Simple 2 pages. First page is a brief letter the second page is the CV with personal details (DOB Birth place Marital Status Address Phone), licence/ratings hours (rounded), education, work history, referees.
If you include your DOB, Birth place and Marital Status I am not going to interview you. That only opens employers to potential litigation.
I am not interested in what you look like so don't include a photo.
I read the CV first. If that meets my criteria and interests me I may then skim your covering letter.
If I ask for specific skills or qualifications and you don't hold those skills and qualifications, I am not going to interview you.
If I want additional details I will ask for those at interview.
From my airline days, I wanted to see the following on a pilot resume:
- Name, address, contact details.
- Summary of aviation licenses and ratings.
- Summary of aeronautical experience hours.
- Summary of previous employers.
I'm yet to see an applicant give me a bad reference or referee. In general I am not interested in your referees; if I like your resume and I interview you, then I will check with your previous (not current) employers.