Pilot resume example

• Entry level

  Commercial pilot and CFI with 1,050 total hours, including 820 dual given and 110 multi-engine, building time toward the 1,500 hours an unrestricted ATP requires. Instrument rated, holds a first-class medical and has signed off 14 students for private and instrument checkrides with 12 passing on the first attempt. Seeking a regional airline first officer pathway.

• Mid level

  Regional airline first officer with 3,400 total hours and 2,600 in the CRJ900, holding an ATP with a CL-65 type rating and a first-class medical. Flies a mixed hub and outstation schedule in winter weather and high-density airspace, with every line check and recurrent checkride passed. Ready for captain upgrade or a major airline first officer seat.

• Senior

  Airline captain and line check airman with 9,800 total hours, 5,200 as pilot in command in the ERJ-175, and type ratings on two jets. Leads crews through winter operations, irregular schedules and maintenance diversions, and has evaluated more than 120 first officers on line checks. Seeking a major airline or Part 135 chief pilot role.

• Hours that do not match the logbook

  Fix: Every hour you print will be checked against your logbook, your application and the Pilot Records Database. Pull totals from one source on one date, write that date on the resume, and keep the same breakdown everywhere. A gap of even a few hours between documents invites questions you do not want in an interview.

• Listing certificates without ratings and limits

  Fix: "ATP pilot" is not enough. Write the full certificate, the category and class (such as airplane multi-engine land), every type rating with any SIC-only limitation, and your medical class. If you hold an instructor certificate, list each rating on it: CFI, CFII, MEI. Recruiters match these line by line against the posting's minimums.

• Bullets that only say "flew passengers safely"

  Fix: Safety is the baseline, so show how you add to it. Name the operation, the routes or airports you flew, the weather or terrain you handled, line check results, any captain upgrade or check airman role, and work such as writing SOP revisions or training new hires. Specific duties tell a chief pilot how you think.

• Hiding the medical and recency status

  Fix: Put your medical class on the credentials line. If you have been out of the cockpit, state your last flight date and your plan to regain currency, such as a flight review or instrument proficiency check. A recruiter who has to guess whether you are current will often move to the next resume instead.

Match these against the job posting you are applying to: the free resume checker shows which keywords your resume is missing.

• Commanded 1,900 Part 121 flight legs as captain in the ERJ-175 with every line check and recurrent proficiency check passed on the first attempt.
• Flew 2,600 hours as first officer in the CRJ900 across 40 airports, including high-altitude and short-runway stations in winter conditions.
• Evaluated 120 first officers on line checks as a check airman, flagging 6 for extra training and confirming each afterward.
• Instructed 22 students from first lesson to private pilot certificate, with 19 passing the practical test on the first attempt.
• Briefed and flew 35 maintenance diversions and medical emergencies, each closed out with a complete report to the safety department.
• Revised 8 normal and abnormal checklist items with the training department after reviewing crew feedback from 300 line flights.
• Logged 1,200 hours of Part 135 charter flying in a Citation Excel, planning fuel, weight and balance and slot times for 80 airports.
• Upgraded to captain after 2,100 hours as first officer, completing initial operating experience in 25 hours under supervision.
• Taught 140 hours of multi-engine instruction, including engine-out procedures, and prepared 9 students for MEI or commercial multi checkrides.
• Reported 14 safety concerns through the carrier's voluntary reporting program, 3 of which led to changes in station procedures.

• Match the carrier's minimums line by line

  Every posting lists minimums: total time, turbine, PIC, type ratings and medical class. Put your numbers in the same order the posting uses, so a recruiter can tick them off quickly. If you are short in one category, say how many hours remain and when you expect to reach it, rather than leaving the gap unexplained. Tailor your pilot resume to each carrier

• Use the cover letter to explain the why

  Recruiters see the hours on the resume. Use the letter to say why this carrier or base fits you, which aircraft you want to fly and what you bring from your current operation. Mention any connection, such as a cadet program, a pilot referral or a job fair conversation. Keep it to one page. Write a pilot cover letter

• Prepare for the technical and behavioral rounds

  Airline interviews usually mix technical questions on systems, regulations and weather with behavioral questions about crew conflict and judgment calls. Some add a simulator evaluation. Prepare stories about a diversion, a disagreement with a captain and a mistake you caught, and review approach charts, minimums and weather decoding before the day. Practice pilot interview questions

• Keep your hours table in one current place

  Pilots apply through several airline portals and third-party sites, and the hours change every week. Keep one master resume with a dated hours table, update it from your logbook before each application, and keep your LinkedIn profile on the same numbers. A recruiter comparing two sources should never find different totals. Align your LinkedIn profile with your logbook