Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

What the job really is

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

At a glance

• Sector: Transportation & Material Moving
• O*NET-SOC code: 53-2011
• O*NET job zone: 4 — considerable preparation
• Work sample tasks on file: 12
• Tools and technologies listed: 12

What you actually do

Work sample tasks recorded for this occupation:

• Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
• Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
• Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
• Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
• Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
• Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
• Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
• Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
• Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
• Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
• Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.

Tools and technology

Microsoft Excel, Microsoft Office software, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft PowerPoint, Microsoft Visio, Microsoft Word, R, AeroPlanner, Aileron trim switches, AirSmith FlightPrompt, Airborne collision avoidance systems ACAS, Aircraft data loaders

What employers expect you to already be comfortable with.

Where this job leads

Related occupations — the usual moves up and sideways:

• Commercial Pilots
• Air Traffic Controllers
• Airfield Operations Specialists
• Aircraft Service Attendants
• Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels
• Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians
• Aviation Inspectors
• Locomotive Engineers

Getting in

O*NET assigns this occupation job zone 4 (considerable preparation). The related occupations above are the realistic routes in and out.

Find openings

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Check this against the source

O*NET OnLine: Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers — the authoritative public-domain profile this page is derived from, including the full task list, reported skills and the wage estimates for your region.

Derived and rewritten from the public-domain O*NET database (U.S. Department of Labor / Employment and Training Administration). Figures are observations, not promises — always confirm salary, licensing and visa requirements with the employer and the relevant authority.