A. First, flying positions at the highest level of the career ladder are most likely gone for you. The chances of flying for prestigious Fortune 500 companies, very high-end charter companies, and major airlines are probably slim to none. I say “probably,” which might offer a very thin sliver of hope.
There are companies that give candidates the one chance. Not all do. You can always expect a question in an interview that will focus on issues like DUIs, speeding tickets, FAA enforcement actions, and even checkrides. Typically, a follow-up question when admitting a mistake is, “So, what did you learn?” If you have a second stumble in a short period of time as you seem to have, the recruiter can only assume that nothing was learned as a result of the first experience.
The best flying jobs at the best aviation companies attract hundreds of qualified applicants. Résumés pour into these firms daily. Why should any operator settle for an applicant with a blemished record when there are so many candidates with sterling backgrounds? These outfits fear the “CNN Factor.” Imagine a mishap during a landing of a Falcon 2000 or an Airbus A319. You know some reporter will dig into the backgrounds of those pilots and latch onto the fact that “The captain had a record of drunkenness in 2010.”
This is not to say that you cannot find a flying career someplace. Some of the not-so-“top of mind” air carriers and smaller companies cannot afford to be as picky. You do need to check around and research company policy. Also, you could start your own flying service or flight school and still live the dream.
One possible escape from the stigma is to build a solid reputation going forward. You have time to turn things around. If you spend the next 10 years as a flight instructor, chief pilot, military aviator, or business owner, you can dwarf those youthful errors with stellar performance. You might have a chance, particularly if the pilot shortage materializes as expected. The industry may run short of “perfect” candidates.
As for other careers in aviation management, including airport administration, there is no doubt that aviation will continue to expand. As it does, there will be a definite need for sharp, talented administrators. Preparedness through a good college degree is important. For example, Farmingdale State University in New York offers a major in aviation management. Talk to a counselor there. Get the scoop. Find a school with internships. Finally, hang in there. “If there is a will, there is a way.”
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