Ace Interview Prep

Pilots getting DUIs are good about reporting it to their company and their AME. It’s the adjudication of the legal action; the legal outcome, that has to be reported to the FAA as well. Failure to do this can result in a medical being suspended.

Expunged does not mean not discoverable. If you had an earlier arrest that was expunged you must still report it on your medical. The question on the medical is “have you ever been arrested?”

When you apply to SWA or any airline job, take snap shots of your completed application and also of any supplemental paperwork that you are requested to provide. Some applicants are getting an email that they are no longer being considered due to “discrepancies” in their paperwork. Often you can’t go back and look at your application, so take pictures before submitting.

Pilots are still getting bad advice about what to divulge about check ride failures. It doesn’t matter if the check airman said it won’t go on your record. If you have to repeat a training event you must divulge it. That includes KVs, line checks, and MVs, etc.
Interviewers know in an airline career you are exposed constantly to training events.
Trust that they will look at your entire career.

PRDs can be wrong and you need to know about that before you interview. There is a process to contest an inaccuracy and I would email the company that entered information as well. Keep copies of emails.

Another SWA FO window opening! Pay particular attention to accuracy when filling out this application. Check turbine time totals and eliminate any simulator time from total time. A failed line check is a check ride failure. If in doubt, disclose it.

Even if a company you worked for is out of business, you will most likely need to give some reference information for it. Google “records” for the company. Try to provide former chief pilot information. If nothing else try to provide current information for a pilot you flew with at that now defunct job.

Over explaining a background check issue (a termination for example) can be as harmful as too brief an explanation. Give a short, specific explanation, take responsibility, and trust the interviewer to ask questions if they want more. You don’t want a failed check ride or any kind of a setback to take on more importance than it needs to.

I will give examples of stories for questions but I recommend you not use those stories, even if you had them happen and they fit the question. Nothing irritates an interviewer more than to hear the same story (even with other details) every day.