Airline Pilot

Snapshot

Career Cluster(s): Transportation, Distribution & Logistics

Interests: Aviation, navigation, geography, engineering technology, physics, math and geometry

Earnings (Yearly Median):$148,900 per year

Employment & Outlook: 4% (As fast as average)

Entry-Level Education www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm#tab-4

Related Work Experience www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm#tab-4

On-the-job-Training Moderate-term on-the-job training

Overview

Sphere of Work.Pilots are professional aircraft operators that use aircraft to transport people and freight, take photographs, launch weapons, dust crops, perform rescue missions, and other tasks. Most pilots are airline pilots and co-pilots, transporting passengers and cargo to and from their destinations. A small number of pilots are commercial pilots, and their duties can include spreading seeds for reforestation, conducting test flights, tracking military and criminal targets, monitoring traffic, and even fighting fires. The main vehicles used by pilots are large commercial airplanes, smaller fixed-wing aircraft and jets, military aircraft, and helicopters.

Work Environment. Pilots work in a variety of environments. Most pilots work in the airline industry, flying regional, national, and international routes for major commercial airlines. Many pilots are in the military, using their aircraft for attacks and rescues, as well as surveillance and mapping purposes. Many pilots in the commercial industry got their start in the military, although this has declined over the years.

In addition to commercial and military pilots, some pilots work in agriculture and forestry, flying over crops to dust with pesticides and dropping seeds in areas being reforested. Still other professional pilots work in the media industry, flying over traffic and incident scenes. In each of these environments, the work of a pilot is complex and potentially dangerous. Flying is also a demanding career choice, requiring that the pilot spend a great deal of time away from home.

Occupation Interest. Most people pursue their training as a pilot because of the excitement of such positions. Indeed, pilots sometimes travel all over the world using state of the art aviation equipment and technology. It is an exciting field but comes with significant responsibility. As a rule, the pilot who has been designated pilot in command (PIC)—of any aircraft, small or large—has a legal obligation for and the final authority of that aircraft under FAA regulations. This means that the PIC is responsible for the safety of the aircraft, ultimately determines the aircraft’s route, commands the flight crew, and holds the responsibility for the safe passage of any passengers. In the case of an emergency, the pilot is in command and has the authority to deviate from standard practice or make a decision that differs from the direction given by the control tower.

Pilots serve in the military, in the commercial airline industry, and can work for public or private entities fighting fires, transporting patients in crisis, or serving the agricultural sector. Pilots are essential to any industry or sector that needs safe and swift transport, or has needs best provided by air.

A Day in the Life—Duties and Responsibilities. The specific responsibilities of a pilot vary a great deal based on the industry in which he or she works. Overall, however, a pilot’s primary responsibilities are to ensure the safety of the plane and its passengers and satisfy the requirements of his or her employers. To this end, pilots will conduct thorough safety and systems checks on a plane before departing, a process known as a "pre-flight," or a pre-flight inspection. During such reviews, the pilot will use a checklist to make sure all safety equipment, navigation technology, and other systems are operating normally. The pilot will check the plane’s logs to review any issues the plane may have had in its previous flights and review weather reports and flight plans. A pilot oversees the plane’s "pushback" and taxi from a gate or terminal before takeoff. During flight, the pilot will communicate with passengers, the flight crew, and air traffic control with any updates. When it is time to land, a pilot runs another series of checks, communicating with the tower of the receiving airport and re-checking landing gear and systems.

In addition to sharing many of the responsibilities described above, pilots who do not work for airlines have a number of other tasks. Helicopter pilots, for example, often photograph accident sites and conduct tours while flying their vehicles. Crop dusters and seeders must often load their payloads in addition to operating their airplanes. Many pilots who do not work for a major airline must also perform their own administrative tasks and business development activities in addition to flying.

Agricultural Aircraft Pilots (196.263-010). Agricultural Aircraft Pilots fly airplanes or helicopters, at low altitudes, over agricultural fields in order to dust or spray them with seeds, fertilizers or pesticides.

Commercial Airplane Pilots (196.263-014). Commercial Airplane Pilots fly passenger, mail or freight planes.

Airplane-Patrol Pilots (196.263-014). Airplane-Patrol Pilots fly airplanes over pipelines, tracks and communications systems to detect and radio the location and nature of the damage they are investigating.

Test Pilots (196.263-042). Test Pilots fly new or modified aircraft to evaluate the plane’s airworthiness, performance, systems operation and design.

Executive Pilots (196.263-030). Executive Pilots fly company-owned aircraft to transport company officials or customers. They file a flight plan with airport officials and obtain and interpret weather data based on the flight plan.

Helicopter Pilots (196.263-038). Helicopter Pilots fly helicopters for purposes such as transporting passengers and cargo, search and rescue operations, fighting fires and reporting on traffic and weather conditions.

Work Environment

Immediate Physical Environment. A pilot primarily works at airports or similar aviation centers and landing sites. Military pilots may also be found on aircraft carriers and other naval ships. Each of these environments tends to be complex and extremely busy, with many working parts, including safety, luggage and cargo, air traffic control, fuel services, repair crews, and other elements all coming into contact with one another. Pilots for commercial airlines will often have layovers in distant cities where they must seek accommodation. The airline covers the cost of these overnight stays.

Human Environment. Pilots must work with a wide range of people on the ground and on board their planes. Such parties include maintenance crews, security personnel, flight attendants, air traffic controllers, luggage handlers and, of course, the passengers. Pilots must interact directly with many of these individuals, while communicating and coordinating with others on the ground while in flight. Pilots are sometimes responsible for unruly passengers. As part of the Homeland Security Act of 2002, some pilots have been deputized and are federal law enforcement officers, called Federal Flight Deck Officers.

Technological Environment. Pilots must work with what are often extremely complex pieces of engineering. As part of the pre-flight check, they must carefully examine each of these systems to ensure that they are running properly. During flight, they must be skilled with automatic pilot systems, weather gauges, communications equipment, and safety measures. Military pilots must also work with weapons systems. Helicopter and other pilots who work outside of the airline industry may also be expected to work with photographic equipment, payload release systems (such as crop dusters and firefighting helicopters and planes), and other systems.

Education, Training, and Advancement

High School/Secondary. High school students interested in becoming pilots are encouraged to study such sciences as physics, math and geometry, and geography. Additionally, because communication with passengers, ground personnel, and passengers is critical to many pilots, aspiring pilots are encouraged to take courses that build verbal skills, such as English.

Postsecondary. Many pilots receive postsecondary certification, such as an associate’s degree, from a junior and/or community college. However, as the field of aviation is extremely competitive, pilots are encouraged to obtain at least a bachelor’s degree in a related field and/or obtain direct pilot training through the military or civilian flight schools. In the past, many commercial pilots were ex-military. While no longer the trend, the military is a viable option for those seeking pilot training.

Bibliography

"Airline and Commercial Pilots." Occupational Outlook Handbook. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 6 Sept. 2023, www.bls.gov/ooh/transportation-and-material-moving/airline-and-commercial-pilots.htm. Accessed 10 Sept. 2023.