Airplane Pilots

Career summary

Pilots may also be known as commercial airline, helicopter, test, agricultural or cropduster, or executive or corporate pilots.

#From 6188 Pilots and Flight Engineers

Airline pilots fly for airlines that transport people and cargo. Commercial pilots fly for other reasons such as rescue operations, crop dusting, and aerial photography.

Pilots must complete certain procedures before taking off. They must:

• Check weather conditions along the route
• Create a flight plan
• Calculate the amount of fuel the plane will need to complete the flight
• Compute the takeoff speed they must reach
• Check the condition of the plane and make sure all instruments and mechanical systems are working correctly

Pilots coordinate their flight plan with air traffic controllers. When given the signal by the control tower, pilots taxi the airplane to a runway and take off.

If the flight is rough or bumpy, pilots talk to air traffic controllers about flying at a new altitude. They may need to use instruments to help fly the airplane when visibility is poor.

Once the plane has landed, the pilot taxis the airplane to the gate. They sometimes write a report of the trip and file it with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Commercial airlines usually have at least two pilots on board during flights. The captain is the pilot in command and supervises all crew members. The copilot helps the captain communicate with the tower, monitor flight instruments, and operate controls. On large aircraft a third pilot, called a flight engineer, monitors instruments and makes minor repairs during the flight.

Pilots who fly smaller airplanes may help load the aircraft, handle passenger luggage, and supervise refueling.

Pilots may fly airplanes used for crop dusting, skydiving, and advertising. Some pilots teach people how to fly airplanes. They give exams and flight checks to students who are applying for a pilot's license.

Related careers

This career is part of the Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Air Traffic Controllers
• Astronauts
• Locomotive Engineers
• Ship Captains and Mates
• Ship Pilots
• Transportation Inspectors

Military careers

• Airplane Navigators
• Airplane Pilots
• Helicopter Pilots

Job duties

Task list

The following list of tasks is specific to airplane pilots.

• Review data on route and weather conditions.
• File a flight plan that includes information about cargo, passengers, and fuel on board.
• Calculate the amount of fuel needed to complete the trip and the takeoff speed. Consider weather, type of plane, cargo, and other factors.
• Conduct preflight checks on instruments and gauges.
• Coordinate flight activities with ground crew, air traffic control, and crew members.
• Use a radio to communicate with air traffic controllers.
• Take off from runway after airplane has reached proper speed.
• Steer airplane along flight path.
• Monitor instruments and aircraft systems during flight. Use instruments to guide flights when visibility is poor.
• Request new altitude or flight path if ride is rough or bumpy.
• Land airplane following instructions of the air traffic controller.
• Write a detailed report of the flight for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
• Teach others to fly.
• Give exams to people who are trying to get a pilot's license.
• May load cargo and baggage.
• Direct activities of passengers and crew during emergencies.

Common work activities

Airplane pilots perform the following tasks. These tasks are common to many careers.

• Operate vehicles or mechanized equipment
• Get information needed to do the job
• Control machines and processes
• Identify objects, actions, and events
• Make decisions and solve problems
• Inspect equipment, structures, or materials
• Monitor events, materials, and surroundings
• Evaluate information against standards
• Process information
• Update and use job-related knowledge
• Analyze data or information
• Communicate with supervisors, peers, or subordinates
• Organize, plan, and prioritize work
• Estimate sizes, quantities, time, cost, or materials needed
• Establish and maintain relationships
• Judge the value of objects, services, or people
• Use computers
• Perform for or work with the public
• Document and record information
• Develop and build teams
• Resolve conflicts and negotiate with others
• Explain the meaning of information to others
• Handle and move objects

Work requirements

Working conditions

In a typical work setting, airplane pilots:

Interpersonal relationships

• Have a high level of responsibility for the health and safety of passengers and crew members.
• Communicate most often by in-person discussions. They also use telephones and occasionally e-mail to reach others.
• Are responsible for the work done by other workers, such as co-pilots and flight attendants.
• Often work as part of a larger team or group. This will depend on the type of plane they fly.
• Have a medium level of social contact. They work with other pilots, air traffic controllers, and flight attendants. However, they also spend time alone while writing reports and flight plans.
• Are occasionally placed in conflict situations in which passengers might become rude or difficult.

Physical work conditions

• Are regularly exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting and uncomfortable.
• Almost always wear a special uniform.
• Usually work indoors in airports and airplanes. They work outdoors when loading cargo or baggage.
• Often wear protective or safety attire.
• Are sometimes exposed to contaminants, such as jet fuel.
• Are sometimes exposed to cramped work places, such as underneath a plane, that require them to get into awkward positions.
• Are sometimes exposed to very hot or very cold temperatures, depending on the weather.
• Are sometimes exposed to bright or dim lighting conditions, depending on the time of day.
• Pilots who fly small places may come into close physical contact with other pilots, attendants, and passengers.

Work performance

• Must fully complete and be exact in their work to ensure the safety of passengers. Any errors may result in serious or fatal injuries.
• Repeat the same physical activities while operating airplane controls.
• Must keep pace with the speed of equipment.
• Make decisions on a daily basis that greatly impact passengers. They usually make these decisions independently.
• Set their daily tasks and goals in conjunction with air traffic controllers.
• Work in a moderately stressful environment in which daily deadlines must be met.

Hours/travel

• May work nights, holidays, and weekends.
• Usually fly 75 to 100 hours a month. They also spend about 75 hours a month preparing for flights, writing reports, and waiting for planes to arrive.
• May spend a lot of time away from their home base.
• May experience jet lag after long periods of travel.
• Usually work a regular schedule.

Physical demands

Airplane pilots frequently:

• Use their hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools, or controls.
• Sit for long periods of time.
• Repeat the same movements.

It is important for airplane pilots to be able to:

• Make quick, precise adjustments to machine controls.
• Choose quickly and correctly among various movements when responding to different signals.
• See details of objects that are less than a few feet away.
• See details of objects that are more than a few feet away.
• Determine the distance between objects.
• React quickly using hands, fingers, or feet.
• Move two or more limbs together (for example, two arms, two legs, or one leg and one arm) while remaining in place.
• Understand the speech of another person.
• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Adjust body movements or equipment controls to keep pace with speed changes of moving objects.
• Hold the arm and hand in one position or hold the hand steady while moving the arm.
• Use one or two hands to grasp, move, or assemble objects.
• Hear sounds and recognize the difference between them.
• See differences between colors, shades, and brightness.
• See objects in very bright or glaring light.
• While looking forward, see objects or movements that are off to the side.
• Focus on one source of sound and ignore others.
• See objects in very low light.
• Use fingers to grasp, move, or assemble very small objects.

It is not as important, but still necessary, for airplane pilots to be able to:

• Determine from which direction a sound came.
• Bend, stretch, twist, or reach out.
• Make fast, repeated movements of fingers, hands, and wrists.
• Use muscles to lift, push, pull, or carry heavy objects.
• Move arms and legs quickly.
• Keep or regain the body's balance or stay upright when in an unstable position.
• Use stomach and lower back muscles to support the body for long periods without getting tired.

Skills and abilities

Airplane pilots need to:

Communicate

• Speak clearly so listeners can understand.
• Listen to others and ask questions.
• Understand spoken information.
• Understand written information.
• Read and understand work-related materials.
• Write clearly so other people can understand.

Reason and problem solve

• Notice when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong.
• Combine several pieces of information and draw conclusions.
• Use reasoning to discover answers to problems.
• Follow guidelines to arrange objects or actions in a certain order.
• Analyze ideas and use logic to determine their strengths and weaknesses.
• Concentrate and not be distracted while performing a task.
• Judge the costs and benefits of a possible action.
• Recognize the nature of a problem.
• Understand new information or materials by studying and working with them.
• Recognize when important changes happen or are likely to happen in a system.
• Develop rules that group items in various ways.
• Make sense of information that seems without meaning or organization.
• Identify what must be changed to reach goals.

Use math and science

• Choose a mathematical method or formula to solve problems.
• Use math skills to solve problems.

Manage oneself, people, time, and things

• Check how well one is learning or doing something.
• Go back and forth between two or more activities or sources of information without becoming confused.
• Manage the time of self and others.

Work with people

• Change behavior in relation to others' actions.
• Be aware of others' reactions and understand the possible causes.
• Use several methods to learn or teach new things.
• Teach others how to do something.

Work with things

• Operate and control equipment.
• Watch gauges, dials, and output to make sure a machine is working properly.
• Determine the causes of technical problems and find solutions for them.

Perceive and visualize

• Quickly and accurately compare letters, numbers, objects, pictures, or patterns.
• Know one's location in a physical setting and recognize where other objects are located in relation to oneself.
• Identify a pattern (a figure, object, word, or sound) that is hidden in distracting material.
• Imagine how something will look if it is moved around or its parts are rearranged.

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Commercial Pilot and Flight Crew Training
• Private Pilot

Other programs of study to consider

• Aviation Operations and Services
• Flight Instructor Training

Training

To work as an airplane pilot, you typically need to:

• have at least a high school diploma or equivalent;
• have good health and vision;
• complete flight training;
• complete requirements for a commercial pilot's certificate; and
• have an instrument rating.

Education after high school

Education requirements for pilots vary depending on the type of flying they do. A high school diploma is the minimum requirement. However, most pilots have at least an associate degree and many have a bachelor's degree. Many airlines require a bachelor's degree to work as a commercial pilot.

All pilots learn their flying skills in one of three ways. These are:

• attend a flight school approved by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA);
• take private lessons from a FAA-licensed instructor; or
• take flight training in the military.

Some colleges and universities offer FAA-approved flight training. These programs combine flight training with regular college course work.

Initial training for pilots takes from three to six weeks. This training includes ground school, simulator training, and actual flight. Instructor pilots fly with you at first to make sure you follow all procedures and fly safely. As you gain experience and flight time you fly solo (alone without an instructor) and practice specific flying skills. While you are training, you are issued a student pilot's certificate. The next step after completing initial training is to earn your private certificate. To do this, you must pass a written exam and a flight test with a FAA flight examiner.

Before you can fly for pay, you must earn at least a commercial certificate and an instrument rating. To qualify for the commercial certificate, you must have at least 250 hours of flight time and pass another exam and flight test.

There are many levels of certificates and ratings for different aircraft and flying jobs. Airline pilots must have at least a bachelor's degree. They also must have an Airline Transport certificate with multiengine and instrument ratings. To apply for an Airline Transport certificate you must:

• be at least 23 years old;
• have a minimum of 1,500 hours of flight time;
• have experience flying at night and on instruments alone;
• pass FAA written exams and flight tests;
• have experience flying the exact type of aircraft;
• pass medical exams; and
• pass psychological and aptitude tests.

For additional details on flight training and certification, go to the FAA  website.

Work experience

Pilots gather the required flight hours, certificates, and ratings over a period of years. In general, you progress from private pilot to commercial pilot. Later, you advance to airline transport. It takes years of experience and study to reach the highest certificates and ratings.

On-the-job training

Pilots continue to study, train, and take tests throughout their careers. They must maintain their credentials and medical certificates to be able to fly. At first, pilots pay for much of their own training. Later, employers, such as airlines, pay for or provide training to their pilots.

Military training

The military trains people to be airplane pilots, airplane navigators, and helicopter pilots. You need a bachelor's degree to enter any of these training programs. Training lasts two years for airplane pilots and one to two years for helicopter pilots. Airplane navigators receive six to 12 months of training.

Flying for the military is the best preparation for this occupation. In the military, you receive a level of training that is difficult to get or afford as a civilian. You fly high performance aircraft under all types of weather conditions. You also fly thousands of hours in jet or turbine-powered aircraft similar to commercial civilian aircraft.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements. You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Geography
• Introduction to Mechanics

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

Pilots must have a license to get a job. Employers look for applicants who have experience in the type of aircraft they will fly. Most airlines require pilots to have at least an associate degree. However, they prefer to hire applicants who have at least a bachelor's degree.

Employers also look for pilots who are physically and emotionally healthy. They want pilots who will stay calm and remain levelheaded under pressure. Airlines may require applicants to pass psychological, aptitude, and drug tests. They also test applicants' vision and hearing.

When jobs with major airlines are scarce, a four-year college degree in engineering and 2,000 to 3,000 hours of experience in multi-engine jets, plus an instrument rating, are needed to realistically compete for openings. Experience in jet and turbine-powered aircraft is highly valued. After starting as a copilot for major airlines, advancement to pilot or captain usually takes an additional five to 20 years. Some employers of flight instructors prefer applicants with a college degree and FAR Part 141 training approved by the Federal Aviation Administration.

TV stations that employ helicopter pilots may require 1,500 to 2,000 hours of helicopter flight time plus an associate degree. Some stations also prefer pilots with previous experience in radio or TV news, traffic reporting, or law enforcement. Military pilot experience can be beneficial. A bachelor's degree in journalism is also helpful.

Alternative entry route

Companies other than airlines generally require less flying experience. Many pilots start out as flying instructors to build up their flying hours while they teach. They apply to work for charter services after completing at least 500 hours of flight time. Charter services prefer applicants who already have a Certified Flight Instructor for Instrument (CFII) rating. The next step from charter flying is usually commuter airlines before progressing to major airlines.

Tips

Find ways to gain flight experience and time. Make sure you enjoy flying. Gather information and develop contacts in the industry by talking to pilots who are doing the type of flying you would like to pursue.

Costs to workers

Costs for pilots may include licensing fees, uniforms, and union dues, which are a percentage of earnings. Most airplane pilots are members of the Air Line Pilots Association. Airplane pilots may belong to one of three unions. Other costs may include moving to another home base.

Licensing/certification

All pilots who are paid to transport passengers or cargo must have a commercial pilot's license. For more information about licensing requirements, contact:

Federal Aviation Administration 

#use national plus local pesticide info

Agricultural pilots that apply pesticides to croplands must be licensed by the State.

For information on pesticide application licensing, contact:

Washington State Department of Agriculture, Pesticide Management Division 
PO Box 42560
Olympia, WA 98504-2560
877.301.4555

#checked 2/28/08, cj. & 3/2/09 lh & 2/6/12 & 2/4/14, 1/31/18 cj.

Job listings

Listed below are links to job categories from the National Labor Exchange that relate to this career. Once you get a list of jobs, you can view information about individual jobs and find out how to apply. If your job search finds too many openings, or if you wish to search for jobs outside of Washington, you will need to refine your search.

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers 
• Commercial Pilots 

To get a listing of current jobs from the WorkSource system, go to the WorkSource website .

Wages

Wages for airplane pilots depend on the type and size of the airplane flown. Pilots may earn extra pay for night and international flights.

Most airline pilots are members of a union. Those who work for one major airline join the Allied Pilots Association. The rest belong to the Airline Pilots Association, International. Some flight engineers join the Flight Engineers' International Association.

Pilots usually receive benefits such as life and health insurance and a retirement plan. Pilots receive an expense allowance for every hour they are away from home. Airlines may provide allowances to purchase and clean uniforms. Pilots and their immediate family members may receive free airline travel.

Employment and outlook

Washington outlook

The table below provides information about the number of workers in this career in various regions. It also provides information about the expected growth rate and future job openings.

National employment

Most pilots work for commercial airlines. Some work as flight instructors at local airports. Pilots also work for companies that transport cargo or fly tourists on sightseeing trips.

Major employers:

• National and regional airlines
• Airports, flying fields, and airplane services
• Flight training schools

National outlook

Jobs for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers are expected to grow over the next ten years. Most openings for airline pilots will be a result of pilots retiring. Job prospects for commercial pilots including air ambulance services will remain very good. 

Competition will be strong for pilots of major airlines. The best opportunities are for pilots who have flown the most advanced airplanes. Pilots with military experience may also have an advantage.

Other resources

Air Line Pilots Association, International 
1625 Massachusetts Avenue NW
Suite 800
Washington, DC 20036
703.689.2270

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association 
421 Aviation Way
Frederick, MD 21701
800.872.2672
301.695.2000

Airlines for America 
1275 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Suite 1300
Washington, DC 20004
202.626.4000

Civil Air Patrol, National Headquarters 
105 South Hansell Street, Building 714
Maxwell AFB, AL 36112
877.227.9142

Federal Aviation Administration 
800 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20591
866.835.5322

Helicopter Association International 
1920 Ballenger Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22314
703.683.4646

International Society of Women Airline Pilots 
723 South Casino Center Boulevard, 2nd Floor
Las Vegas, NV 89101
866.457.2582

Museum of Flight 
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle, WA 98108
206.764.5700

Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Union 
1750 New York Avenue NW, 6th Floor
Washington, DC 20006
800.457.7694
202.662.0800

Washington Pilots Association 
1100 Bellevue Way NE
STE 8A PMB 397
Bellevue, WA 98004

References

Career cluster

• Transportation, Distribution, and Logistics

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)

O*Net  occupations

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers (53-2011.00) 
• Commercial Pilots (53-2012.00) 

O*Net job zones 

• Job Zone 3 - Medium preparation needed. Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.

• Job Zone 4 - Considerable preparation needed. A minimum of two to four years of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations.

DOT occupations

• Airplane Pilot, Commercial (196.263-014) 
• Executive Pilot (196.263-030) 
• Facilities-flight-check Pilot (196.263-034) 

Holland occupational clusters

• Realistic/Conventional/Investigative
• Realistic/Enterprising/Investigative
• Realistic/Investigative/Enterprising

COPSystem

• Technology Professional