in hindsight letting the aircraft roll and vacate via the second was significantly the better decision. All factors combined, the examiner decided to fail me due to unsatisfactory workload management.
With all this said, my morale is deeply crushed. I even read online that at the airline level, only 1-5% of airline pilots fail a recurrent. I'm seeking advice if this is deeply going to affect my career or command upgrade, and if there are other similar people out there who have failed a line check and continued to have a successful career/captaincy etc. I am extremely bumped out at the moment.
edit: 4 years flying, 2000+ hours, 4th line check
With all this said, my morale is deeply crushed. I even read online that at the airline level, only 1-5% of airline pilots fail a recurrent. I'm seeking advice if this is deeply going to affect my career or command upgrade, and if there are other similar people out there who have failed a line check and continued to have a successful career/captaincy etc. I am extremely bumped out at the moment.
edit: 4 years flying, 2000+ hours, 4th line check
Last edited by twinotterifr; 12th June 2026 at 10:48. Reason: Additional info
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 190
Likes: 30
From: eire
Suck it up, own the error and learn from it.
you will probably do some sim work, fly with an instructor for a few legs and become a better pilot for it.
we all make mistakes or will, nobody was hurt apart from your ego.
its part of the aviation business dont seek to blame others.
I have messed up myself, don’t take it personally, just learn from it.
you will probably do some sim work, fly with an instructor for a few legs and become a better pilot for it.
we all make mistakes or will, nobody was hurt apart from your ego.
its part of the aviation business dont seek to blame others.
I have messed up myself, don’t take it personally, just learn from it.
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,150
Likes: 744
From: UK
I would ask your pilot manager for help, and ask if your examiner could be there too.
Make sure that they fuly understand that you want their help and are NOT going to argue with them about your Line check. Go in with the attitude of 'Can you please help me ? Where did I go wrong and what should I do now to get back on the horse ?' Even at 2,000 TT, you are relatively new and inexperienced, so be humble and accepting.
Possibly better to put this request in writing, so there is no misunderstanding and they realise that you want their help and guidance and are not questioning their assessment.
Your record will stand, but as long as you show that it was an unusual mistake and that you have worked hard to overcome it, it should not prejudice your future career. We learn from our mistakes, after all. I can think of a person who departed the runway during an engine failure and RTO in the Sim, but went on to become a Captain.
And keep going. I've never failed a check, but I have technically failed the first day of a two day recurrent Sim. All passed the next day and all good.
So, get back on the horse ! We all have bad days, but we just need to put those behind us and move on. You will not have failed the line check for the original mistake, but how you dealt with the situation having made that mistake,
PS, if your hands slip on Airbus thrust levers, have a think about how you are holding them and operating them. There should be no reason for your hands to slip unless you are aggressively slamming them back, or not holding them properly.
The thrust levers are simply gently pushed back to the idle gate as you flare, (then reversers lifted and pushed into the reverse gate if you are using reverse).
Make sure that they fuly understand that you want their help and are NOT going to argue with them about your Line check. Go in with the attitude of 'Can you please help me ? Where did I go wrong and what should I do now to get back on the horse ?' Even at 2,000 TT, you are relatively new and inexperienced, so be humble and accepting.
Possibly better to put this request in writing, so there is no misunderstanding and they realise that you want their help and guidance and are not questioning their assessment.
Your record will stand, but as long as you show that it was an unusual mistake and that you have worked hard to overcome it, it should not prejudice your future career. We learn from our mistakes, after all. I can think of a person who departed the runway during an engine failure and RTO in the Sim, but went on to become a Captain.
And keep going. I've never failed a check, but I have technically failed the first day of a two day recurrent Sim. All passed the next day and all good.
So, get back on the horse ! We all have bad days, but we just need to put those behind us and move on. You will not have failed the line check for the original mistake, but how you dealt with the situation having made that mistake,
PS, if your hands slip on Airbus thrust levers, have a think about how you are holding them and operating them. There should be no reason for your hands to slip unless you are aggressively slamming them back, or not holding them properly.
The thrust levers are simply gently pushed back to the idle gate as you flare, (then reversers lifted and pushed into the reverse gate if you are using reverse).
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: N/A
I would ask your pilot manager for help, and ask if your examiner could be there too.
Make sure that they fuly understand that you want their help and are NOT going to argue with them about your Line check. Go in with the attitude of 'Can you please help me ? Where did I go wrong and what should I do now to get back on the horse ?' Even at 2,000 TT, you are relatively new and inexperienced, so be humble and accepting.
Possibly better to put this request in writing, so there is no misunderstanding and they realise that you want their help and guidance and are not questioning their assessment.
Your record will stand, but as long as you show that it was an unusual mistake and that you have worked hard to overcome it, it should not prejudice your future career. We learn from our mistakes, after all. I can think of a person who departed the runway during an engine failure and RTO in the Sim, but went on to become a Captain.
And keep going. I've never failed a check, but I have technically failed the first day of a two day recurrent Sim. All passed the next day and all good.
So, get back on the horse ! We all have bad days, but we just need to put those behind us and move on. You will not have failed the line check for the original mistake, but how you dealt with the situation having made that mistake,
PS, if your hands slip on Airbus thrust levers, have a think about how you are holding them and operating them. There should be no reason for your hands to slip unless you are aggressively slamming them back, or not holding them properly.
The thrust levers are simply gently pushed back to the idle gate as you flare, (then reversers lifted and pushed into the reverse gate if you are using reverse).
Make sure that they fuly understand that you want their help and are NOT going to argue with them about your Line check. Go in with the attitude of 'Can you please help me ? Where did I go wrong and what should I do now to get back on the horse ?' Even at 2,000 TT, you are relatively new and inexperienced, so be humble and accepting.
Possibly better to put this request in writing, so there is no misunderstanding and they realise that you want their help and guidance and are not questioning their assessment.
Your record will stand, but as long as you show that it was an unusual mistake and that you have worked hard to overcome it, it should not prejudice your future career. We learn from our mistakes, after all. I can think of a person who departed the runway during an engine failure and RTO in the Sim, but went on to become a Captain.
And keep going. I've never failed a check, but I have technically failed the first day of a two day recurrent Sim. All passed the next day and all good.
So, get back on the horse ! We all have bad days, but we just need to put those behind us and move on. You will not have failed the line check for the original mistake, but how you dealt with the situation having made that mistake,
PS, if your hands slip on Airbus thrust levers, have a think about how you are holding them and operating them. There should be no reason for your hands to slip unless you are aggressively slamming them back, or not holding them properly.
The thrust levers are simply gently pushed back to the idle gate as you flare, (then reversers lifted and pushed into the reverse gate if you are using reverse).
Albeit, as difficult as it is, i am however taking it as a positive experience that the event would develop me better.
Joined: Apr 2009
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1,482
Likes: 489
From: A place in the sun
Nearly everyone has failed a check at some time or another, I know I have. The main thing is to learn from the experience and remain positive. If you can do that it will show you have steel and others will notice. Good luck!
Joined: Nov 1999
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 3,150
Likes: 744
From: UK
Yes, I understand your difficulty. You really shouldn't dwell on your incident. Just put it behind you and concentrate on being the best and most professional airline pilot you can be from here on. If flying was easy, anyone could do it. Don't worry about your incident, it has woken you up and galvanised you, which is valuable in itself.
In the Apollo 13 film, a government representative says words to the effect that this is going to be a nightmare, but Gene Kranz (the mission director), says "with respect sir, I believe this will be our finest hour", i.e. we can prove that we can deal with this serious emergency.
In the future if ever trying for another airline, you will have to be honest and open. Many questions are along the lines of: 'any flying incidents ?' or 'have you ever made a mistake ?' You could use this incident to explain what happened and how you learned early on in your career not to be complacent, (not saying you were), and how you learned that even experienced pilots can suffer setbacks or unexpected events.
Go on to explain how you got over it and how you approach the job now, and that it has given you a useful training point which allows you to deal with the unexpected better. Motorcyclists reach a dangerous time about 6 months after passing their CBT and their test. They start to relax and think they have it all sussed, only to have a close shave one day because they weren't paying full attention. You might be in a similar place flying-wise.
Of course you might have a problem if you put this on an application form in that you might never get an interview in the first place. You might be able to find a way to get past that while still being open and honest during your actual interview.
Any airline panel worth their salt should understand that humans and pilots are not immune from making mistakes; It is how pilots deal with that - 'mitigate' is a popular buzz-word - which makes the difference. There is no such person as a pilot who has never made a mistake.
Good luck.
In the Apollo 13 film, a government representative says words to the effect that this is going to be a nightmare, but Gene Kranz (the mission director), says "with respect sir, I believe this will be our finest hour", i.e. we can prove that we can deal with this serious emergency.
In the future if ever trying for another airline, you will have to be honest and open. Many questions are along the lines of: 'any flying incidents ?' or 'have you ever made a mistake ?' You could use this incident to explain what happened and how you learned early on in your career not to be complacent, (not saying you were), and how you learned that even experienced pilots can suffer setbacks or unexpected events.
Go on to explain how you got over it and how you approach the job now, and that it has given you a useful training point which allows you to deal with the unexpected better. Motorcyclists reach a dangerous time about 6 months after passing their CBT and their test. They start to relax and think they have it all sussed, only to have a close shave one day because they weren't paying full attention. You might be in a similar place flying-wise.
Of course you might have a problem if you put this on an application form in that you might never get an interview in the first place. You might be able to find a way to get past that while still being open and honest during your actual interview.
Any airline panel worth their salt should understand that humans and pilots are not immune from making mistakes; It is how pilots deal with that - 'mitigate' is a popular buzz-word - which makes the difference. There is no such person as a pilot who has never made a mistake.
Good luck.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: N/A
Suck it up, own the error and learn from it.
you will probably do some sim work, fly with an instructor for a few legs and become a better pilot for it.
we all make mistakes or will, nobody was hurt apart from your ego.
its part of the aviation business dont seek to blame others.
I have messed up myself, don’t take it personally, just learn from it.
you will probably do some sim work, fly with an instructor for a few legs and become a better pilot for it.
we all make mistakes or will, nobody was hurt apart from your ego.
its part of the aviation business dont seek to blame others.
I have messed up myself, don’t take it personally, just learn from it.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: N/A
Yes, I understand your difficulty. You really shouldn't dwell on your incident. Just put it behind you and concentrate on being the best and most professional airline pilot you can be from here on. If flying was easy, anyone could do it. Don't worry about your incident, it has woken you up and galvanised you, which is valuable in itself.
In the Apollo 13 film, a government representative says words to the effect that this is going to be a nightmare, but Gene Kranz (the mission director), says "with respect sir, I believe this will be our finest hour", i.e. we can prove that we can deal with this serious emergency.
In the future if ever trying for another airline, you will have to be honest and open. Many questions are along the lines of: 'any flying incidents ?' or 'have you ever made a mistake ?' You could use this incident to explain what happened and how you learned early on in your career not to be complacent, (not saying you were), and how you learned that even experienced pilots can suffer setbacks or unexpected events.
Go on to explain how you got over it and how you approach the job now, and that it has given you a useful training point which allows you to deal with the unexpected better. Motorcyclists reach a dangerous time about 6 months after passing their CBT and their test. They start to relax and think they have it all sussed, only to have a close shave one day because they weren't paying full attention. You might be in a similar place flying-wise.
Of course you might have a problem if you put this on an application form in that you might never get an interview in the first place. You might be able to find a way to get past that while still being open and honest during your actual interview.
Any airline panel worth their salt should understand that humans and pilots are not immune from making mistakes; It is how pilots deal with that - 'mitigate' is a popular buzz-word - which makes the difference. There is no such person as a pilot who has never made a mistake.
Good luck.
In the Apollo 13 film, a government representative says words to the effect that this is going to be a nightmare, but Gene Kranz (the mission director), says "with respect sir, I believe this will be our finest hour", i.e. we can prove that we can deal with this serious emergency.
In the future if ever trying for another airline, you will have to be honest and open. Many questions are along the lines of: 'any flying incidents ?' or 'have you ever made a mistake ?' You could use this incident to explain what happened and how you learned early on in your career not to be complacent, (not saying you were), and how you learned that even experienced pilots can suffer setbacks or unexpected events.
Go on to explain how you got over it and how you approach the job now, and that it has given you a useful training point which allows you to deal with the unexpected better. Motorcyclists reach a dangerous time about 6 months after passing their CBT and their test. They start to relax and think they have it all sussed, only to have a close shave one day because they weren't paying full attention. You might be in a similar place flying-wise.
Of course you might have a problem if you put this on an application form in that you might never get an interview in the first place. You might be able to find a way to get past that while still being open and honest during your actual interview.
Any airline panel worth their salt should understand that humans and pilots are not immune from making mistakes; It is how pilots deal with that - 'mitigate' is a popular buzz-word - which makes the difference. There is no such person as a pilot who has never made a mistake.
Good luck.
Joined: Dec 2025
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 218
Likes: 214
From: England
Thank you for your feedback. What you say completely resonates as i ponder upon the incident as a whole. I just can't help but to think that, if given a job opportunity for a new airline and they were to select between candidate A (no line check fail) candidate B (line check fail on record) surely they would pick the former. It's just a very hard pill to swallow that this will be in my permanent record/resume. It's even more frustrating that, out of the hundreds of flights that i have done that have went smoothly, this issue HAD to happen on that particular day which happened to be a line check.
Thread Starter
Joined: Dec 2020
Posts: 58
Likes: 0
From: N/A
i can say with confidence that it was completely an unlucky coincidence, i was not anxious at all because it was a line check, all my previous line checks were passed with good grades and i went in to perform just like an other normal line operations flight. However, i have a feeling that the issue now is that this incident is going to haunt me for every future line check flight which is only going to add unnecessary nervousness which is extremely unfortunate.
