Airline Pilot
© air france
© air france
Air France and Transavia pilots carry out their mission with the highest level of flight safety and technical expertise, as well as a constant concern for customer satisfaction and and environmentally responsible flying. Being an Air France or Transavia pilot is a true commitment that requires rigorous technical expertise and interpersonal skills.
It's a job that requires a real passion for flying, enthusiasm and dedication, as well as intellectual, psychological and physical skills. It also requires a good command of English.
Airline pilots are responsible for piloting, navigating, managing radio communications and technical supervision of the aircraft.
Pilots are divided into two categories: Captain and First Officer.
The Captain has authority over all the crew and passengers. He/she makes all the necessary decisions, from the preparation phase to the end of the flight.
His/her absolute priority is to ensure the safety and security of the flight. The First Officer is the second-in-command of the crew. The crew is always made up of a Captain and at least one First Officer.
You will start your career as a pilot with Air France or Transavia as a First Officer on medium-haul aircraft, then on long-haul aircraft before becoming a Captain.
If you have a passion for aviation, enthusiasm for the airline pilot profession and a desire to join an airline where men and women share the pride of working together, join us!
BEING A PILOT WITH AIR FRANCE
Application conditions
To apply here, you need to meet a number of conditions:
- Be a national of one of the member states of the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation.
- Be fluent in French. Candidates whose French is not their mother tongue must hold FCL 055 level 6 in French.
- Hold a valid ATPL or CPL/IRME.
- Hold a theoretical ATPL issued by an ATO certified by one of the Member States of the European Union.
- Hold a valid ‘class 1’ medical certificate.
- Hold a certificate of satisfactory completion of crew training (MCC).
- Hold a UPRT training certificate (for applicants who do not hold a QT CS25).
- Not have already been failed 2 times in PSY2 for an Air France Commercial Pilot selection test.
- Have a level equal to or above 5 on the language skills assessment scale: FCL 055 / 055D, currently valid.
- Have a TOEIC (LR = Listening and Reading) Test score of at least 850, less than 2 years old at the time of selection.
- Submit 1 copy of the last 2 pages of your logbook, certified on your honour, and 1 certificate from your employer validating these flight hours.
The selection process
The selection tests will be held as follows:
- Admissibility phase: review of CV and cover letter written in French
- PSY 1 testing phase (psychotechnical and psychomotor tests) at ENAC
- PSY 2 test phase (personality inventories, group tests and individual interview)
- Possibly a test on a flight simulator
Each of these tests is valid for 2 years.
At the end of the PSY 1 test phase, you will be placed on a main list, a secondary list or not placed on PSY 1. All candidates on the main list will be invited to the PSY 2 test phase. Candidates on the secondary list will be invited to PSY 2 depending on the company's needs. Candidates not admitted to PSY 1 will not be invited to PSY 2.
Recruitment committee:
The applications of candidates who have completed the “PSY2” phase will be examined by a Recruitment Committee, which may recommend an assessment session on a flight simulator, or decide on a positive pass, deferral or definitive elimination.
Deferral and elimination rules (applicable for candidates who took the PSY2 tests from January 1st, 2025)
- 2 failures in PSY 1 of the Commercial Pilot stream selection are equivalent to a deferral in PSY 2 for this stream.
Effective changes for candidates who took the PSY 2 tests on or after January 1, 2025:
2 deferrals in PSY 2 of the Professional Pilot stream selection constitute elimination from the Professional Pilot stream selection*.
For the Commercial Pilot selection, depending on the commission's decision, the postponement period after PSY2 between two presentations may be :
- 1 year (possible call-up directly to PSY2 phase)
or - 2 years (full PSY1 + PSY2 process)
- 1 year (possible call-up directly to PSY2 phase)
In some cases, the commission may also decide to eliminate the candidate following the first PSY2 presentation.
Each applicant will receive an individual notification of the committee's decision.
Debriefing: a single debriefing will be proposed for the first PSY2 failure, all streams combined.
* Any candidate with fewer than 500 flying hours at the time of the second PSY 2 deferral (Commercial Pilot stream only), after a three-year waiting period and with at least 1,500 flying hours, may apply a third time via the Commercial Pilot stream selection.
FAQ
Conditions
- Can I apply with less than 500 flying hours?
Yes, you can apply.
Selection
- Is this selection valid for Hop!?
No, this selection is only valid for Air France and Transavia.
Hop! has its own selection process for Pilots.
Joining Air France or Transavia
- Can I join Transavia if I succeed in the selection?
You will be assigned to Air France or Transavia on an as-needed basis. It is not possible to choose the assignment or aircraft type.
The careers of Air France and Transavia pilots are managed by a single list. They can fly for either airline, without any impact on their career development.
For any further information not mentioned above, please contact : [email protected]
BEING A CADET PILOT WITH AIR FRANCE
If you have little or no previous experience as a pilot but are highly motivated, the Cadet program is for you!
Air France recruits and trains airline pilots.
To be informed when the next Cadet Pilot selection process opens, you can create a job alert on your Applicant Page.
© Air France
Conditions for applying
- Be a national of a member country of the European Economic Area or a Swiss national and be fluent in French.
- Have a clean criminal record.
- Not have been deferred twice (eliminated) from an ‘Air France Pilot’ selection, whatever the stream (see deferral and elimination rules below).
- Not have been eliminated during an Air France or Transavia pilot training course.
- Meet one of the following conditions:
- Have a baccalaureate (or equivalent) and hold a valid theoretical ATPL issued by an approved school in a member state of the European Union.
- Or be in the second year (first year completed and validated) of a grande école preparatory class , all streams except Arts A/L, including integrated preparatory classes (for engineering schools, for example).
- Or have followed a course of study in a scientific field leading to a BAC+2 (or equivalent) ’or a minimum of 120 ECTS credits.
- Or hold a Bachelor's degree or Master's degree (BAC+4/+5, or equivalent) from a university or school.
- Meet the following conditions:
- Have a valid TOEIC 4-skills: Listening, reading, writing and speaking (Public Program or Institutional Program), less than 2 years old as of October 1st of the year of enrolment
The minimum TOEIC score required is :
- 850 for Listening and Reading,
- 170 for Speaking,
- No requirement for Writing. - Valid Class 2 or Class 1 medical aptitude without derogation, issued by an EASA/DGAC or CEMA-approved medical practitioner.
- Pay the €160 registration fee. French government scholarship holders (based on social criteria) are exempt.
The applicant area is the only way to submit your application.
Applications sent by mail will not be processed.
If you succeed in the Air France Cadets selection process:
- A class 1 medical examination will be required before entry to the training school.
You will be given a training date.
Applicants who already hold a CPL license are invited to apply via the “ Professional Pilot ” channel only.
Selection procedure
The Air France Cadets selection campaign begins with the submission and processing of applications.
Pre-selection
The pre-selection phase, known as ‘PSY 0’, will be carried out on the basis of an online, distance learning test incorporating various tests of logic, reasoning, general aeronautical knowledge and English. This will be used to rank the candidates selected for the next phase.
Selections
Candidates who have passed the pre-selection test will be invited to take a phase known as ‘PSY 1’, comprising various psycho-technical and psychomotor tests. This test will take place over one day at the ENAC campus in Toulouse.
Candidates who pass the PSY 1 phase will be invited to the PSY 2 phase. This will take place at Roissy/CDG in the Air France selection department. It will consist of two personality inventories, a group test and an individual interview. Beforehand, you will be asked to sign a confidentiality agreement regarding the content and conduct of the group tests. We would like to draw your attention to the fact that the paid group test training courses, which you can take part in beforehand, have not demonstrated any added value during the Air France selections.
Recruitment committee
The files of candidates who have reached the ‘PSY 2’ phase will be evaluated by a Recruitment Committee, which will decide whether the candidate passes or is deferred.
If you are successful in the Air France Cadets selection, you must make yourself available for training on the date you are notified.
Deferral and elimination rules (applicable for candidates who took the PSY2 tests from January 1st, 2025)
For Cadet selection, the deferral and elimination rules are as follows:
- 3 failures in the Pre-selection PSY 0 of the Cadet stream selection constitute a definitive elimination from this stream and leave the possibility of taking the Professional Pilot selection.
- 2 failures in PSY 1 of the Cadet stream selection (Psychotechnical and Psychomotor Tests) constitute a definitive elimination from this stream and leave the possibility of taking the Professional Pilot selection.
Effective changes for candidates who took the PSY 2 tests on or after January 1, 2025:
- 1 postponement in PSY 2 of the Cadet stream selection leaves the possibility of:
- Take the Cadet stream again, and in the event of failure in PSY 2, take the Professional Pilot stream again after a waiting period of 3 years and 1,500 flying hours.
or - To apply for the Professional Pilot selection, according to the deferral rules specific to this stream.
- Take the Cadet stream again, and in the event of failure in PSY 2, take the Professional Pilot stream again after a waiting period of 3 years and 1,500 flying hours.
- For Cadet selection, depending on the commission's decision, the period of deferment after PSY 2 between two presentations may be:
- 1 year - possibility of applying for the next Cadet offer, taking only the PSY 2.
or - 2 years - possibility of taking the second Cadet offer (complete process PSY0 + PSY1 + PSY2).
- 1 year - possibility of applying for the next Cadet offer, taking only the PSY 2.
Each applicant will receive an individual notification of the committee's decision.
Debriefing: a single debriefing will be offered to the first PSY 2 failure for all streams combined.
FAQ
Conditions
- I already have licenses/qualifications (theoretical ATPL and/or CPL and/or IR/ME). Can I still take part in the Cadet selection?
Only the theoretical ATPL and/or the PPL license are accepted. Candidates with a CPL or higher are invited to apply for the professional stream, by meeting the prerequisites for this stream.
Selections
- There is no age limit for selection, but do I have a chance after the age of 35?
Age is not a factor in the final decision regarding the application of a person who has reached the end of the selection process.
However, the probability of passing the pre-selection and PSY 1 (Psychotechnical and Psychomotor) tests is lower for older candidates. It has been noted that after the age of 35, the risk of having difficulties progressing during training increases significantly.
- How does pre-selection work?
The pre-selection is a series of tests to be taken online at your convenience over a pre-defined period of 36 hours (Paris time). It lasts around 2 hours and includes an English test, a general knowledge test in aeronautics and several logic and psycho-technical tests.
A few days/weeks before the test, our service provider will contact you by e-mail to ask you to configure your computer by downloading secure software (Mac and Windows compatible). Your PC will need to be equipped with a webcam.
During the test, in the event of an Internet outage, your results will be saved and you will be able to resume the test at the point where it was interrupted.
- Is this selection valid for Hop!?
No, this selection is only valid for Air France and Transavia.
Hop! has its own selection of Pilots.
Training
- If I am successful, can I postpone my training in order to finish my current diploma?
No, you will be offered further training. If you refuse them, your selection will no longer be valid and you will have to re-sit the next selection.
When in doubt, apply for a subsequent selection.
- Can I choose my school or training center?
No, the allocation is made by Air France according to the needs and capacities of the schools/training centrer.
- Is it possible to continue working while training?
No, training is full-time and takes 24 months.
- What type of contract does a Cadet sign? Are Cadets paid during their training?
Under the current legal framework, Cadet trainees are expected to benefit from an open-ended vocational training contract. Air France reserves the right to adapt the Cadet's contractual status according to changes in the legal framework and/or individual situations.
Under a professionalization contract, Cadets will be paid 80% of the minimum wage for those under 26 and 100% for those over 26. Cadets are also provided with accommodation throughout the initial training phase at the school.
- Do Cadets have vacation time during their training?
Yes, Cadets have 5 weeks' compulsory vacation time.
- If I fail my training, do I owe anything to the company?
In the event of failure during training, the contract is terminated without penalty and the training completed is reimbursed.
- What is the failure rate during training?
The failure rate during training is around 5%.
Joining Air France or Transavia
- Can I join Transavia as a Cadet pilot?
Upon completion of their training, young pilots are either recruited under an Air France contract on the Air France medium-haul network or seconded to Transavia to fly. Pilots are assigned to Air France or Transavia on an as-needed basis. It is not possible to choose the assignment or the type of aircraft.
The careers of Air France and Transavia pilots are managed by a single list. They can fly for either airline, without any impact on their career development.
For any further information not mentioned above, please contact: [email protected]
