Airline Applications

For those students wishing to join a regional, the application process is something that can take time.  Many students only have experience with minimum wage or entry level job applications and do not understand just how detailed and involved the airline application can be.  Majority of airlines use www.airlineapps.com. One great feature about airline applications, regardless of the site, is that you can start the application and "publish" when you are ready.

Regional airlines will often give a CJO (conditional job offer) to flight students whom are within six months to a year of meeting the minimums to be an airline pilot.  Therefore, I tell students that you should start applying to those airlines you are interested in about six months prior to being able to go.  But I also tell students, give yourself 2-4 weeks to make your applications, edit your application, and have it reviewed prior to submitting.

Though the regionals are not looking for perfection, the major airlines are.  The airline application you create for the regional application process will be the EXACT same application you use to apply to the majors, just updated for your newly gained experience.  Over the course of my career, with professional services (paid) help, here are some great tips in compiling your application...

Preparing Your Airline Application

Created By: Aaron Hepps, ATP/CFI/II/MEI

1.    General

a.   Spell out all names of streets (Drive, Street, Place, Way, Road)

b.   Use the same format for phone numbers throughout (123-123-1234 or (123) 123-1234)

c.   Place “N/A” in any box that you do not have information for.

d.   Your resume & this app should match.  You may add more information to the app, but make sure dates, etc match.

e.   For any narrative section, use Word or some sort of processor to spell check, then copy/paste into the application.

2.    Address History

a.    Need to have a minimum of ten years of history (Federal Requirement)

b.    Make sure there are NO gaps in addresses.

c.    You can pull a credit report to help with this section.

3.    Education History

a.   Every pilot certificate/rating should be its own entry.  From & To should be when you started the course to your checkride date.  GPA should be N/A”

b.    For military, list every school/course you attended separately.

c.    For achievements, list date range if you maintained something like Dean’s List multiple terms.

4.    Driving/Criminal Record

a.   For your driving record, you can pull a driving record for $10-20.  If you are unsure, pull it.  If you fail to list something, you will be rejected.

b.   Do not leave anything off your record.  We all make mistakes, its how we learn from them and don’t repeat.

5.    Employment History

a.   You must list every position/employment you have had for a minimum of ten years unless you do not have ten years of work history, then you must list everything you have had.

b.   Do NOT use bullet format.  Must be in complete sentence- grammar and punctuation are important!

c.   If your employment is listed as “Present,” then your narrative should be PRESENT TENSE.

d.   If you no longer work at the company listed, then your narrative should be PAST TENSE.

e.   In your “reason for leaving,” show things like you took a job to accept greater responsibility, got promoted, moved, etc.

f.   Every time you are promoted, it should be a new employment entry.  But make sure you leave the “TO” as “Present” if you are also still doing that job.  For example, You are a Check Instructor at CAU but also a Team Leader.  Both of these are their own entry but both should be listed as “Present.”

g.   MILITARY: Every duty station is its own entry, NOT every rank.

6.    Unemployment/Furlough

a.    ANY gap in employment must be accounted for.

7.    Military History

a.   Every rank should be its own line.  Every rank should be listed as “Status: ACTIVE” until your last rank, if you got out/retired/etc.

b.   No Gaps in time unless you had broken service.  Then make sure your status at the start of your gap is correct.

8.    Pilot Experience/Certificates/Etc

a.   Your “Issued Date” for any certificates are what is PRINTED on your current certificate.  For example, earned your CFI in 01/2019 but CFII in 03/2019.  Your certificate will have a date on it of 03/2019.  List that date.  Your above education shows when you actually earned the certificate.  

b.   FAA medicals… Remember, though your first-class privileges may no longer exist, you still have a first class if that is what you got.

9.    Flight Times

a.   Any place on an application that as for “Simulator” time, is NOT the simulators at CAU.  This is referencing the big Class D simulators.  Unless it specifically ask for ATD/AATD, you will not list your simulator time unless you have Class D time.

b.   If it ask for “Simulated Instrument,” you can list your simulated instrument time.

c.   *Because you can get a R-ATP, the company will ask for your specific ATD/AATD times if they invite you for an interview

d.   Keep these times updated every 1-2 weeks.

10. Addendums

a.   If it ask for failures, BE HONEST!  Majority of pilots have failed a check-ride, its okay!

b.   State what certificate or rating it was for, what item(s) you failed, and that you completed retraining, retested, and passed.

11. References

a.   Do NOT listed someone as a reference UNLESS you have ALL their information needed.

b.   If you get a Letter of Reference from them, they need to be listed as a reference.

c.   List First and Last name

d.   Phone number in same format

e.   Email (make sure its professional- try to use work emails if possible)

 

Have at least three people PROOF your application before you submit. Recommend an airline pilot, flight instructor, and college graduate services staff member.

To save a PDF in airlineapps.com, go to the Addendum section, click the name of the airline to which you are applying.  It will open a PDF.  Save this or “Print to PDF.”