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Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA): What a Pilot Must Know from the Legal Standpoint
When an airman is hired to work for an air carrier, that carrier has the right to request and evaluate information that relates to the pilot’s training, accidents, qualifications, length of experience, and safety training information. In order to ensure that the passengers or cargo of the aircraft flown will be safe, a law called the Pilot Records Improvement Act (PRIA) allows air carriers to request this information before approving a pilot.
PRIA issues can arise for many reasons, some of them completely unexpected. Between 1987 and 1995, a series of accidents occurred that gave rise to PRIA, as they could’ve been prevented with better record-keeping and background information on the pilots involved.
PRIA does not refer to the documents themselves, but only to the protocols that certain air carriers must follow to prevent accidents like this from happening again.
Disclosure is key to a successful passage of these pre-employment checks. Pilots and airmen are human–they make mistakes. Being as transparent as possible about issues that have happened in the past is the best way to deal with these, but it would also be smart to consult an aviation lawyer to ensure that all of your documentation is in order before you apply to work for air carriers that require PRIA checks.
A PRIA consultation with a trusted aviation attorney can accomplish a few things:
- Make you aware of problem areas that you may need to improve upon
- Give you a plan for how to improve upon these issues
- Let you know what types of air carrier jobs you may qualify for
- What sorts of mistakes you make most often and if they will affect your job application status
Aviation should be fun--not a stressor added into your life. When it becomes a chore or something you dread, call Vangorodska to schedule your appointment. There’s no time to delay when it comes to your freedom of flight - so so do not wait until it is too late to save your career and certifications.
When in doubt, it’s best to hire Yulia Vangorodska – a pilot and a lawyer – who knows his way around issues that arise with PRIA, like Yulia Vangorodska, Esq. You’re not expected to have every mistake you’ve ever made memorized, but it helps if you can go over ways to turn negatives into positives as well as ways to show how you learned from your mistakes to never commit them again.
If your record reflects this, you should have no problem being hired with your dream air carrier, but if not, it’s important to consult with an attorney prior to applying for any air carrier position.
Not only can you avoid accidentally incriminating yourself, but an attorney can also help you to understand exactly what air carriers are looking for when they are hiring so that you can ensure that your background reflects that. Contact Yulia Vangorodska today to get started on your PRIA consultation to help you make the most of your piloting career.
