Aviation

Airline pilot CV: example and template

This example is for captains and first officers at scheduled, charter and cargo airlines, and for pilots after training looking for their first airline job.

The employer wants to know which licence you hold, which type rating you have, your total and on-type hours, your medical and English level and how you work in a crew. We show you how to describe this on your CV.

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Example CV: airline pilot

All the details in this example are fictional. Treat it as a model of layout and wording, and replace the content with your own experience.

Piotr Zalewski

Captain, narrow-body aircraft

Warsaw +48 123 456 789 piotr.zalewski@example.com

Professional profile

Airline pilot with 14 years of experience, the last 4 as a captain on narrow-body aircraft at a scheduled airline. I hold an ATPL(A) licence, a type rating and over 7,500 flight hours, including 5,000 on type and 2,200 as pilot in command. I fly short and medium-haul routes across Europe and lead crew cooperation and threat management. For the last two years I have also been a line training captain for new first officers.

Work experience

Captain

03.2021 - present

Scheduled airline, Warsaw

  • Short and medium-haul flights across Europe.
  • 2,200 hours as pilot in command.
  • Commanding the crew and working with cabin crew.
  • Threat management and decisions in non-normal situations.
  • Line training captain for new first officers.

First officer

04.2012 - 02.2021

Charter airline, Katowice

  • Charter flights to Europe, North Africa and Western Asia.
  • Over 4,000 hours on type.
  • Preparing for the command upgrade.

Education

Integrated ATPL(A) training

2010 - 2012

Flight training organisation

Skills

  • Flying narrow-body aircraft
  • Multi-crew cooperation
  • Threat and error management
  • Flight and fuel planning
  • Non-normal and emergency procedures
  • Line training

Licences

  • ATPL(A) licence
  • Type rating for narrow-body aircraft
  • Class 1 medical certificate
  • Aviation English proficiency, level 6

Languages

  • English: C2

Additional information

  • Over 7,500 flight hours
  • Willing to work at different bases

I hereby consent to the processing of my personal data for the purposes necessary to carry out the recruitment process, in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 27 April 2016 (GDPR).

How to write an airline pilot CV

Professional summary

Write which licence and role you hold, which type rating you have and your flight hours. The employer is looking for a pilot who flies safely and by the procedures, works well in a crew and makes sound decisions under pressure.

Pilot with a frozen ATPL(A) licence, multi-crew cooperation course and 250 flight hours. I hold a class 1 medical and aviation English at level 5. I am looking for work as a first officer and want to complete type rating training.

Experience: duties and achievements

Describe the airline, type, role, kind of flights, total hours, hours on type and as pilot in command. Add licences, ratings, medical and English level. Also say whether you have extra roles, for example line training captain or instructor.

Weaker: Flights.

Better: Short and medium-haul flights across Europe.

Weaker: Experience.

Better: 2,200 hours as pilot in command.

Weaker: Extra duties.

Better: Line training captain for new first officers.

Skills worth listing

List flying, crew cooperation, threat management, planning, procedures and training. In your soft skills show decisiveness, calm and leadership.

Professional skills

  • Flying
  • Crew cooperation
  • Threat management
  • Flight planning
  • Emergency procedures
  • Line training

Personal skills

  • Decisiveness
  • Calm
  • Leadership
  • Communication
  • Discipline

Licences

List your licence and its type, type ratings, medical certificate and aviation English level. Also give total hours, hours on type and as pilot in command, because airlines always ask about them.

First job as an airline pilot

After ATPL training, describe your hours, multi-crew course and medical. Many airlines run programmes for pilots with no type experience.

Add willingness to work at different bases. Airlines often place new pilots where they are needed.

Tailoring your CV to the job offer

A scheduled airline looks for hours on type and short flights, a charter airline for seasonal flexibility, and a cargo airline for night flights. Move to the top what the job ad is about.

The most common mistakes on an airline pilot CV

Questions and answers

What should an airline pilot put on a CV?

The licence, type ratings, total hours, hours on type and as pilot in command, medical, English level and kind of flights.

Which licence is needed?

An ATPL(A) licence, for new pilots often frozen until they reach the required hours.

Do flight hours need to be exact?

Yes, airlines always ask about total hours, hours on type and as pilot in command.

Which English level is required?

At least level 4 aviation English proficiency, and airlines often prefer a higher one.

Create an airline pilot CV in the builder

In the CV Majster builder you enter your details step by step and see right away what the document looks like. You can copy the wording from this page and adapt it to yourself. The finished CV as a PDF costs a one-off PLN 5, with no subscription, and you see the preview before you pay.

Go to the CV builder

See also

Resume examples for similar jobs

Career guide

All resume examples by job