How do I format flight hours on a pilot resume?

A dedicated block near the top: Total Time, PIC, SIC, Multi-Engine, Turbine, Instrument, and hours in type for aircraft the posting names. Exact numbers, updated per application.

Should a low-time pilot use the same format?

Yes. List the same categories honestly, lead with instructing or Part 135 experience, and emphasize pass rates and safety record. Minimums filter automatically, so apply where your numbers qualify.

Do airlines use ATS for pilot hiring?

Yes; major and regional airlines run structured application portals (Airline Apps, PILOT_ATS-style systems) that filter on certificates, ratings, and hour minimums before human review.

One page or two for a pilot resume?

One page is standard and expected, even for senior pilots: the numbers, ratings, and employers say what matters. Use a compact single-column layout.

Pilot resume example

What makes it work

A pilot resume is screened on numbers first: total time, PIC time, multi-engine and turbine hours, certificates, and type ratings, all of which belong in a flight-time block at the top. Airlines and charter operators filter applications by hour minimums and ratings before anyone reads prose, so state them exactly and keep the format single column.

Marcus Webb

Commercial Pilot | ATP | 3,400 TT, 1,850 PIC, 900 Multi

Phoenix, AZ • (555) 555-0100 • name@email.com • linkedin.com/in/example

Summary

ATP-certificated pilot with 3,400 total hours including 1,850 PIC and 900 multi-engine. Currently first officer on the EMB-145 for a Part 121 regional; prior Part 135 cargo and Part 91 instruction. Clean record: no accidents, incidents, violations, or failed checkrides.

Experience

First Officer, EMB-145 | Horizon Regional Airlines (Part 121) | Apr 2023 - Present

•Operate scheduled passenger service across 40+ airports in the western US; 1,100 hours in type.
•Maintain 100% first-attempt pass rate on all recurrent proficiency checks and line checks.
•Serve as base safety-committee representative; authored two ASAP-informed procedure suggestions adopted by the fleet.

Captain, Cessna 208B Caravan | Desert Air Cargo (Part 135) | Jun 2021 - Mar 2023

•Flew single-pilot IFR cargo across the Southwest, 600 PIC hours in high-density-altitude and mountain operations.
•Achieved 99.2% on-time completion across 480 revenue legs with zero weather-related diversions mishandled.

Certified Flight Instructor (CFI, CFII, MEI) | Sonoran Flight Academy | Aug 2019 - May 2021

•Instructed 30+ students through private, instrument, and commercial certificates; 92% first-attempt checkride pass rate.
•Logged 1,200 dual-given hours across single- and multi-engine aircraft.

Education

B.S. Aeronautical Science, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, 2019

Skills

Part 121 operations • Part 135 single-pilot IFR • CRM (crew resource management) • High-altitude and mountain operations • FMS and glass cockpit (G1000, ProLine 21) • Dispatch coordination • Safety management systems (SMS) • ASAP reporting

Certifications

• Airline Transport Pilot, Airplane Multi-Engine Land

• EMB-145 type rating

• Commercial Privileges: Airplane Single-Engine Land

• CFI, CFII, MEI (current)

• First-Class Medical (no limitations)

• FCC Restricted Radiotelephone Operator Permit

Keywords ATS look for in a pilot resume

These terms appear across pilotpostings and are what screening software ranks on. Use the ones that are true of you, in the posting's exact wording.

ATP
total time
PIC
multi-engine
turbine
type rating
Part 121
Part 135
IFR
CRM
first-class medical
checkride
flight instructor
CFI
SMS
glass cockpit
FMS
clean record

Which of these is your resume missing?

Paste a real posting and find out in 30 seconds. Free, no signup.

Check my resume against a job

Common pilot resume mistakes

Flight hours missing from the top

Recruiters and ATS filters look for TT, PIC, multi, and turbine immediately. A flight-time block in the headline or directly under it is the industry standard for a reason.

Rounding or vagueness about hours

Hours are verified against logbooks during interviews. State current, accurate numbers and update the resume as they grow; 'approximately 3,000' reads as sloppy.

Burying the clean record

No accidents, incidents, violations, or checkride failures is a competitive signal airlines actively screen for. If it is true, say it explicitly.

Design-heavy layouts

Airline application portals parse resumes into structured fields. Two-column designs and graphics scramble that parse; single column with standard headings always wins.

Start from an ATS-safe template

The Compact template suits most pilot applications: Candidates with lots of relevant experience who want to stay on one page without shrinking below readable sizes.

Download Compact (DOCX)See all templates

Frequently asked questions

How do I format flight hours on a pilot resume?: A dedicated block near the top: Total Time, PIC, SIC, Multi-Engine, Turbine, Instrument, and hours in type for aircraft the posting names. Exact numbers, updated per application.
Should a low-time pilot use the same format?: Yes. List the same categories honestly, lead with instructing or Part 135 experience, and emphasize pass rates and safety record. Minimums filter automatically, so apply where your numbers qualify.
Do airlines use ATS for pilot hiring?: Yes; major and regional airlines run structured application portals (Airline Apps, PILOT_ATS-style systems) that filter on certificates, ratings, and hour minimums before human review.
One page or two for a pilot resume?: One page is standard and expected, even for senior pilots: the numbers, ratings, and employers say what matters. Use a compact single-column layout.