Incident/accident report

[B737900er]

Hi,
Firstly sorry if this is posted in the wrong section, please feel free to move it to the right area.

So, am I right in thinking that if you have an incident/accident on your record, even when it's not your fault that pretty much your career is tarnished?

A lot of companies require a clean record, but if you had an engine failure after take off or a had to ditch it in the Hudson then surely a pilot can not penalised for it when it comes to getting another job, right?

If you are, shouldn't us pilots be doing something about this to get it changed as it affects everyone?

[Gooneyone]

I would say that a successful landing after an engine failure would more be considered a sign of experience that a tarnished record. However who knows what the bean counters want these days.

[gorter]

The BA 777 captain, Peter Burkill,struggled to find any work until BA eventually took him back in to the fold. I don't know exactly what happened, but the Chinese wouldn't touch him, despite his quick thinking actions probably saving many lives both in the aircraft and on the perimeter road.

[hetfield]

Well IMHO, first of all airline managers want to save THEIR a****.

If there is a glitch in a pilot's record, they are very reluctant to hire you, because another possible incident/accident will raise the question "Who is that guy/girl".....

[RMC]

Interesting question...look forward to an answer!

[Piltdown Man]

I don't think there is a space to record incidents/accidents on our official records, so if you have a quiet prang, no one will ever know. Just make sure you can't be Googled.

PM

[plain-plane]

CAA wont say

I understand that the latest UK CAA policy is: wont even tell if asked... or give a statement other than "We wont say, even if we know" in more polite laywer speek.
However my papers are not from the UK and I am not even sure what the rules are where I am licensed... i just hope i continue to stay lucky

[B737900er]

Thanks for the replies! It is a question no one can seem to answer very well, yet, no one is worried about it.

If a pilot does have such a case on his/her last company, I personally think the company should take into consideration of the event itself and if the pilot is not at fault then there shouldn't be a problem. Peter was found that he did nothing wrong and actually did something the book told him not to because his experience and knowledge prevailed which saved lives, yet the poor guy couldn't get work regardless of the thousands of hours he had total on type and PIC and working for one of the most famous airline in the world.

[Potsie Weber]

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.