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Airline pilot/first officer skills for your resume and career

Updated January 8, 2025

2 min read

Quoted expert

Russ Leighton

Below we've compiled a list of the most critical airline pilot/first officer skills. We ranked the top skills for airline pilot/first officers based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 32.5% of airline pilot/first officer resumes contained customer service as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills an airline pilot/first officer needs to be successful in the workplace.

7 airline pilot/first officer skills for your resume and career

1. Customer Service

Customer service is the process of offering assistance to all the current and potential customers -- answering questions, fixing problems, and providing excellent service. The main goal of customer service is to build a strong relationship with the customers so that they keep coming back for more business.

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use customer service:

Perform exceptional levels of customer service to my passengers to ensure satisfaction and a calm atmosphere through constant communication.

2. Flight Operations

Flight operations refer to the activities within an airport that entails dispatching, flight planning, flight watch, weather data provision, and facilitating ground-to-air communication. They ensure proper integration of the airport crew, making appropriate schedules, and planning maintenance activities.

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use flight operations:

Directed domicile flight operations in Chicago and Honolulu flight domiciles overseeing operations, pilot proficiency and domicile business functions.
Standardize civilian aviators to align with established military procedures conducting day/night/NVG flight operations in a mountainous desert tactical environment.

3. ATP

ATP stands for "available to promise." This phrase is often used in inventory management to determine the quantity of a product available for purchase and the approximate date the product can be delivered by. Using this thought process, a company can keep stock of an item low, freeing up space in warehouses for additional merchandise.

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use atp:

Assisted with the administration of the unit aircrew training program (ATP).
Reported data for military target acquisitions Automated Test Procedures (ATP).

4. Federal Aviation

Federal Aviation is the largest modern transportation agency and a governmental body of a nation with powers to regulate all aspects of civil aviation in that nation and over its surrounding international waters. Its powers include the construction and operation of airports, air traffic management, the certification of personnel and aircraft, and the protection of national assets during the launch or reentry of commercial space vehicles.

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use federal aviation:

Complied with all Federal Aviation Administration regulations and operating procedures.
Assisted captain in operating transport category aircraft Embraer-190, efficiently and within compliance of all company procedures and Federal Aviation Regulations.

5. Operations Manuals

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use operations manuals:

Maintain familiarity with Company's Operations Manual as are necessary to fulfil his function both professionally and safely.
Ensured crew compliance with company operations manuals, military operations procedures, and federal aviation regulations.

6. Air Traffic Control

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use air traffic control:

Coordinate communications between air traffic control to ensure required rules and regulations was approved before every flight day.
Coordinated communication between air traffic control and pilots.

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7. Aircraft Systems

Aircraft systems refer to the subsystems necessary for the efficient and safe operation of an aircraft, including flight controls, landing gear, electrical systems, hydraulics, avionics, navigation, communications, and instrumentation. All aircraft require essential systems such as engine, propeller, induction, ignition systems, as well as fuel, lubrication, cooling, electrical, landing gear, and environmental control systems to aid flight. Understanding aircraft systems in flight is essential for safe operation and proper maintenance.

Here's how airline pilot/first officers use aircraft systems:

Conducted training in aircraft systems and flight instruction/qualification for customers both stateside and overseas.
Assisted the Captain with operational duties and responsibilities including aircraft systems and operations.

What skills help Airline Pilot/First Officers find jobs?

Tell us what job you are looking for, we’ll show you what skills employers want.

What type of skills will young airline pilot/first officers need?

Russ Leighton

Vice President/Director of Safety, CAPA

The outlook for U.S. Airlines in a post-pandemic economy is still unknown. Right now, it is likely that thousands of pilots will be furloughed as most U.S. carriers have drastically cutback operations, especially internationally. This will make applying for the very few job opportunities that do exist extremely competitive. Candidates with more flight experience and bachelor's degrees will have a better likelihood of success. Military pilots and civilian pilots with aviation degrees will have the best chances of success.

Do you want to know more?

List of airline pilot/first officer skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for an airline pilot/first officer resume and required skills for an airline pilot/first officer to have include:

Customer Service
Flight Operations
ATP

Federal Aviation
Operations Manuals
Air Traffic Control

Aircraft Systems

Updated January 8, 2025

Zippia Team

Editorial Staff

The Zippia Research Team has spent countless hours reviewing resumes, job postings, and government data to determine what goes into getting a job in each phase of life. Professional writers and data scientists comprise the Zippia Research Team.

Updated January 8, 2025

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