Fly for KLM… no Dutch language required.
Joined: Apr 2012
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
From: UK
Hi all . For anyone that has been through the recruitment process , regarding the medical . Is there a full medical conducted (similar to class 1 initial) or is it a case of a basic blood/urine test etc ?
Thank you .
Thank you .
Joined: Jul 2012
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 1
Likes: 0
From: Ljubljana
Assessment details
I recently completed the assessment at KLM. Although I’m not Dutch and only know a little of the language, I can wholeheartedly recommend the company and the way the entire process was conducted. I’ve attended several assessments over the course of my career, but none were handled as professionally as this one. If anyone is interested, I’m happy to share insights about the process as well as some useful tips.
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 123
Likes: 0
From: Norway
Hello PH
Sent you a PM, if you have the time. I’d very much like a chat with anyone on the inside or anyone that went through the assessment in 2025😊
Sent you a PM, if you have the time. I’d very much like a chat with anyone on the inside or anyone that went through the assessment in 2025😊
KLM Non Dutch
Yearly intake of 200+ pilots with 60 coming from klm flightschool.
*this is a no brainer if you are under 42 and not at luftie, Ba or AF
We are short of crew due to many parttime request(in dutch law), retirement and fleet changes. KLM is without a doubt one of the best companies to work for. In the aviation and outside the aviation. There is really nothing negative i can say about klm.
Yearly intake of 200+ pilots with 60 coming from klm flightschool.
- start salary 70.000 -100.000 euro depends on age. Increase to 350.000 euro after 25 years in the company. Very complicated structure. But this long story short. Don’t ask about the structure, too complicated to explain.
- Work schedule is: Europe 16/12 daily from 0 stretch to max 4 stretch. and longhaul 14/14 depends on your trip preference. Longhaul 100% 3/4 trips, 80% 3 trips, 67% 2trips a month.
- Start position 737, 320, E190 and second officer LH. Placement depends on fleet need. Salary all the same.
- Company Pension contribution 25%-42%(depends on age)on top of the salary. You can have it paid out as extra salary on top or let the pension fund take care of it.
- Fleet change according to seniority
- Time to command shorthaul six years, longhaul 23 years.
- 35 days holidays
- Commuting yes, but tiring. Some live in usa, canada ectr. Due to personal choices.
- Parttime available after 6 month according to dutch law 90%, 80%, 67% and 50%. Company can not refuse due to dutch law.
- All the standaard work conditions are taking care off, ZED tickets, partner leave, maternity leave, partner sick leave, kids sick leave, jumpseat travel and more, too much to talk about. Once your a part of the team. You will be take care of the best possible way.
- LOL is a one time payout 200.000 euro and every month 70% of your last salary till your retirement age. Pension also paid out from moment of LOL till your retirement every month with 70% of your last salary.
- Everything in the company is seniority based.
- the most important thing at klm. Everyone is being appreciated, valued and respected.
*this is a no brainer if you are under 42 and not at luftie, Ba or AF
We are short of crew due to many parttime request(in dutch law), retirement and fleet changes. KLM is without a doubt one of the best companies to work for. In the aviation and outside the aviation. There is really nothing negative i can say about klm.
Joined: Apr 2019
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
From: here and there
Joined: Mar 2022
Posts: 37
Likes: 0
From: United kingdom
Just preparing for the AMC phase and I would appreciate any suggestions where to prepare from or any insight how does it actually look. Please if you have any info DM me or answer here so everyone can benefit 
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 261
Likes: 42
From: Europe
That is kind of the gist of it. I did not really do any special prep, but I've heard others speak well of Pilot Assessments. You can google them, they have some more info on the assessment structure as well. Not free apparently, but once you have an idea of the type of tests you can probably find some free examples to practice as well.
Good luck!
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 24
Likes: 1
From: Craggy Island
Not sure if the vacancy for non Dutch speaking applicants was already open again, but it’s open now with a closing date of January 31st.
https://vacancy.klm.com/KLM/job/Schi...ot/1349508657/
https://vacancy.klm.com/KLM/job/Schi...ot/1349508657/
Joined: Dec 2025
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 33
Likes: 15
From: Better side of World
A bit offtop.
So what’s exactly about the dutch airlines being so “racist” towards non-dutch crew. I mean what kind of negative behavior and from who? I wouldn’t expect management to hire non-dutch personnel and then treat them wrong just because of that if in the first place they hired them. On the other hand if it’s other crew members then why can’t company do anything?
I simply just don’t know and can’t imagine the situation thus asking for “TLDR”
So what’s exactly about the dutch airlines being so “racist” towards non-dutch crew. I mean what kind of negative behavior and from who? I wouldn’t expect management to hire non-dutch personnel and then treat them wrong just because of that if in the first place they hired them. On the other hand if it’s other crew members then why can’t company do anything?
I simply just don’t know and can’t imagine the situation thus asking for “TLDR”
Joined: Dec 2017
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 67
Likes: 19
From: FL400
A bit offtop.
So what’s exactly about the dutch airlines being so “racist” towards non-dutch crew. I mean what kind of negative behavior and from who? I wouldn’t expect management to hire non-dutch personnel and then treat them wrong just because of that if in the first place they hired them. On the other hand if it’s other crew members then why can’t company do anything?
I simply just don’t know and can’t imagine the situation thus asking for “TLDR”
So what’s exactly about the dutch airlines being so “racist” towards non-dutch crew. I mean what kind of negative behavior and from who? I wouldn’t expect management to hire non-dutch personnel and then treat them wrong just because of that if in the first place they hired them. On the other hand if it’s other crew members then why can’t company do anything?
I simply just don’t know and can’t imagine the situation thus asking for “TLDR”
The discrimination starts with mandating the use of their language and customs(this is way too long to explain), I used the word "mandating" for a reason, you either comply or you become an outcast.
Discrimination and blatant racism is also during the training where they insult you on your first day by covering insults in dutch while talking in English.
Training captains have the least interest in training you, if I were not already trained on the 737(which was not a requirement to apply) I would have really struggled. They are the first to want an all dutch speaking crew, it makes their lives easier.
Your training will get delayed times and times again, because it is a highly unionized airline and there is no direct consequence in calling sick many times for the trainers, and they perfectly know you cannot survive on a training salary.
On the day to day on the line you will experience all sort of things, from direct insults to different ways to keep you out of the group like going to have a coffee before departure but you are not invited, cabin crew brings 5 pieces of chocolate and strangely you are the sixth
XD
Things happen on the line, guess whose fault is that? of course the foreign speaking pilot.
One day you stand up to the bully, you write an email to the chief pilot and explain everything and then you realize that he is part of the problem.
I never ever experienced these behaviors anywhere else, never.
Joined: Dec 2025
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 33
Likes: 15
From: Better side of World
Well, didn’t expect it to be THAT serious. Seems like huge moves needed to change that culture (if even possible). Good luck then with hiring to cover 85 aircraft on order, retirements, attrition and leaves especially if they already face “problems”
short flights long nights
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 4,017
Likes: 327
First of all, they opened to foreigners because their internal market cannot satisfy the company internal demand, this is the only reason why they hire non-dutch speaking. Not because they are open minded and welcoming people.
The discrimination starts with mandating the use of their language and customs(this is way too long to explain), I used the word "mandating" for a reason, you either comply or you become an outcast.
Discrimination and blatant racism is also during the training where they insult you on your first day by covering insults in dutch while talking in English.
Training captains have the least interest in training you, if I were not already trained on the 737(which was not a requirement to apply) I would have really struggled. They are the first to want an all dutch speaking crew, it makes their lives easier.
Your training will get delayed times and times again, because it is a highly unionized airline and there is no direct consequence in calling sick many times for the trainers, and they perfectly know you cannot survive on a training salary.
On the day to day on the line you will experience all sort of things, from direct insults to different ways to keep you out of the group like going to have a coffee before departure but you are not invited, cabin crew brings 5 pieces of chocolate and strangely you are the sixth
XD
Things happen on the line, guess whose fault is that? of course the foreign speaking pilot.
One day you stand up to the bully, you write an email to the chief pilot and explain everything and then you realize that he is part of the problem.
I never ever experienced these behaviors anywhere else, never.
The discrimination starts with mandating the use of their language and customs(this is way too long to explain), I used the word "mandating" for a reason, you either comply or you become an outcast.
Discrimination and blatant racism is also during the training where they insult you on your first day by covering insults in dutch while talking in English.
Training captains have the least interest in training you, if I were not already trained on the 737(which was not a requirement to apply) I would have really struggled. They are the first to want an all dutch speaking crew, it makes their lives easier.
Your training will get delayed times and times again, because it is a highly unionized airline and there is no direct consequence in calling sick many times for the trainers, and they perfectly know you cannot survive on a training salary.
On the day to day on the line you will experience all sort of things, from direct insults to different ways to keep you out of the group like going to have a coffee before departure but you are not invited, cabin crew brings 5 pieces of chocolate and strangely you are the sixth
XD
Things happen on the line, guess whose fault is that? of course the foreign speaking pilot.
One day you stand up to the bully, you write an email to the chief pilot and explain everything and then you realize that he is part of the problem.
I never ever experienced these behaviors anywhere else, never.
Would I do it again? In a heart beat.
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 261
Likes: 42
From: Europe
It will likely still take a bit of an adjustment from both the Dutch crew and foreigners joining to all get along smoothly. Crews that have for a very long time rarely needed to speak anything but Dutch in the cockpit and on night stops will likely need to get used to speaking English every now and then. But I have no doubt it will work out from what I have experienced thus far in KLM.
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 32
Likes: 4
From: AMS
First of all, they opened to foreigners because their internal market cannot satisfy the company internal demand, this is the only reason why they hire non-dutch speaking. Not because they are open minded and welcoming people.
The discrimination starts with mandating the use of their language and customs(this is way too long to explain), I used the word "mandating" for a reason, you either comply or you become an outcast.
Discrimination and blatant racism is also during the training where they insult you on your first day by covering insults in dutch while talking in English.
Training captains have the least interest in training you, if I were not already trained on the 737(which was not a requirement to apply) I would have really struggled. They are the first to want an all dutch speaking crew, it makes their lives easier.
Your training will get delayed times and times again, because it is a highly unionized airline and there is no direct consequence in calling sick many times for the trainers, and they perfectly know you cannot survive on a training salary.
On the day to day on the line you will experience all sort of things, from direct insults to different ways to keep you out of the group like going to have a coffee before departure but you are not invited, cabin crew brings 5 pieces of chocolate and strangely you are the sixth
XD
Things happen on the line, guess whose fault is that? of course the foreign speaking pilot.
One day you stand up to the bully, you write an email to the chief pilot and explain everything and then you realize that he is part of the problem.
I never ever experienced these behaviors anywhere else, never.
The discrimination starts with mandating the use of their language and customs(this is way too long to explain), I used the word "mandating" for a reason, you either comply or you become an outcast.
Discrimination and blatant racism is also during the training where they insult you on your first day by covering insults in dutch while talking in English.
Training captains have the least interest in training you, if I were not already trained on the 737(which was not a requirement to apply) I would have really struggled. They are the first to want an all dutch speaking crew, it makes their lives easier.
Your training will get delayed times and times again, because it is a highly unionized airline and there is no direct consequence in calling sick many times for the trainers, and they perfectly know you cannot survive on a training salary.
On the day to day on the line you will experience all sort of things, from direct insults to different ways to keep you out of the group like going to have a coffee before departure but you are not invited, cabin crew brings 5 pieces of chocolate and strangely you are the sixth
XD
Things happen on the line, guess whose fault is that? of course the foreign speaking pilot.
One day you stand up to the bully, you write an email to the chief pilot and explain everything and then you realize that he is part of the problem.
I never ever experienced these behaviors anywhere else, never.
Please see other posts earlier in this thread and observe the same pattern.
Last edited by oboema; 11th January 2026 at 07:05.
Joined: Dec 2017
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 67
Likes: 19
From: FL400
I thought I wrote that I was referring specifically to my time in HV, I see that 2 sentences are missing... my trolling skills are very bad!
Not sure about now but at that time we were coming across the KLM crew at a regular basis, at security, at the gate, when flying back home after duty etc.
Listen this is my experience, you cannot erase it. I suffered a lot there, my family too.
Not everyone is made for this openness, its just a reality. There are still some nice people that are open to different nationalities, cultures and colors.
I remember when some of you said that the Dutch language helps with CRM with the crew and passengers.
Can anyone explain why than the KLM cargo first officer position requires to know/learn dutch? No pax, No crew apart from the pilots and the loadM.
I only worked few years for a cargo operator and I remember when flying out of AMS the loadcontrollers, loadmasters etc spoke perfect English.
Always the same, deny everything, make counter accusations.
Not sure about now but at that time we were coming across the KLM crew at a regular basis, at security, at the gate, when flying back home after duty etc.
Listen this is my experience, you cannot erase it. I suffered a lot there, my family too.
Not everyone is made for this openness, its just a reality. There are still some nice people that are open to different nationalities, cultures and colors.
I remember when some of you said that the Dutch language helps with CRM with the crew and passengers.
Can anyone explain why than the KLM cargo first officer position requires to know/learn dutch? No pax, No crew apart from the pilots and the loadM.
I only worked few years for a cargo operator and I remember when flying out of AMS the loadcontrollers, loadmasters etc spoke perfect English.
Always the same, deny everything, make counter accusations.
Joined: Sep 2010
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
Posts: 884
Likes: 233
From: by the seaside
Dan whilst I never worked with KLM I did fly with quite a few Dutch; my only trip request in my whole career was with a Dutch skipper and I had a couple of other good colleagues; there were more than enough mean, racist and unpleasant ones.
The last one I came across was an ex DC10 skipper in my gliding club who tried to sell me his motor glider without telling me that there was a serious engine ignition fault that could have killed me. A real user whom I did lots of favours for when he decided to move to france. I had another dutch colleague who was extremely mean - he was executed and his body dumped in a canal in Amsterdam.
I worked for the best paid European carrier..my wife left the country after a little more than two years because of the racism.
After 13 years in the company I got my command and caught a blond, blue eyed station manager thieving from the aircraft which she had delayed because of her laziness; I asked for her name after I bollocked her but didn’t put a report in- she did which was a pack of lives which my chief pilot believed. For various reasons this hampered how I could perform my job and in the end in spite of taking 20 years overall to get a command I told the chief pilot that unless he believed me I would go back into the right hand seat.
That sorted it out BUT I was constantly being downgraded on staff travel flights by her mates.
Tip of the iceberg including wife not being fed on a 14 hour flight with the CC throwing away a fillet in front of her..Layovers with all the crew bar me on Christian name terms with captain. Loosing the equivalent on fifty grand on Passover pay and a quarter of a million into my pension fund when I lost my medical.
BUT there were a lot of good people and they’ve been paying me a pension ever since.
Speaking the language helped and imho is a must although many of my foreign entry didn’t both. What was difficult was saying no to the young hostesses who wanted to try a bit of foreign because their countrymen are so boring; got very expensive so some.
The last one I came across was an ex DC10 skipper in my gliding club who tried to sell me his motor glider without telling me that there was a serious engine ignition fault that could have killed me. A real user whom I did lots of favours for when he decided to move to france. I had another dutch colleague who was extremely mean - he was executed and his body dumped in a canal in Amsterdam.
I worked for the best paid European carrier..my wife left the country after a little more than two years because of the racism.
After 13 years in the company I got my command and caught a blond, blue eyed station manager thieving from the aircraft which she had delayed because of her laziness; I asked for her name after I bollocked her but didn’t put a report in- she did which was a pack of lives which my chief pilot believed. For various reasons this hampered how I could perform my job and in the end in spite of taking 20 years overall to get a command I told the chief pilot that unless he believed me I would go back into the right hand seat.
That sorted it out BUT I was constantly being downgraded on staff travel flights by her mates.
Tip of the iceberg including wife not being fed on a 14 hour flight with the CC throwing away a fillet in front of her..Layovers with all the crew bar me on Christian name terms with captain. Loosing the equivalent on fifty grand on Passover pay and a quarter of a million into my pension fund when I lost my medical.
BUT there were a lot of good people and they’ve been paying me a pension ever since.
Speaking the language helped and imho is a must although many of my foreign entry didn’t both. What was difficult was saying no to the young hostesses who wanted to try a bit of foreign because their countrymen are so boring; got very expensive so some.
