How to Write a Pilot Resume for US Airlines

If you are applying to US airlines, the first thing to know is that Americans say "resume" not "CV." It sounds like a minor detail, but it reflects a broader difference in conventions. US airline resumes follow different formatting rules, different hours categories, and different page size standards compared to EASA or Gulf applications.

This guide covers exactly what US carriers expect to see and how to format your experience for the American aviation job market.

Resume vs CV: US Conventions

The US aviation industry follows standard American resume conventions with a few important differences from the rest of the world:

Page size: US Letter (8.5 x 11 inches), not A4
Length: One page is strongly preferred. Two pages are acceptable only for very senior captains with extensive fleet experience
No photo: US employers do not expect or want a photo on your resume
No personal details: Do not include date of birth, nationality, marital status, or passport information. US employment law discourages these on applications
Clean design: Minimal formatting, no colour photos, professional but understated colour accents

These conventions apply whether you are applying to major carriers, regional airlines, or corporate operators.

The FAA Hours Format

FAA hours follow the logbook categories defined in 14 CFR 61.51. This is a different breakdown from the EASA P1/PICUS/P2 format or the Gulf total/command structure.

Your hours table should include:

Total Time — All logged flight time
PIC (Pilot in Command) — 14 CFR 61.51(e) time where you were sole manipulator or acting PIC
SIC (Second in Command) — Time logged as required SIC under Part 121 or Part 135 operations
Cross-Country — Flights with a landing at a point other than the departure airport, beyond 50 nautical miles
Turbine — Total turbine-powered aircraft time (separate from piston)
Instrument — Actual instrument conditions plus simulated instrument with a safety pilot or instructor
Night — Time logged during official night (end of evening civil twilight to beginning of morning civil twilight)
Multi-Engine — All multi-engine time

Break your hours down by aircraft type. US airline recruiters want to see how many hours you have on specific types, particularly turbine PIC time, which is the key threshold for major airline hiring minimums.

Licence and Certificate Block

US pilot certifications follow a different structure from EASA licensing:

ATP Certificate — The prerequisite for Part 121 airline operations. Include your certificate number
ATP/CTP (Airline Transport Pilot Certification Training Program) — Required before taking the ATP knowledge test. Include your completion date
Type Ratings — Listed on the back of your certificate. Include each type with its issue date
First Class Medical — Issue and expiry dates. A current first class medical is required for Part 121 operations
FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit — Required for all airline operations. Often overlooked on resumes

If you hold both FAA and EASA certificates, list both. Dual-qualified pilots have an advantage with carriers that operate internationally.

What Major Airlines Look For

Each major carrier has different priorities, but common themes apply across the industry:

Delta Air Lines: Historically one of the most competitive to enter. Strong emphasis on turbine PIC time (typically 1,500+ hours TPIC for competitive applicants). College degree valued but no longer strictly required since 2022. Propel career pathway program creates a pipeline from regional partners.

United Airlines: Aviate pathway program is the primary feeder pipeline. Turbine PIC hours and type-specific experience are weighted heavily. United operates one of the most diverse fleets in the US (737, 757, 767, 777, 787, A319, A320), so wide fleet experience is valued.

American Airlines: Flow-through agreements from wholly-owned regionals (Envoy, PSA, Piedmont) provide a direct path. External hires are competitive — turbine PIC time and Part 121 experience are expected.

Southwest Airlines: Single-fleet operator (737). A 737 type rating is a direct advantage. Southwest emphasises company culture fit alongside technical qualifications. Known for a less formal interview process compared to legacy carriers.

Regional Airlines as Stepping Stones

The US airline career path almost always runs through regional airlines first. Republic Airways, SkyWest Airlines, Endeavor Air, PSA Airlines, and Envoy Air are the largest regional operators and collectively employ thousands of first officers building time toward major airline minimums.

When presenting regional experience on a resume for a major airline application:

Highlight your total turbine PIC time accumulated during your regional career
List the fleet type and Part 121 experience clearly (e.g., CRJ-900, E175)
Mention line check airman or instructor duties if applicable — these demonstrate leadership
Include any flow-through agreement status if applying to your regional's major partner

The regional-to-major progression is the standard US career path. Recruiters expect to see it and know how to evaluate regional experience.

ATS at US Carriers

Major US airlines use applicant tracking systems and online career portals to manage applications. Airline Apps (airlineapps.com) is used by several carriers, while others use Workday or Taleo-based systems.

These systems parse uploaded resumes for keywords, hours totals, and certificate information. A visually designed resume with columns and graphics can be unreadable to an ATS parser. You need a clean, plain-text version specifically formatted for online submission. For more detail, read our guide to ATS-compatible pilot CVs.

Build Your FAA Pilot Resume

FlightDeck CV includes FAA-specific templates with US Letter sizing, FAA hours categories, and the clean minimal design US carriers expect. Choose the FAA region, fill in your details, and download both a branded PDF and an ATS-compatible version.

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