go to shipline info .........I mean what level are you talking about?

It depends on what you want to do.

If you want to be able to go FW or TBW with higher level CVs, you need at least 6 pilots of the respective type, preferrably 8 (the maximum number of pilots you can use). If you're going to be running a mix, I'd suggest a minimum of 4 pilots of each type, with more of whichever one you prefer.

8 TBs if you're gonna participate in HA 

Probably best to avoid playing in a CV at low levels, although it is tempting, because your Aircraft stats won't be high enough for you to torp bomb effectively. They'll be shot down by AAW before you even get close to a high level BB/CV. This is why my torpers are all 12 Aircraft 11 Bomber, so I reached the Aircraft cap a lot faster which makes you more or less completely immune to AAW.

At lower levels I would suggest leveling your CV B.O in PCA/PCL and PBB/EBB's so you can get exp on your sailors without losing a lot through sailor deaths. I find my pilots lose a lot of crew when they're on the CV.

I, for one, play with 6 torpers, with 1 engineer (I'f I'm on the Ark Royal (UK CV)). I do have Fighters, but they're only level 86 and cannot fit on my Implacable yet. The reason I use the engineer over a repairer is simple; If you're in range of a BB and getting shot at then survivability doesn't really help you because they'll catch you and sink you anyways. I find overheating and dodging torps/bombers a lot more useful, but this is my personal preference.

I prefer playing in the Ark Royal, even though my B.O is 113, because I find that I am quite often the opposition against higher level CVs with fighters, but when I'm in my Ark the auto-balance is kinder to me and sometimes puts a higher level CV with me (who's also fighter stacked).

I've always used 6 Torpers because I prefer sending out 2 waves of 9 torpers. I don't like launching more than 3 torpers per sailor because the formation is wide and I prefer a narrower grouping. But as the other two gentleman said; 8 torpers if you want to deal damage (which is great in World at War games) and 8 fighters if you want to control vision in Great Battles.

Ahh I didn't realise the scope of their updates and changes to CVs (inc. Pilots). I prefer the older system, less noob friendly and more skill based.

if you wnat to play fighters i would advise you to not hav emore than 6 fp but 1-2 scouts additionally, you can do light with scouts and fc with fighters then, like it should be

if you want to go for tb a minimum of 7 pilots offers the posibility that you can start you waves without (long) waiting times. another important point is that you can carry both a sonar AND engie/rep on your cv6.

if you want to run 8 pilots you have to think about space on your cv6. will you carry 8 pilots, 2 gunners and 1 engie OR sonar OR rep?

edit: dont do a mixed one please, they are useless for team and fleet

For UK i would go full TBW, 6 TB pilot and 2 Engy 1 Seaman thats my build and be sure to put 0.2 belt with full bulge 255* UK tbs are meanie and nasty if u get them right mine EBVE lv 112 for now, i could manage around 50k dmg minimum and 200k dmg max (270 dmg my personal record) around  90k to 100k+ exp per game, be a supporter TBW look for big ship (BB5 mostly) easy win if u know how to manage it, look around ur tbs waypoint make sure no fp near.

Cheers !

Off With Them Heads !!

Your focus is on the PCV and CV6...everything else is just grinding to get there.  Therefore, you will have 8 available pilot slots and 1 support slot.  You want a boosted seaman with high Fighter ability.  No other support person should even be considered. An engineer or repairman is a wasted slot.  By the time you need to turn tail and run, or start repairing your ship after the BBs shell it...the game is already over. If you want to run a sonarman, bring an escort and load up some HH.  You need the Seaman because the UK Fighters are at a disadvantage and the Seaman brings him up to parity against other nations' fighters.

I don't recommend running FW or BW, as that is a limitation and you are doing your team a disservice by that role.  If you run FW, you present zero attack value.  If you run BW, you're a potential victim to being fighter camped and becoming useless.  That doesn't mean you can't run those configs during your long grind, but your long term goal is a balanced setup.

I run 7 fighter pilots, 4 Torp Bombers and 2 DBs along with two gunners and 1 Seaman. (the DBs are pretty weak and ineffective, so go with the TB setups).  A scout is good for mine duties too.

The PCV has 11 lifts.  If I load up 7 Fighters pilots and 1 Torp bomber, I can fire off all 7 fighters in the time it takes for 1 plane to load.  I can also load up 4 TBs on my first load (total 11).  The 4 TBs can't hurt a BB much, but can take down a CL or hurt a sub real bad.  
When your Fighters run out of fuel, you can load up any mix to equal 11 (3+3+3+2), then follow it up with (4+4+3) FPs, then load your Bomber w' 6 planes or less for a good hit.

My alternate setup is 5 FPs + 3 TBs, which on your first load you can get 5 FPs (1+1+1+1+1) and 6 TBs (2+2+2) for a quick launch strike or (3+3) TBs and when the fighters launch, use your last TB pilot for a load of 5 TBs.  You'll have 11 Tbs in the air and 5 fighters all working at the same time.  Reload your Fighters at 2 or 3 when the slot becomes available.  Keep planes in the air at all times.

With the Midway (CV6), you have to have all slots occupied, including gunners of the appropriate level. On my Midway (CV6) it has 14 lifts and the 7+1 setup works like a champ.  I load up 14 FPs (2+2+2+2+2+2+2) to get air superiority, and then load up my bomber (usually 5 or 6 planes).  I'll chew up every scout in my area, then advance into enemy territory and command the skies from there.  When a fighter squadron is shot down, I usually load up 3 at a time and can get a lot of planes in the air providing services.  If I see a heavy fighter presence, I'll raise my plane count to 3 or 4 per pilot and just churn them out, wave after wave.   The 5+3 also works quite well, as I can run (3+3+3+3+2) Fighters for a full wave of 14 fighters, then follow up with a (5+5+4) TBs quickly thereafter and 14 TBs delivers a pretty hard hit.  With the 3 squadrons of bombers, I will arrange them wide when attacking a ship, with a squadron on each side of the BB and one in reserve, giving a nice Torpedo sandwich that the BB can't dodge or weave, then follow it up with the coup d' grace after he's lost bulge and speed.  Manual torping works real good, but I use the auto bombing frequently too.  A torpedo sandwich will bring down most BBs.

So, you need to start grooming a large group of fighters and bombers, cycling them to get them experience and equalizing their levels. 

The other comments are valid too, but I've found my setup to be the most effective for the PCV and CV6 setups.  The lower level CVs won't have the same number of lifts or total planes, so you have to be creative.