Flight Training - Criminal Record
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Flight Training - Criminal Record
Hello,
I am in beginning stages of my flight training and can use some advice. I had a run in with the police where I was arrested and taken to detention but shortly released after with the police deciding to not pursue the charge. I was released without having to go to court and ultimately I was not charged and not convicted. There should be a police record of my arrest. I did not have any other problems with the police prior to this. My driving record is clean with minor traffic tickets going back to more than five years ago. Flight training is not cheap and my goal is to make it to the major airlines. Should I continue or will I eventually hit a road block. I do not want to invest all this money for a false career dream.
Let me know what you guys think, thank you.
I am in beginning stages of my flight training and can use some advice. I had a run in with the police where I was arrested and taken to detention but shortly released after with the police deciding to not pursue the charge. I was released without having to go to court and ultimately I was not charged and not convicted. There should be a police record of my arrest. I did not have any other problems with the police prior to this. My driving record is clean with minor traffic tickets going back to more than five years ago. Flight training is not cheap and my goal is to make it to the major airlines. Should I continue or will I eventually hit a road block. I do not want to invest all this money for a false career dream.
Let me know what you guys think, thank you.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
What were you arrested for? I can give you a complete answer once I know. Youll be able to do flight training. However, if it's drug related, there is a good probability that you will not pass your security clearance for your Restricted Area Identification Card which is a precondition of employment with pretty much any airline.Fly4Ever9 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:57 pm Hello,
I am in beginning stages of my flight training and can use some advice. I had a run in with the police where I was arrested and taken to detention but shortly released after with the police deciding to not pursue the charge. I was released without having to go to court and ultimately I was not charged and not convicted. There should be a police record of my arrest. I did not have any other problems with the police prior to this. My driving record is clean with minor traffic tickets going back to more than five years ago. Flight training is not cheap and my goal is to make it to the major airlines. Should I continue or will I eventually hit a road block. I do not want to invest all this money for a false career dream.
Let me know what you guys think, thank you.
- RoAF-Mig21
- Rank 6

- Posts: 478
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Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
Well arrested is one thing. Charged AND CONVICTED is another story. "All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law". At least that's how it SHOULD work.Bede wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 4:56 pm What were you arrested for? I can give you a complete answer once I know. Youll be able to do flight training. However, if it's drug related, there is a good probability that you will not pass your security clearance for your Restricted Area Identification Card which is a precondition of employment with pretty much any airline.
Anyway. Your best bet is to get a "Criminal Record Check" and "Child Abuse Registry Check" or whatever it's called. We all had to do it in order to be employed. Anytime you work with the public you need that. So, to save yourself time and money, do that first. Also consult a lawyer IF there are things that shouldn't be there. I'm not a police officer, lawyer or anything else. When it comes to serious questions like these, consult professionals.Fly4Ever9 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:57 pm Hello,
I am in beginning stages of my flight training and can use some advice. I had a run in with the police where I was arrested and taken to detention but shortly released after with the police deciding to not pursue the charge. I was released without having to go to court and ultimately I was not charged and not convicted. There should be a police record of my arrest. I did not have any other problems with the police prior to this. My driving record is clean with minor traffic tickets going back to more than five years ago. Flight training is not cheap and my goal is to make it to the major airlines. Should I continue or will I eventually hit a road block. I do not want to invest all this money for a false career dream.
Let me know what you guys think, thank you.
-
TeePeeCreeper
- Rank (9)

- Posts: 1185
- Joined: Sun Dec 21, 2008 12:25 pm
- Location: in the bush
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
You didn’t get charged or convicted? The police may keep a record of detaining you but that won’t show up in a record check.
Unless you’re omitting something… good to go as far as I can see!
Good luck,
TPC
Unless you’re omitting something… good to go as far as I can see!
Good luck,
TPC
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
If no charges were laid, it likely didn’t make it into CPIC, which means that nothing will show on a criminal record check. Best bet is to contact the police agency that arrested you and ask if they put anything in CPIC. If they didn’t, you’re good. If they did, you can apply to have the record expunged (there are lawyers that specialize in this)Fly4Ever9 wrote: ↑Sun Feb 11, 2024 4:57 pm Hello,
I am in beginning stages of my flight training and can use some advice. I had a run in with the police where I was arrested and taken to detention but shortly released after with the police deciding to not pursue the charge. I was released without having to go to court and ultimately I was not charged and not convicted. There should be a police record of my arrest. I did not have any other problems with the police prior to this. My driving record is clean with minor traffic tickets going back to more than five years ago. Flight training is not cheap and my goal is to make it to the major airlines. Should I continue or will I eventually hit a road block. I do not want to invest all this money for a false career dream.
Let me know what you guys think, thank you.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
Sorry guys, how you think it should work and how it actually works are two radically different things in this matter.
You can be denied a RAIC for having a relative who is involved in the drug trade. Do I think it's fair? No, but that's the way it is.
Lots of background on this site on this topic and on CanLII.
You can be denied a RAIC for having a relative who is involved in the drug trade. Do I think it's fair? No, but that's the way it is.
Lots of background on this site on this topic and on CanLII.
- tellyourkidstogetarealjob
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- Location: Cascadia
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
I have held a Top Secret security clearance and worked directly with this. That was, however, forty years ago so things could have changed.
There are a lot of variables to be considered and you should probably seek the advice of a lawyer that specializes in pardons and having files expunged. Most provinces have a lawyer referral service where you can get the name of someone local.
If you were fingerprinted you will have an FPS# (Finger Print Section) and there will be a CPIC entry (Canadian Police Information Computer).
You do not need to ask the arresting department if they exist. They do.
A CPIC entry can exist without an FPS#. This happens with some traffic offences where you are not fingerprinted.
The FPS# is permanent. The CPIC file is what a cop calls up on their computer when they pull you over and other uses. A lawyer can help you get the content of these files deleted. Just because the charge was not proceeded with does not mean the file goes away.
If there was a sexual component to the charge this does not apply.
If you have informed a foreign government this does not apply. For instance, if you answered a question from US Customs & Border Protection then the information is out of Canadian hands. There may be a way to get rid of this stateside. That's a question for a US lawyer.
Generally speaking, in Canada, a question regarding your past will be something along the lines of, "Have you ever been convicted of an offence for which you have not received a pardon?" You can safely answer, 'no'.
However, in other countries or with US owned Canadian companies the question may be as simple as, "Have you ever been charged with an offence?"
Answering 'no' to this and hoping to not get caught has obvious risks.
I would suggest consulting a lawyer sooner rather than later.
There are a lot of variables to be considered and you should probably seek the advice of a lawyer that specializes in pardons and having files expunged. Most provinces have a lawyer referral service where you can get the name of someone local.
If you were fingerprinted you will have an FPS# (Finger Print Section) and there will be a CPIC entry (Canadian Police Information Computer).
You do not need to ask the arresting department if they exist. They do.
A CPIC entry can exist without an FPS#. This happens with some traffic offences where you are not fingerprinted.
The FPS# is permanent. The CPIC file is what a cop calls up on their computer when they pull you over and other uses. A lawyer can help you get the content of these files deleted. Just because the charge was not proceeded with does not mean the file goes away.
If there was a sexual component to the charge this does not apply.
If you have informed a foreign government this does not apply. For instance, if you answered a question from US Customs & Border Protection then the information is out of Canadian hands. There may be a way to get rid of this stateside. That's a question for a US lawyer.
Generally speaking, in Canada, a question regarding your past will be something along the lines of, "Have you ever been convicted of an offence for which you have not received a pardon?" You can safely answer, 'no'.
However, in other countries or with US owned Canadian companies the question may be as simple as, "Have you ever been charged with an offence?"
Answering 'no' to this and hoping to not get caught has obvious risks.
I would suggest consulting a lawyer sooner rather than later.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
Listen to Bede. He’s been on here 20yrs and speaks when he knows. If you can’t get a RAIC, you’re going to be limited. Too much money to risk.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
It is interesting to see the inaccurate advice that you can get. I think your first statement is very important.Bede wrote: ↑Mon Feb 12, 2024 7:09 pm Sorry guys, how you think it should work and how it actually works are two radically different things in this matter.
You can be denied a RAIC for having a relative who is involved in the drug trade. Do I think it's fair? No, but that's the way it is.
Lots of background on this site on this topic and on CanLII.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
It would be nice if OP would answer follow up questions so they can get more specific advice.
Anyways, what I would do is try to get any airport job that requires a RAIC- CSA, ramp, etc. If you get denied, at least you know. If you get a RAIC then you know you've passed the screening and will likely get one later as a pilot.
Anyways, what I would do is try to get any airport job that requires a RAIC- CSA, ramp, etc. If you get denied, at least you know. If you get a RAIC then you know you've passed the screening and will likely get one later as a pilot.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
Stealing a chocolate bar at walmarts will get you a criminal record and you will be banned from entering the USA,
Don't let your wife talk you out of buying an airplane, 
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
Saying that as a blanket statement is simply not true.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
No it won't.
You have to be convicted of something (not all convictions matter). There is a difference on getting into the US, and getting a RAIC. There is a lot of horseshit in the RAIC process, but the US is pretty straightforward.
Good judgment comes from experience. Experience often comes from bad judgment.
Re: Flight Training - Criminal Record
If you plan flying into the USA don't fly into Port Huron, the custom guy's working there hate Canadians,
Don't let your wife talk you out of buying an airplane, 


