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Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

Also called: Airline Captain, Captain, First Officer, Pilot

What they do:

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.

On the job, you would:
  • 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.
On the job, you'll need:

Transportation

  • movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road

Arts and Humanities

  • English language

Engineering and Technology

  • mechanical
  • computers and electronics

Math and Science

  • geography

Basic Skills

  • keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
  • listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions

Problem Solving

  • noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it

People and Technology Systems

  • thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
  • figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it

Controlled Movement

  • quickly decide if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part
  • quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat

Attention

  • do two or more things at the same time
  • pay attention to something without being distracted

Vision

  • see details that are far away
  • see details up close

Visual Understanding

  • quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things

Realistic

People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.

  • Attention to Detail
  • Dependability
  • Self Control
  • Cooperation
  • Stress Tolerance
  • Integrity

Spreadsheet software

  • Microsoft Excel

Presentation software

  • Microsoft PowerPoint

Data base user interface and query software

  • Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC
  • CoPilot Flight Planning & E6B

Video courtesy of CareerOneStop.

Job Outlook

The job outlook for this position is Average.

New job opportunities are likely in the future.

Median Annual Salary: $211,790

Education

Bachelor's degree or high school diploma/GED is usually needed.

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