Turkish Airlines is the largest airline by number of destinations, operating over 400 aircraft (Airbus A320 family, A330, A350, Boeing 737 MAX, 777, 787) from its Istanbul hub. The airline hires hundreds of pilots annually — both cadets through the Take-Off programme and experienced direct-entry pilots internationally. The selection process spans approximately 6 months and places heavy emphasis on psychometric testing and CRM competencies.
Your CV is the entry point to a 5-stage sequential process. Unlike European LCCs, Turkish Airlines evaluates cultural fit and human factors as heavily as technical competence. For the full selection breakdown, see the Turkish Airlines interview guide.
CV Guide Summary
- This guide covers how to format your pilot CV specifically for Turkish Airlines applications.
- How to write a pilot CV for Turkish Airlines.
- Structure your CV to highlight the specific qualifications and experience Turkish Airlines values most.
- Includes formatting templates, common mistakes to avoid, and section-by-section guidance.
- Turkish Airlines is the largest airline by number of destinations, operating over 400 aircraft (Airbus A320 family, A330, A350, Boeing 737 MAX, 777, 787) from its Istanbul hub.
What Turkish Airlines Looks For
Turkish Airlines recruits globally and evaluates pilots from diverse regulatory backgrounds. Unlike airlines that screen on narrow technical criteria, THY looks for a broader profile: technical competence, CRM awareness, cultural adaptability, and motivation for long-term commitment to Istanbul-based operations.
Key items to highlight
- ATPL (EASA, FAA, or ICAO-compliant) with Class 1 Medical
- Type ratings — especially A320, B737, B777, B787, A330, A350
- Total flight hours with PIC/SIC and multi-crew jet time breakdown
- CRM, LOFT, and TEM training — THY assesses these specifically
- English language certificate (TOEIC 850+ or equivalent) or ICAO Level 5+
- International operational experience (multiple airports, ETOPS, Cat III)
Take-Off Cadets vs Direct Entry
Take-Off Programme (Cadets)
500-800 places per year. Training at TAFA in Aydın or partner schools. No previous flight experience required. Selection includes English exam, PACE psychometric test, CRM group exercise, and interview.
CV focus: education (university degree preferred, STEM advantageous), English certificate (TOEIC 850+), physical fitness, motivation for aviation career, and any teamwork or leadership experience.
Direct Entry (Experienced)
International recruitment. Apply via careers portal. Must meet minimum hour requirements for the specific fleet position. All travel and accommodation for assessment in Istanbul is covered by Turkish Airlines.
CV focus: total hours with jet time breakdown by aircraft type, current type rating, recency, CRM qualifications, and ICAO/EASA/FAA licence details with validation status.
CV Format & Application Portal
Turkish Airlines accepts applications through its online careers portal. Upload a clean, single-column PDF with standard fonts. The application process also requires uploading your licence, medical certificate, and English language certificate separately — do not embed these in the CV itself.
Turkish Airlines straddles European and Gulf recruitment conventions. A professional photo is not required but is acceptable. Include nationality and passport details, as visa/work permit implications are reviewed early. Keep the CV to 2 pages maximum.
Hours, Licences & Dual-Licence Holders
Turkish Airlines accepts pilots with EASA, FAA, ICAO-compliant, and Turkish DGCA licences. If you hold multiple licences, list all of them with issuing authority and expiry dates. After hiring, non-Turkish licence holders undergo DGCA licence validation — mention awareness of this process on your CV to demonstrate preparedness.
Present hours with a text summary in your Professional Summary (total, jet, PIC, SIC) and a detailed breakdown by aircraft type in the Flight Experience section. Include MTOW for each aircraft type — THY uses this to verify jet hour eligibility. Separate simulator hours from actual flight time.
English language requirement
Candidates without a valid ICAO Level 4+ endorsement on their licence must pass a Turkish Airlines English exam as Stage 1 of selection. A TOEIC score of 850+ (Listening & Reading) satisfies this requirement. State your English certification clearly — ICAO level, TOEIC score, or both.
Photo Policy
Check the airline careers page for current photo requirements. Some Turkish carriers expect a professional headshot on your CV. When in doubt, include one — passport-style, white background, business attire.
Submit as PDF
Always submit your CV as a PDF unless the airline specifically requests Word format. ATS systems can strip formatting from .docx files — tables, columns, and custom fonts often render as garbled text. Use a single-column layout with standard section headings.
Turkish Airlines–Specific Mistakes
No English language certification stated — without ICAO Level 4+ or TOEIC 850+, you add an extra selection stage. State it explicitly.
Not specifying licence issuing authority — THY accepts multiple licence types. "ATPL" alone is ambiguous. Write "EASA ATPL (issued by CAA Netherlands)" or "FAA ATP Certificate."
Ignoring CRM credentials — Turkish Airlines heavily weights CRM in their selection. List specific CRM, LOFT, and TEM courses with dates and providers.
Embedding licence scans in the CV — the portal has separate upload fields for documents. Embedding them bloats your CV and wastes space.
Not targeting a specific fleet — THY operates 6+ aircraft types. A CV that says "I can fly anything" is weaker than one that targets the specific fleet in the vacancy.