Pilot CV Example

A pilot CV should be built so that total flight hours, licence type (ATPL/CPL), type ratings and aircraft flown are visible at first glance. Airlines scan this information in seconds; a CV that does not give a clear hours breakdown gets filtered out.

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Sample Pilot CV

Daniel Foster

First Officer — A320

London, UK

Summary

First Officer with 3,400 total flight hours and an A320 type rating. I have operated domestic and short-to-medium-haul international routes, and I fly with a high commitment to SOP discipline, CRM and safety culture. I hold ICAO English Level 5.

Experience

First Officer — A320 Family · Private airline

May 2022 – Present
  • Flew 2,600+ hours on the A320/A321 fleet on domestic and international operations.
  • Operated in full compliance with SOPs at constrained airfields and in winter and high-traffic conditions.
  • Prepared pre-flight performance, fuel and NOTAM analyses and ran the briefing with the captain.
  • Passed simulator proficiency checks (OPC/LPC) first time.

Flight Instructor (FI) — Single Engine · Approved Training Organisation (ATO)

Jan 2020 – Apr 2022
  • Delivered 700+ hours of flight training to PPL and CPL students on single-engine aircraft.
  • Planned and delivered navigation, night-flying and basic instrument-flying sorties.
  • Kept student progress records and training documentation in line with UK CAA requirements.

Skills

ATPL(A) — FrozenA320 Type Rating3,400 total flight hoursICAO English Level 5CRM and MCCSOP and Safety Management System (SMS)Flight planning & performance calculationSimulator proficiency (OPC/LPC)

Education

BSc Air Transport Pilot Training · University of the West of England (2015 – 2019)

What to Highlight in a Pilot CV

  • Give total hours, PIC/SIC hours and a type-by-type breakdown clearly at the very top, table-style.
  • Clearly state your licence (ATPL/CPL), type ratings and validity dates.
  • Always state your ICAO English level and Class 1 medical status.
  • Show the variety of operations you have flown (domestic, international, cargo, night, constrained airfields).
  • Highlight a clean record on simulator checks and audits with phrases like "passed first time".

Technical Skills

  • ATPL/CPL licence
  • Type rating (e.g. A320/B737)
  • Instrument flying (IR) & navigation
  • Flight performance & fuel planning
  • MCC / CRM practice
  • EFB & flight documentation
  • Safety reporting (SMS)

Soft Skills

  • Situational awareness
  • Decision making under pressure
  • In-team communication (CRM)
  • Discipline & procedural compliance
  • Calmness & self-control

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving the flight-hours breakdown (total/PIC/by type) unclear.
  • Not stating licence and rating validity dates.
  • Omitting your ICAO English level.
  • Listing only company names instead of the variety of operations.
  • Padding the CV with unnecessary detail that spills over two pages.

Frequently Asked Questions

How should flight hours appear on a pilot CV?

In a short block at the very top: total hours, PIC/SIC split and hours by type (e.g. "A320: 2,600 hours"). Recruitment teams look at this block first; hours buried inside the experience narrative get missed.

How do I apply to an airline if I have no type rating?

Foreground your frozen CPL/ATPL, total hours and MCC/JOC training, and apply to non-type-rated positions. Flight instructor (FI) hours also count as valuable total experience — always show them separately.

How many pages should a pilot CV be and what must it include?

One page is ideal. Licence type, type ratings, hours breakdown, ICAO English level, Class 1 medical status and last flight date must appear; hobbies and unrelated jobs should be cut.

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Pilot Interview Questions & Answers

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