diff --git a/DECISIONS.md b/DECISIONS.md
index 2f1d029..ef26bf7 100644
--- a/DECISIONS.md
+++ b/DECISIONS.md
@@ -130,3 +130,9 @@ Implementation decisions not spelled out in `memory-bank/implementation-plan.md`
 - **The loaner is the content's Courier,** found by archetype `courier`. `SimContent` now includes `shipModels`.
 - **Tutorial payout** = round(normal payout × tutorial share), where the normal payout is the regular rounded payout for the same contract. The contract stores this reduced amount, so resolution credits `contract.payout` directly.
 - **Tutorial board seed** is `tutorial:<loanerLocation>:<periodIndex>`, giving one Earth→Moon and one Moon→Earth board per period (decision 0.5.21). Contract ids use the same prefix.
+
+## Step 3.11
+
+- **Pilot skills are a `{ skillId: level }` map**; a missing skill counts as level 0.
+- **The Long Haul skill id is the constant `long-haul`** in sim, because the rule (decision 0.5.7) is specifically about that skill.
+- **The cargo skill is checked before Long Haul** when reporting a failure reason.
diff --git a/memory-bank/progress.md b/memory-bank/progress.md
index 2d9d6f2..3685c21 100644
--- a/memory-bank/progress.md
+++ b/memory-bank/progress.md
@@ -29,7 +29,7 @@
 - [x] **Step 3.8 — Contract model and payout.** `src/contract.ts`: `Contract` interface and `contractPayout` (base × multiplier^tier × mass × distance × first-contact multiplier, rounded).
 - [x] **Step 3.9 — Contract board generation.** `src/board.ts`: `generateContractBoard` (seeded per world, bay and period), plus `boardPeriodIndex`, `requiredLongHaulLevel` and the `SimContent` input type. First contact ≈10% over 1,000 boards.
 - [x] **Step 3.10 — Tutorial contract board.** `src/tutorial.ts`: `generateTutorialBoard` (Earth↔Moon from the loaner's location, Standard cargo capped at Courier capacity, payout × tutorial share); `loanerModel`. `SimContent` gained `shipModels`.
-- [ ] Step 3.11 — Pilot eligibility
+- [x] **Step 3.11 — Pilot eligibility.** `src/pilot.ts`: `checkPilotEligibility(skills, contract)` returns `ok` or `cargo-skill-too-low` / `long-haul-too-low`.
 - [ ] Step 3.12 — Dispatch validation
 - [ ] Step 3.13 — Dispatch record creation
 - [ ] Step 3.14 — Reposition dispatch
diff --git a/packages/sim/src/index.ts b/packages/sim/src/index.ts
index b9533e4..8adf1ef 100644
--- a/packages/sim/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/sim/src/index.ts
@@ -8,3 +8,4 @@ export * from "./eligibility";
 export * from "./contract";
 export * from "./board";
 export * from "./tutorial";
+export * from "./pilot";
diff --git a/packages/sim/src/pilot.ts b/packages/sim/src/pilot.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e8a9b48
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sim/src/pilot.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import type { Contract } from "./contract";
+
+export const LONG_HAUL_SKILL_ID = "long-haul";
+
+/** A pilot's skill levels by skill id; a missing skill is level 0. */
+export type SkillLevels = Readonly<Record<string, number>>;
+
+export type PilotCheck =
+  { ok: true } | { ok: false; reason: "cargo-skill-too-low" | "long-haul-too-low" };
+
+export function skillLevel(skills: SkillLevels, skillId: string): number {
+  return skills[skillId] ?? 0;
+}
+
+/** Whether a pilot's skills meet a contract's cargo-skill and Long Haul requirements. */
+export function checkPilotEligibility(skills: SkillLevels, contract: Contract): PilotCheck {
+  const required = contract.requiredSkill;
+  if (required && skillLevel(skills, required.skillId) < required.level) {
+    return { ok: false, reason: "cargo-skill-too-low" };
+  }
+  if (skillLevel(skills, LONG_HAUL_SKILL_ID) < contract.requiredLongHaulLevel) {
+    return { ok: false, reason: "long-haul-too-low" };
+  }
+  return { ok: true };
+}
diff --git a/packages/sim/test/pilot.test.ts b/packages/sim/test/pilot.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..a8d440f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/packages/sim/test/pilot.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from "vitest";
+import { checkPilotEligibility, type Contract } from "../src/index";
+
+const shortStandard: Contract = {
+  id: "c1",
+  originId: "earth",
+  destinationId: "moon",
+  cargoTypeId: "standard",
+  tier: 0,
+  massTonnes: 10,
+  payout: 1000,
+  requiredSkill: null,
+  requiredLongHaulLevel: 0,
+  offeredAt: 0,
+  expiresAt: 3_600_000,
+  firstContact: false,
+};
+const heavyTier2: Contract = {
+  ...shortStandard,
+  cargoTypeId: "heavy",
+  tier: 2,
+  requiredSkill: { skillId: "heavy-cargo", level: 2 },
+};
+const longRoute: Contract = {
+  ...shortStandard,
+  destinationId: "ceres-station",
+  requiredLongHaulLevel: 1,
+};
+
+describe("pilot eligibility", () => {
+  it("lets a level-0 pilot take a short Standard contract", () => {
+    expect(checkPilotEligibility({}, shortStandard)).toEqual({ ok: true });
+  });
+
+  it("stops a level-0 pilot from taking a Heavy contract needing Heavy Cargo 2", () => {
+    expect(checkPilotEligibility({}, heavyTier2)).toEqual({
+      ok: false,
+      reason: "cargo-skill-too-low",
+    });
+    expect(checkPilotEligibility({ "heavy-cargo": 1 }, heavyTier2).ok).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("lets a pilot with Heavy Cargo 2 take it", () => {
+    expect(checkPilotEligibility({ "heavy-cargo": 2 }, heavyTier2)).toEqual({ ok: true });
+  });
+
+  it("stops a level-0 pilot from taking a route needing Long Haul 1", () => {
+    expect(checkPilotEligibility({}, longRoute)).toEqual({
+      ok: false,
+      reason: "long-haul-too-low",
+    });
+    expect(checkPilotEligibility({ "long-haul": 1 }, longRoute)).toEqual({ ok: true });
+  });
+});