Pilot Counseling Services
Founder · President · Lead coach

Judy Tarver

Forty years in pilot selection and recruitment. Twenty years preparing pilots for the interview that decides a career.

Judy Tarver
Author of
  • Flight Plan to the Flight Deck: Strategies for a Pilot Career
  • Expert Witness: Wrongful Death
Biography

Judy Tarver

Founder / President / Lead Coach

Judy helps coach pilots as they transition in their airline career paths. She has been successfully conducting interview preparation services for 20 years.

For over 40 years Judy has worked as an aviation consultant, writer and speaker specializing in the field of pilot selection and recruitment. Her career started with American Airlines where she was responsible for facilitating the hiring of over 7,100 airline pilots. From AA, she was employed for six years as the President of a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Air Line Pilots Assn. (Universal Pilot Application Service). Since that time, she has consulted with several major air carriers along with government and industry aviation associations. She has been on two FAA Aviation Rule Making committees on pilot selection and has presented before organizations such as the NTSB, FAA, DOD and DOJ.

Author of Expert Witness: Wrongful Death and Flight Plan to the Flight Deck: Strategies for a Pilot Career, and several magazine articles that have appeared in Aviation for Women, Flight Training, Air Line Pilot and Airline Pilot Careers.

Career highlights

  1. 01Facilitated the hiring of over 7,100 airline pilots at American Airlines
  2. 02NTSB panelist on Pilot Selection and the Pilot Shortage
  3. 03Member of two FAA Aviation Rule Making Committees on pilot selection
  4. 04Sole U.S. expert in pilot selection on the ARC International Licensing Harmonization Working Group
  5. 05Six years as President of Universal Pilot Application Service, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Air Line Pilots Association
  6. 06Former National Chairman, Aviation Exploring (a division of the Boy Scouts of America)
  7. 07Has presented before the NTSB, FAA, DOD and DOJ

Pilot Counseling Services is now part of Spitfire Elite. Judy continues to coach pilots under the Spitfire banner, and the Tarver Tactics are part of the Spitfire curriculum. To contact Judy directly, email admin@spitfireelite.com or info@spitfireelite.com.

Explore programs at Spitfire Elite
A transfer of trust

Pilot Counseling Services acquired by Spitfire Elite

In a significant milestone for the aviation industry, Pilot Counseling Services (PCS), a trusted name in pilot career counseling, has been acquired by Spitfire Elite, a leading provider of aviation career development solutions. This strategic acquisition marks the sunsetting of industry influencer Judy Tarver’s illustrious career and the seamless transfer of trust and leadership to Spitfire Elite.

With this acquisition, Spitfire Elite will carry forward the legacy of Pilot Counseling Services, ensuring aspiring pilot candidates continue to receive the best guidance and support as they pursue their dreams in aviation. In the immediate term, Judy Tarver and her team will continue to support pilots under the Spitfire banner, even incorporating the company’s Tarver Tactics into the Spitfire curriculum, blending Tarver’s deep industry experience and Spitfire’s industry-leading pilot hiring support.

Pilot Counseling Services+Spitfire Elite
We are honored to be entrusted with the legacy of Pilot Counseling Services. Judy Tarver’s contributions to the aviation industry are immeasurable, and we are committed to upholding the high standards she set.Bill Sims, Co-Owner, Spitfire Elite
Happy clients

Testimonials

After receiving a TBNT from a legacy carrier, I researched and sought the assistance of Pilot Counseling Services. Judy and her very experienced team were highly recommended from fellow pilots who used her services and received CJOs at legacy and cargo carriers. Once I heard her skills audio and reviewed Tarver tactics, I knew the mistakes I needed to correct to be successful. Her interview prep services and panel practice interview session gave me the communication skills and confidence to succeed in a time-controlled and high-pressure setting. With the highest confidence due to detailed preparation, I interviewed and received CJOs from two legacy carriers. One of the legacy carriers complemented me on my interview and guessed correctly that I had used Pilot Counseling Services. I highly recommend Judy and her team, it’s a small price to pay to land at your dream destination!!
Pete OrtizMilitary and Regional Pilot
I will spend the rest of my career being grateful I worked with Judy and her wonderful team. The level of confidence I had heading into my interview after working with Pilot Counseling Services was unlike any experience I’ve had before, and it really made the difference. Whether you’re working on your application and want some input, or if you have an interview scheduled and need to prep, Judy and her team have decades of recruiting and interview experience they will use to help you reach your career goals. Their excellent communication, friendly team and attention to detail will set you up for success. I highly recommend PCS to anyone looking for a great prep experience. I couldn’t have gotten the CJO without them!
Sam KrantzlerRegional Pilot
Judy and her team at Pilot Counseling Services did a fantastic job, and prepared me for success at my interview. I have interviewed for many jobs in the past, but as a prior military pilot, didn’t have the “full picture” of what the interviewers would look for from me. Judy worked with me to tailor my preparation, and as a result of the work we did with the Tarver Tactics information, Judy’s interview with me and the outstanding panel session, I stepped into my interview confident and at ease. The interview ended up feeling more like a discussion between teammates than an interview! I was not only prepared with the types of questions they asked, but was armed with the necessary context and pointers to understand what they were looking for. It went so well, that at the end of the interview, one of the interviewers asked me if I did any prep, and asked who it was so he could recommend Pilot Counseling Services to others. I left with a CJO and am convinced that I made the right choice with both Pilot Counseling Services. Thank you, Judy and team!
CJ WillMilitary Pilot
I used the interview preparation package from pilot counseling services for my interview with Delta Air lines. Right away I got access to documents that gave me a good understanding on how the overall interview process works and the type of questions to expect. I had the pleasure of working with Judy for my one on one practice session. Judy was quick to respond to my emails and did a great job conducting a mock interview and giving me the tools necessary to properly answer the questions I may encounter. This made me feel very prepared for my interview. It was a really great coaching experience and everyone I encountered throughout the process was very helpful and knowledgeable. I highly recommend Pilot Counseling Services so you can land your dream job.
Kasey EisenmannRegional Pilot
Pilot Counseling Services is by far one of the number one reasons I am a major airline pilot today. I used these services when I was preparing for my major airline interviews a few years ago, and could not have made a better decision. I loved the services so much I continued to recommend it to everyone I encountered! One day I received a call from Ms. Tarver, asking to become a part of her team, I could not have been more excited! I was so convinced that her services were second to none in the industry that I decided to become an Application Review Specialist to help people like you get to the airline of your dreams. Every application that I review I take very personally because I was in that exact same spot not too long ago. My incredible experience as a client for Pilot Counseling Services directly lead to the decision to be a part of this great team because of the incredible experience this team offers, paired with its personal touch to make each individual feel a part of a family. I could not recommend any other interview prep service higher than Pilot Counseling Services.” André Beckles – Regional Pilot I invested in the interview prep package from Pilot Counseling Services, and it was worth every penny. Having the opportunity to interview at your dream airline may be a once in a lifetime opportunity, and you want to feel as prepared as you can be to succeed and get that job offer. My Interview Prep Coach, Patty Taylor, was very professional and knowledgeable about the industry and the interview process. She was also very accommodating and worked with my schedule to fit in my virtual session at a short notice. She used our virtual session to review key topics for each airline that I was targeting and made me feel prepared for my actual interviews. The virtual session was very relaxed and tailored to my specific airlines. Thanks to Patty and her guidance, I was able to receive job offers at two major airlines! I highly recommend using Pilot Counseling Services to land the job of your dreams!
Sadaf ImaniRegional Pilot
I was extremely satisfied with the services provided by Patty Taylor and William Davis at PCS. The interview was much easier than it would have been without this preparation, and the additional confidence of walking into the interview feeling prepared helped as well. Generally speaking, I couldn’t be happier will the process used by PCS. The coaches were very knowledgeable and responsive. They provided meaningful feedback that was genuinely helpful in preparing and polishing my interview skills. This was easily one of the best investments I’ve ever made, and I would encourage other pilots to do the same.
Christopher BenzMajor Airline Pilot
Without the help of Andre my applications might still be weeded out by the first step, and I wouldn’t ever know it. I assume many people have applications that unfortunately never get seen because of clerical errors that could have easily been fixed with Andre‘s help. Without this integral part of the service, one might never even get to the interview stage. I felt so well prepared having done a few of the interview preps with Maureen that when I had the actual interview it was very relaxing and even enjoyable. It stood out to the final interview team, and they even asked who I used for prep. They were very impressed and pleased that I had chosen Pilot Counseling Services. From their reactions I knew I had made a great impression and was confident I had the job even before they told me. One interviewer even commented that it says a lot when a pilot values their future enough to make this type of investment. It’s an investment in yourself and it stands out. I certainly thank everyone listed above for that!
Sara MazzarellaRegional Pilot
I meet Judy Tarver at TPNx and after a few minutes of going over my resume and talking through my application she got me connected with one of her counseling team members. Mr. Davis's insight and attention to detail were invaluable and he was quickly able to identify several areas that would be discussion points in the interview. His app and resume review were spot on. His description of the interview process and things to think about were critical and it helped me to remove any rough edges around my delivery. That insight also helped to remove any surprises before the interview and provided me the confidence to speak my story clearly and get a CJO at the major airline of my dreams. Thank you to Judy, Mr. Davis and the PCS team for your service, it was outstanding.
Spencer McMahonMilitary Pilot