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Commercial pilot 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 commercial pilot skills. We ranked the top skills for commercial pilots based on the percentage of resumes they appeared on. For example, 23.6% of commercial pilot resumes contained faa as a skill. Continue reading to find out what skills a commercial pilot needs to be successful in the workplace.

15 commercial pilot skills for your resume and career

1. FAA

FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) is an aviation regulatory body in the USA.

Here's how commercial pilots use faa:

Performed in the capacity of a Trained and Licensed Pilot under FAA Part 135.
Perform flight-planning calculations, legal documentation for FAA and perform aircraft inspections.

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 commercial pilots use flight operations:

Coordinated between various flight operations departments to ensure flight operated safe and within all applicable regulations.
Coordinate flight operations with management and assist in travel arrangement preparations, security and passenger briefing.

3. Pilot-In-Command

Pilot-In-Command is the pilot who is the overall head of the aircraft. They are the ones that are responsible for safety, and operations.

Here's how commercial pilots use pilot-in-command:

Earned pilot-in-command status as most junior aviator assigned to unit.
Directed and assisted Pilot-In-Command in emergency procedures.

4. PIC

A PIC, also known as a Programmable Intelligent Computer and Programmable Interface Controller, is a type of microcontroller component that is used in the development of electronics, computers, robotics, and the likes. It works as a standard microcontroller with small processors, memory, registers, and storage. Typically, a PIC enhances the I/O operations of a device by separating I/O-based data and programs from the core central processing unit (CPU).

Here's how commercial pilots use pic:

Operate as a Part 135 PIC during air ambulance EMS patient carrying flights.
Operate as a Part 91 PIC during public aircraft operations.

5. Flight Planning

Here's how commercial pilots use flight planning:

Completed full range of flight planning, pre-flight, flight, and post-flight procedures.
Flight planning and dissemination of weather systems.

6. 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 commercial pilots use customer service:

Created excellence through superior internal and external customer service.
Computed calculations on aircraft performance and customer service.

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7. Flight Training

Here's how commercial pilots use flight training:

Selected for Flight Training Department.
Coordinated flight training operations for this flight school located at Waco Regional Airport.

8. General Aviation

Here's how commercial pilots use general aviation:

Delivered pre-owned aircraft to customers across the U.S. and provided other services to the general aviation community.

9. Fixed Wing Aircraft

Here's how commercial pilots use fixed wing aircraft:

Completed requirements for recreational pilots' license on fixed wing aircraft
Attended training for additional ratings in fixed wing aircraft for Commercial.

10. CFI

Here's how commercial pilots use cfi:

Achieved a GOLD Seal CFI.
Prepare students for ground portions of Private, Commercial and CFI knowledge and practical tests.

11. TT

Here's how commercial pilots use tt:

land, Single-engine land/sea, Instrument (250 TT, 50 night, 100 xc, 25 multi)

12. Transport Passengers

Here's how commercial pilots use transport passengers:

Piloted airplanes to transport passengers, mail, and freight for commercial.

13. 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 commercial pilots use atp:

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

14. Air Traffic Control

Here's how commercial pilots use air traffic control:

Keep in touch and communicate with the air traffic control while piloting the aircraft.
Coordinate communications between air traffic control to ensure required rules and regulations was approved before every flight day.

15. 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 commercial pilots use aircraft systems:

Maintained superior knowledge of complex aircraft systems and the management of those systems.
Aided new pilots in base orientation and aircraft systems familiarization.

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What skills help Commercial Pilots find jobs?

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

What type of skills will young commercial pilots 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 commercial pilot skills to add to your resume

The most important skills for a commercial pilot resume and required skills for a commercial pilot to have include:

FAA
Flight Operations
Pilot-In-Command
PIC
Flight Planning

Customer Service
Flight Training
General Aviation
Fixed Wing Aircraft
CFI

TT
Transport Passengers
ATP
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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