Top Airline Pilot sections that make the best resume
- Header
- Professional summary
- Experience (with numbers & results)
- Relevant skills
- Education
- Certifications
Writing a memorable experience section: Airline Pilot resume edition
Checklist: Ways to Make Your Experience Section Stand Out
- Find balance: use 4-6 bullet points per position;
- Include positions that are relevant to the job you’re applying for;
- Use action verbs when describing your responsibilities and results;
- Highlight your achievements by adding numbers to them (e.g. instead of saying “achieved a steady increase in…”, say “achieved an X% increase in…”);
- Prove that you’re willing to work hard, both individually and in a team.
If you prefer to be led by example, check out some great Airline Pilot resume experience section snippets below!
- Achieved 99.99% on-time flight completion rate over 3 years
- Demonstrated proficiency in flying large, Group II transport category, fixed-wing aircraft (turbojet aircraft of more than 41,000 lbs. maximum takeoff weight) with over 2,000 hours of experience
- Ensured compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations and Company policies on every flight
- Maintained a thorough knowledge of flight operations, procedures, and systems applicable to the aircraft flown
- Conducted appropriate pre- and post-flight inspections to ensure the airworthy condition of assigned aircraft in accordance with Company policy and FARs
- Cooperated with other crewmembers to supervise and ensure enroute performance
- Assisted with and ensured proper handling of aircraft, passengers, baggage, and cargo at terminal points
- Provided prompt notification of turbulence, adverse weather conditions or any other operational factors affecting the flight
- Collaborated with dispatchers to ensure that the flight is planned and fueled properly
- Advised the dispatcher in a timely manner of any situation that could affect the flight schedule
- Assessed risks and used the proper resources to keep risk to an acceptable level during all phases of ground and flight operations
- Led a team of 3 pilots and ensured successful and safe completion of over 100 flights
- Demonstrated proficiency in flying large, Group II transport category, fixed-wing aircraft (turbojet aircraft of more than 41,000 lbs. maximum takeoff weight) with over 2,500 hours of experience
- Ensured compliance with Federal Aviation Regulations and Company policies on every flight
- Maintained a thorough knowledge of flight operations, procedures, and systems applicable to the aircraft flown
- Conducted appropriate pre- and post-flight inspections to ensure the airworthy condition of assigned aircraft in accordance with Company policy and FARs
- Cooperated with other crewmembers to supervise and ensure enroute performance
- Assisted with and ensured proper handling of aircraft, passengers, baggage, and cargo at terminal points
- Provided prompt notification of turbulence, adverse weather conditions or any other operational factors affecting the flight
- Collaborated with dispatchers to ensure that the flight is planned and fueled properly
- Advised the dispatcher in a timely manner of any situation that could affect the flight schedule
- Assessed risks and used the proper resources to keep risk to an acceptable level during all phases of ground and flight operations
- Maintained a perfect safety record and adhered to all FAA regulations
- Ensured timely departures and arrivals for all flights
- Performed pre-flight and post-flight inspections of the aircraft
- Worked collaboratively with flight crew and ground staff to ensure smooth operations
- Successfully handled various emergency situations, including turbulence and medical emergencies
- Maintained positive relationships with passengers and crew members
- Developed and implemented training programs for student pilots that resulted in a 95% pass rate for FAA checkrides
- Assisted in standardization and improvement activities for the Training Department
- Achieved outstanding performance measures and adhered to established standards, resulting in recognition as the top-performing instructor in the department
- Provided training to international students, ensuring that language barriers did not affect the quality of training
- Received positive feedback from students for patient, thorough, and effective instruction
- Maintained all required airman certificates and ratings, including Certified Flight Instructor and Multi-Engine Instructor
- Received several awards for outstanding performance and safety records
- Consistently achieved on-time departures and arrivals for all flights
- Developed and maintained positive relationships with passengers, crew members, and ground staff
- Demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills and quick thinking during emergency situations
- Successfully handled multiple diversions and delays due to weather and mechanical issues
- Maintained proficiency in various aircraft, including Boeing 737 and Airbus A320
- Operated assigned flights after determining the airworthiness of the aircraft and reviewing all current factors such as weather, field conditions, navigational aids, etc., relative to the safe operation of the flight
- Supervised and ensured enroute performance of other crewmembers assigned to the aircraft resulting in efficient and effective teamwork
- Ensured that the flight was planned and fueled properly so that it may be conducted safely and in accordance with current policies and regulations
- Advised the dispatcher in a timely manner, of any situation that could affect the flight schedule resulting in minimal delays and satisfied customers
- Operated the aircraft according to applicable Company policies and FARs resulting in safe and efficient flight operations
- Ensured that the load manifest for a flight was reviewed and the passenger count was verified prior to each departure resulting in accurate passenger counts and minimal delays
- Observed the Rules of Conduct for all employees as outlined in the Company Team Member Playbook and Pilot Playbook resulting in a positive work environment
- Performed other flight officer duties as assigned by the Company resulting in a high level of flexibility and adaptability
- Operated assigned flights after determining the airworthiness of the aircraft and reviewing all current factors such as weather, field conditions, navigational aids, etc., relative to the safe operation of the flight
- Ensured that the flight was planned and fueled properly so that it may be conducted safely and in accordance with current policies and regulations resulting in on-time departures
- Assisted with and ensured proper handling of aircraft, passengers, baggage, and cargo at terminal points where other company personnel were not available resulting in efficient and effective teamwork
- Notified crew and passengers promptly of turbulence, adverse weather conditions or any other operational factors affecting the flight resulting in a high level of safety and customer satisfaction
PRO TIP
Don't make the same mistake everyone else does. What we mean is, don't list your Airline Pilot job responsibilities instead of your achievements. Recruiters know what you do. They want to know what kind of difference you can bring to their company. Focus on what you've accomplished.
Action Verbs for your Airline Pilot Resume
Recommended reads:
Impressing Recruiters with a Top Airline Pilot Resume Skills Section
Checklist for an impressive Airline Pilot resume skills section:
- List both hard and technical skills that are important for the role;
- Check what the job description says and add some keywords based on that;
- Focus only on relevant skills;
- Try not to list things such as “communication”; rather, highlight your soft skills in other sections of your Airline Pilot resume.
Top skills for your airline pilot resume
Pre-flight checks
Flight Planning
Navigation
Aircraft systems
Emergency procedures
Instrument reading
Radio communication
Fuel management
Weather assessment
Decision making under pressure
Calm demeanor
Effective communication
Leadership
Teamwork
Attention to detail
Problem solving
Adaptability
Crisis management
Time management
Customer service
PRO TIP
Don’t feel obliged to spend a separate section for your soft skills - you can weave them throughout your job experience or career summary. But, don’t just write empty words - back them with examples.
Recommended reads:
Airline Pilot resume header: tips, red flags, and best practices
Checklist: a strong Airline Pilot resume summary:
- Use adjectives that highlight the character traits you’re most proud of;
- Mention 1-2 of your biggest achievements;
- Add keywords from the job advert to increase your chances of passing ATS;
- Keep the recruiter’s attention by going for short sentences.
Resume summary formula:
PRO TIP
Your summary should act as an elevator speech, briefly promoting how you will benefit the employer if hired. Pitch your strengths in the summary and expand on them in your Airline Pilot experience section. Give examples like how your work benefited each employer.
Recommended reads:
The Best Format for Your Airline Pilot Resume
Choosing the right format for your resume might seem difficult, regardless of whether you’re a newbie or a master. In short, there are three basic resume formats for you to choose from:
- Reverse-chronological resume format;
- Functional skills-based resume format;
- Combination (or Hybrid) resume format.
The choice you make depends on your level of experience and the company you’re applying for.
The reverse-chronological resume format is great for you if you have at least 10 years of experience, no employment gaps, and are not looking for a career change. Here, you are expected to list all your previous jobs in a reverse-chronological format, starting from your most recent position and going back to the oldest one. It’s perfect for experienced individuals who are looking for a straightforward way to highlight their expertise.
The functional skills-based resume format, on the other hand, is great for recent graduates or professionals with large employment gaps. It focuses on skills and education, rather than experience. This makes it ideal for showing you’re the right fit without putting too much emphasis on your lack of (relevant) experience.
If you’re looking for something a bit more creative, go for the combination resume format. It’s a mix of the reverse-chronological and the functional skills-based formats, which makes it ideal for all types of applicants. What’s more, it’s considered modern and innovative, and isn’t this what you want your application to feel like anyway?
Looking for ways to perfect your Airline Pilot resume layout and style?
- Don’t risk it: choose standard 1-inch resume margins;
- Go for traditional resume fonts (sized 10-12p);
- Match the length of your Airline Pilot resume with your years of experience – choose a one-page template if you’ve got less than 10 years of experience; otherwise, opt for a two-page resume;
- To be on the safe side, save your resume in PDF. This will help you avoid formatting issues and unauthorized editing.
