Failed my MEI Need advice

[menglish1]

So I went to get my MEI at ATP chicago and had a less than steller experiance that ended in a pink slip. Anyway I don't need the MEI for anything in my current job as an airport manager, however I was thinking of applying to AE and going to their job fair on the 12 of Jan. Does having an open pink slip look as bad as I think it would. I don't have need to get it and don't really want to fork out another couple of thousand to get it done. Thanks in advance.

[JEP]

Originally Posted by menglish1

So I went to get my MEI at ATP chicago and had a less than steller experiance that ended in a pink slip. Anyway I don't need the MEI for anything in my current job as an airport manager, however I was thinking of applying to AE and going to their job fair on the 12 of Jan. Does having an open pink slip look as bad as I think it would. I don't have need to get it and don't really want to fork out another couple of thousand to get it done. Thanks in advance.

Many people have failed before and many more will fail. Guess what, many of them are flying for the airlines.

From what I have gathered on here, just be prepared to discuss it and what you have learned as a result. Given todays hiring environment, I cannot believe it would matter much at all.

[Nick]

If you can at all come up with the extra money to get it done now, do it. It is only going to be more expensive later on to do it all over again.

And yes, you still will be able to get hired with a failed checkride. Lots of people have.

[jlauzer]

A failed checkride is not a big deal. When they ask the question and you say "yes" the next thing you will be ask is "what happened". Just explain what you did wrong and how you learned from it. That's it. One failed checkride will not deny you a job at a regional at this time. In fact, I know someone who failed their instrument and commercial checkrides the first time around, and are working at a regional now.

[Lee D]

Chances are you failed on something that most the time you had succesfully done in your practice flights to the test standards. You just had a "moment" during the ride. If all it takes is one simple flight to practice that manuever and then a retest, I say finish what you started. That was the case with most of my students that pinked a ride. One more flight and then a retest. Just my .02 cents.

[menglish1]

yeah that would work and I would do but I'm not going with the same examiner or with ATP in chicago so basicily its doing most of it over again. Especially because this happend about two months ago. There are no Multi training facilities close and I made the mistake of going to the 2 day ATP thing for the MEI. I could go back to my college and do it but its going to cost all the flying and hotel. The whole experiance gave me a really bad taste in my mouth I was hoping I could just start applying but I didn't know how an unresolved pink slip would affect the interview process.

[MFT1Air]

To date, never having failed a checkride. . .(I'm a whole 1 for 1...yippee!) I've heard having to explain it and what you learned from that area of shortcoming/deficiency is key. Now, from a casual observer viewpoint, the pink slip was on a instructor checkride indicating to me some teaching skill needs resolved. That should be easy for you to resolve.

[SoCalAprch]

I would go and take it again. Don't just give up. I had a buddy that interviewed at AE and he had screwed up on one of his checkrides or something and never went back to take it again. It was his CFII and when they asked him if he failed any rides he told them about it and when they realized he didn't have it they asked him why he just gave up on the rating. He didn't get the job. However he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed to begin with. Failures are ok but they may look at it like you gave up on it. Bad Juju...

I may or may not be right but thought I would add another perspective.

[CirrusMonkey]

Not a big deal at all. I interviewed at three regionals, with a failed MEI (among others). I was asked what happened, and did I pass on the re-check? I passed on the re-check, told them what happened and was offered the job at all three places. Now I am going to have to figure out how to hold down three FO spots at the same time........Hmmm.

[jynxyjoe]

i failed my double I ride for the old cfi. got hired at both places on my first interview.

had a good kid here at the new place never had a red ticket till his 121 checkride. life goes on, no one judges you for it. well no one worth a damn judges you for it.


if you get asked why u failed be direct. both times i answered "screwed up and i can't even remember exactly what i failed for. i fixed it and passed the next time."

[fsiflyer]

Originally Posted by menglish1

So I went to get my MEI at ATP chicago and had a less than steller experiance that ended in a pink slip. Anyway I don't need the MEI for anything in my current job as an airport manager, however I was thinking of applying to AE and going to their job fair on the 12 of Jan. Does having an open pink slip look as bad as I think it would. I don't have need to get it and don't really want to fork out another couple of thousand to get it done. Thanks in advance.

Take this free advice. Forget about it. Learn from what happened. Go take the ride again...Now you have a good conversation for an interview. It takes honor to admit a mistake and be able to freely acknowledge it. They will respect you and I am sure you will have no further issues with it in the future.

By the way...I busted my MEI ride. Had a total brain fart with alot of personal stuff that was happening at that time. Probably should have rescheduled the ride to begin with. Oh well. Looks like I will have to settle flying a Lear 60. Sorry for the sarcasm but it did not hinder my job progression at all.

Good luck!!!

[IFly85]

Originally Posted by SoCalAprch

I would go and take it again. Don't just give up. I had a buddy that interviewed at AE and he had screwed up on one of his checkrides or something and never went back to take it again. It was his CFII and when they asked him if he failed any rides he told them about it and when they realized he didn't have it they asked him why he just gave up on the rating. He didn't get the job. However he wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed to begin with. Failures are ok but they may look at it like you gave up on it. Bad Juju...

I may or may not be right but thought I would add another perspective.

I would kindda have to agree with this, because I think it would look worse to have failed and not retried than to have failed and tried again and passed. But, then again that is just my 2 cents...

[SmitteyB]

There's a good saying...

There are two types of pilots-

Those who have failed a checkride and those who WILL.

The pilots who flaunt a pinkless record are asking for it.

You need not worry about it. Not a big deal whatsoever. I recently talked with an XJT FO who failed 6 checkrides.

[mooneyguy]

I dont think I would want to do an interview and have to answer that question, Why didn't you retake it? It might be a sign to them that you don't follow through, or you give up if things get difficult. I'm Not saying that is what you are doing...we all understand the financial difficulties of flight training.
Unfortunately only one person has touched on your specific question socalaprch. The person he knew went to the interview with an open pink slip and was asked about it and did not get the job.
I wouldn't chance it! Just my cent and half worth Good luck!

[PatrickCPS]

I agree with most of what has been said here. Its not a big deal to fail a checkride, but employers really want to know to know what you learned from the experience, and I'd go as far as saying most would also want to see you complete the rating rather than give up.

If you're concerned about cost, some schools would consider finishing your MEI on a per hour basis vs a complete program again, so that could significantly lower your expense to complete your rating.

[ftyflyboy]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

an XJT FO who failed 6 checkrides.

I’m officially scared!! If someone gets that frazzled during a check ride, what happenes during some real stress like that of an emergency?

[v1valarob]

Originally Posted by SmitteyB

I recently talked with an XJT FO who failed 6 checkrides.

I know someone who has failed 5. In fact I know quite a few who have busted 4 checkrides. These are at ATP where you have 7 rides.

-Rob

[DE727UPS]

menglish1, nobody can really say for sure. It's unusual to pink slip a ride and then not go back and finish it up. As you know, you would only have to do the part you failed on (probably). What's done is done, though, as it was two months ago and you seem pretty adamit about not wanting to deal with ATP or the examiner.

I'd suggest you make the best of it at the interview and hope for the best. You might get turned down a time or two. Not sure of your times, but working at an flying job to build up hours and experience would lessen the impact of your situation. In other words, the more flight experience and time you put between the event and the interview, the better.

[USMC-SGT]

Originally Posted by v1valarob

I know someone who has failed 5. In fact I know quite a few who have busted 4 checkrides. These are at ATP where you have 7 rides.

-Rob

That is VERY poor. 1 maybe, 2 possibly, 3 you are doing something wrong and 4 probably time for a new profession.

I have had 9 and have been fortunate, I certainly came close to dropping the ball on a few of those but certainly not 4 or 5 failures.

[menglish1]

Originally Posted by DE727UPS

menglish1, nobody can really say for sure. It's unusual to pink slip a ride and then not go back and finish it up. As you know, you would only have to do the part you failed on (probably). What's done is done, though, as it was two months ago and you seem pretty adamit about not wanting to deal with ATP or the examiner.

I'd suggest you make the best of it at the interview and hope for the best. You might get turned down a time or two. Not sure of your times, but working at an flying job to build up hours and experience would lessen the impact of your situation. In other words, the more flight experience and time you put between the event and the interview, the better.

Thanks for the info. I went to a 4 year college program where I can go and finish it up hour by hour. I just went to the atp program to do it in the 2 days and didn't get the type of instruction I think is appropriate at any flight school. I think I will just go back to my college and get it so its not an open pink slip. I agree I don't think I want to discuss why I didn't go back and get the ticket. I knew before the checkride that I wasn't ready and I shouldn't have taken it. But I used someone elses money for the 2 day course so I didn't want to waste it. Learn from your mistakes and move on I guess. Thanks everyone for the opinions and thoughts.

[PatrickCPS]

Good luck to you whichever route you choose to take.

[launchpad]

Definitely retake it. If you can't get it done before you interview somewhere, just be honest and tell them you've already made plans and scheduled lessons to get everything done...it just wasn't possible before the intervew. I doubt anyone would have a problem with that answer...........

[Nihon_Ni]

Originally Posted by launchpad

Definitely retake it. If you can't get it done before you interview somewhere, just be honest and tell them you've already made plans and scheduled lessons to get everything done...it just wasn't possible before the intervew. I doubt anyone would have a problem with that answer...........

I disagree. This is a "the check's in the mail" answer. There's no reason you HAVE to interview before you retake the ride (if that's what you plan to do). Telling them you have is scheduled but couldn't do it before you interviewed for a job where you fly ME airplanes means you are not only deficient in some area of the MEI, you are also a bad time manager.

If you going to retake the check ride, do it first, then go to an interview. (Unless you're just interviewing for practice.)
If you're not going to retake the check ride, then work on your cover story for why you decided not to complete the task -- but don't open yourself up to something worse. (When you in a hole, the first task is to stop digging!)

my $.02 ...

Rob