Despite the current “pilot shortage” we hear so much about, there is still no guarantee that an aspiring pilot will ever get picked up by a Major Airline. Yes, it may be easy to get an entry-level pilot job in the current market, but competition is VERY stiff for the “good” jobs!
It takes more than 1500 hours and an ATP to get a call. There are lots of little things that can set you apart from other candidates on a pilot application.
Here I’ve listed some “boxes to check” on airline applications that might help you get a job. Some of these items seem to be appreciated by all airlines, while others, like “Float Plane License,” only FedEx asks about. So I went through the online applications for Delta Air Lines, United Airlines, Southwest Airlines, American Airlines, and FedEx, and I put all of these credentials into a spreadsheet to see which are the common denominators.
Obviously, they all want the basics: ATP License, 1st Class Medical, FCC License, Passport, Etc.
But it’s interesting to see which airline is asking for what -Who asks the most, and who asks the least. This data could give you some insight into what’s important to a specific airline, and which once are more focused on the total time in your logbook.
Delta and United are combined because, apart from a separate addendum, they both use the same application – AirlineApps.com
| Delta/United | Southwest | Fedex | American | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check Airman | Yes (Non Military) | Yes* | Yes*** (+LCA & SCA) | Yes (121 & 135) |
| Chief Pilot | Yes | Yes** | Yes | Yes (121 & 135) |
| Safety Officer / Director of Safety | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Military Instructor | Yes | Yes | Yes (+Years & Hours) | Yes (+Years & Hours) |
| CFI | Yes | Yes | Yes (+Years & Hours) | Yes (+Hours) |
| CFII | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Director of Operations | Yes | Yes** | Yes | |
| Helicopter License | Yes (+Inst. & Instructor) | Yes | Yes | |
| Simulator Instructor | Yes (“Flight Time” matrix) | Yes | Yes | |
| FAA Examiner | Yes | Yes “FAA Designee” | ||
| Flight Manager | Yes** | Yes | ||
| Full Time Instructor | Yes (+Years) | Yes (+Years & Hours) |
||
| MEI | Yes | Yes | ||
| FE Written | Yes (TJ, TP, & Piston) | Yes | ||
| FE License | Yes (TJ, TP, & Piston) | Yes (Turbojet Only) | ||
| Turbojet Type | Yes | Yes | ||
| Boeing 737 Typed | Yes | Yes | ||
| Assistant Chief Pilot | Yes | |||
| FAA Approved Program Examiner | Yes | |||
| Glider | Yes (+Instructor) | |||
| Powered Lift | Yes (+Inst. & Instructor) | |||
| Airship | Yes | |||
| Balloon | Yes | |||
| Large Aircraft Typed | Yes | |||
| Ground Instructor | Yes (B,A, and I) | |||
| Dispatcher | Yes | |||
| Airframe & Powerplant (A&P) | Yes | |||
| CFI (University vs. 141 vs. 61) | Yes | |||
| Float Plane License | Yes | |||
| Taildragger Qualified | Yes | |||
| BGT (Basic Gas Turbine) Rating | Yes |
*Have you ever been a Check Airman, Line Check Airman, Stan/Eval, NATOPS evaluator in a Jet/Turbine/Turbo Prop Aircraft? List Aircraft Type & effective dates. FAA, Company, Military Certification Document or similar must be produced at interview.
**Have you served as Chief Pilot, Director of Operations or Flight Department Manager for a Jet/Turbine/Turbo Prop operation that employed ten or more pilots?
***Have you ever been a Check Airman, Stan/Eval, NATOPS?