Resume

Private Pilot Resume Example & Writing Guide

Use this Private Pilot resume example and guide to improve your career and write a powerful resume that will separate you from the competition.

Aspiring pilots have two options when it comes to becoming a private pilot: get certified through an instructor-led course at a flight school, or study independently to prepare for the FAA exam. Whichever route you choose, you’ll need a solid resume to help you land your dream job as a private pilot. Here are some tips and an example resume to help you write yours.

David Moore
Phoenix, AZ | (123) 456-7891 | [email protected]
Summary

Passionate private pilot with over 1,000 hours of flying experience. Holds an FAA commercial pilot license with an instrument rating. Skilled in flying a variety of aircraft, including single- and multi-engine planes, jets, and helicopters.

Education
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Jun '10
Private Pilot Certificate
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Jun '09
A.S. in Aviation Science
Experience
Company A, Private Pilot Jan '17 – Current
  • Completed the Private Pilot Airplane Single Engine course and received a private pilot certificate with single engine airplane privileges.
  • Flew over 100 hours in Cessna 152 airplanes, including cross-country flights to airports such as Teterboro Airport (TEB) in New Jersey and Westchester County Airport (HPN).
  • Performed preflight inspection of aircraft before each flight, ensuring that all systems are functioning properly prior to takeoff.
  • Conducted post-flight inspections after landing at destination airport, recording any discrepancies or malfunctions for further investigation by maintenance personnel.
  • Maintained logbook entries for each flight conducted under Part 91 regulations, documenting date/time of departure/arrival, total time flown per day, route traveled, etc., using an electronic aviation software program called FltPlan Go Mobile Pro on iOS devices.
Company B, Private Pilot Jan '12 – Dec '16
  • Worked with flight instructors to develop individualized training plans for each student, ensuring that they were prepared for the FAA exam
  • Conducted pre-flight inspections on two different aircraft and completed all necessary paperwork before takeoff
  • Flew solo flights in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk, logging 10 hours of flight time over 5 months
  • Completed 25 takeoffs and landings as well as 3 cross-country trips (50+ miles) under supervision
  • Achieved Private Pilot certification from the FAA at age 19; received commendation letter from instructor
Company C, Flight Instructor Jan '09 – Dec '11
  • Taught ground school and flight lessons to students seeking their private, commercial, or instrument rating.
  • Mentored students throughout the flight training process to help them develop the skills and knowledge necessary to become a safe and competent pilot.
  • Conducted regular checkrides with students to ensure they met the standards required to progress to the next level of training.
Certifications
  • FAA Private Pilot Certificate
  • Single Engine Land Rating
  • Instrument Airplane Rating
Skills

Industry Knowledge: Aircraft Systems, Meteorology, Airspace, Communication, Navigation, FAA Regulations
Technical Skills: Microsoft Office Suite, Autodesk, Adobe Creative Suite, Google SketchUp
Soft Skills: Critical thinking, Problem-Solving, Decision Making, Teamwork, Communication, Empathy, Leadership

How to Write a Private Pilot Resume

Here’s how to write a private pilot resume of your own.

Write Compelling Bullet Points

Bullet points are the most important part of your resume because they’re the first thing recruiters will see. And if they’re not compelling, you could be passed over for someone else who has taken the time to craft them.

So rather than just listing your responsibilities, you should use bullet points to tell a story about your work. For example, rather than saying you “flew planes,” you could say you “flew Cessna Citation X aircraft for commercial airline passengers on daily flights between New York and Boston.”

The second bullet point paints a much clearer picture of what your job entailed and also provides some specific details about the type of plane you flew and the cities you flew between.

Identify and Include Relevant Keywords

When you submit your resume for a private pilot job, it’s likely that it will be scanned by an applicant tracking system (ATS) for certain keywords. These programs look for certain terms related to the job, like “navigation” and “pilot training” in order to determine whether your skills are a match for the job opening. If your resume doesn’t have enough of the right keywords, the ATS might discard your application before a recruiter ever sees it.

To increase your chances of getting an interview, use this list of common private pilot keywords to add them into your resume:

  • Aviation
  • Piloting
  • Flight Training
  • Aircraft Maintenance
  • Flight Safety
  • Commercial Aviation
  • Airlines
  • Aviation Safety
  • Instrument Rated Pilot
  • Maintenance & Repair
  • Airports
  • Business Aviation
  • Helicopters
  • Airline Transport Pilot
  • General Aviation
  • Aircraft Systems
  • Crew Resource Management
  • Corporate Aviation
  • Private Piloting
  • Cockpit
  • Helicopter Piloting
  • Aircraft Piloting
  • Aeronautics
  • Instrument Rating
  • CFI
  • Flight Planning
  • Simulators
  • CFII
  • Meteorology
  • Avionics

Showcase Your Technical Skills

As a private pilot, you need to be proficient in the use of various software programs and systems to help you plan and execute your flights. This might include flight planning software, GPS systems, and weather forecast tools. Additionally, you need to be familiar with the aircraft you will be flying, including its systems and controls.

Some of the programs and systems that private pilots are typically expected to be proficient in include: flight planning software, GPS systems, weather forecast tools, and aircraft systems and controls.

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