Commercial Pilots
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.
Technology Tools
Key Tasks
- Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
- Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
- Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
- Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
- Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
- Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
- Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
- Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
- Supervise other crew members.
- Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
- Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
- File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
- Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
- Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
- Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.
- Operate large scale uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for various commercial purposes, such as aerial photography, surveying land and structures, or monitoring wildlife.
Skills
Knowledge
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Abilities
Work Activities
Work Context
How frequently does your job require you to use E-mail?
99%
Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals
How much freedom does the worker have in determining the tasks, priorities, or goals of the job?
95%
Freedom to Make Decisions
How much decision making freedom, without supervision, does the job offer?
95%
Health and Safety of Other Workers
How much responsibility is there for the health and safety of others in this job?
92%
Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results
What results do your decisions usually have on other people or the image or reputation or financial resources of your employer?
92%
Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team
How important is it to work with or contribute to a work group or team in this job?
92%
Importance of Being Exact or Accurate
How important is being very exact or highly accurate in performing this job?
91%
Duration of Typical Work Week
Number of hours typically worked in one week.
90%
Contact With Others
How much does this job require the worker to be in contact with others (face-to-face, by telephone, or otherwise) in order to perform it?
85%
Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams
How frequently does your job require face-to-face discussions with individuals and within teams?
85%
Frequency of Decision Making
How often is the worker required to make decisions that affect other people, the financial resources, and/or the image and reputation of the organization?
84%
Spend Time Sitting
How much does this job require sitting?
84%
Telephone Conversations
How often do you have telephone conversations in this job?
83%
Physical Proximity
To what extent does this job require the worker to perform job tasks physically close to other people?
81%
In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment
How often does this job require working in a closed vehicle or operate enclosed equipment (like a car)?
74%
Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities
How important is it to coordinate or lead others (not as a supervisor or team leader) in accomplishing work activities in this job?
73%
Consequence of Error
How serious would the result usually be if the worker made a mistake that was not easily correctable?
70%
Exposed to Hazardous Equipment
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous equipment?
69%
Time Pressure
How often does this job require the worker to meet strict deadlines?
69%
Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable
How often does this job require working exposed to sounds and noise levels that are distracting or uncomfortable?
68%
Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions
How often does this job require working outdoors, exposed to all weather conditions?
68%
Importance of Repeating Same Tasks
How important are continuous, repetitive, physical activities (like key entry) or mental activities (like checking entries in a ledger) to performing this job?
67%
Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets
How often does this job require wearing common protective or safety equipment such as safety shoes, glasses, gloves, hearing protection, hard hats or life-jackets?
67%
Exposed to Contaminants
How often does this job require working exposed to contaminants (such as pollutants, gases, dust or odors)?
65%
Indoors, Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working indoors in an environmentally controlled environment (like a warehouse with air conditioning)?
64%
Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls
How much does this job require using your hands to handle, control, or feel objects, tools or controls?
64%
Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers
How responsible is the worker for work outcomes and results of other workers?
62%
Exposed to Hazardous Conditions
How often does this job require exposure to hazardous conditions?
60%
Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions
How often does this job require working in extremely bright or inadequate lighting conditions?
58%
Outdoors, Under Cover
How often does this job require working outdoors, under cover (like in an open shed)?
56%
Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures
How often does this job require working in very hot (above 90 F degrees) or very cold (below 32 F degrees) temperatures?
54%
Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions
How often does this job require working in cramped work spaces that requires getting into awkward positions?
52%
Level of Competition
To what extent does this job require the worker to compete or to be aware of competitive pressures?
52%
Written Letters and Memos
How frequently does your job require written letters and memos?
51%
Conflict Situations
How frequently are there conflict situations the employee has to face in this job?
49%
Work Schedules
How regular are the work schedules for this job?
48%
Deal With External Customers or the Public in General
How important is it to deal with external customers (as in retail sales) or the public in general (as in police work) in this job?
47%
Exposed to High Places
How often does this job require exposure to high places?
47%
Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People
How frequently does the worker have to deal with unpleasant, angry, or discourteous individuals as part of the job requirements?
45%
Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions
How much does this job require making repetitive motions?
42%
Spend Time Bending or Twisting Your Body
How much does this job require bending or twisting your body?
41%
Exposed to Disease or Infections
How often does this job require exposure to disease/infections?
36%
Exposed to Minor Burns, Cuts, Bites, or Stings
How often does this job require exposure to minor burns, cuts, bites, or stings?
36%
Exposed to Radiation
How often does this job require exposure to radiation?
36%
Wear Specialized Protective or Safety Equipment such as Breathing Apparatus, Safety Harness, Full Protection Suits, or Radiation Protection
How often does this job require wearing specialized protective or safety equipment such as breathing apparatus, safety harness, full protection suits, or radiation protection?
35%
Indoors, Not Environmentally Controlled
How often does this job require working in an environment that is not environmentally controlled (like a warehouse without air conditioning)?
34%
In an Open Vehicle or Operating Equipment
How often does this job require working in an open vehicle or operating equipment (like a tractor)?
32%
Spend Time Walking or Running
How much does this job require walking or running?
29%
Degree of Automation
How automated is the job?
27%
Spend Time Kneeling, Crouching, Stooping, or Crawling
How much does this job require kneeling, crouching, stooping or crawling?
26%
Spend Time Standing
How much does this job require standing?
25%
Public Speaking
How frequently does your job require public speaking (one speaker with an audience)?
25%
Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment
How important is it to this job that the pace is determined by the speed of equipment or machinery? (This does not refer to keeping busy at all times on this job.)
25%
Spend Time Climbing Ladders, Scaffolds, or Poles
How much does this job require climbing ladders, scaffolds, poles, etc.?
23%
Exposed to Whole Body Vibration
How often does this job require exposure to whole body vibration (like operating a jackhammer or earth moving equipment)?
22%
Spend Time Keeping or Regaining Balance
How much does this job require keeping or regaining your balance?
20%
Dealing with Violent or Physically Aggressive People
How frequently does this job require the worker to deal with physical aggression of violent individuals?
5%
Education
Post-secondary certificate
High school diploma or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Interests
Realistic
Work involves designing, building, or repairing of equipment, materials, or structures, engaging in physical activity, or working outdoors. Realistic occupations are often associated with engineering, mechanics and electronics, construction, woodworking, t
Conventional
Work involves following procedures and regulations to organize information or data, typically in a business setting. Conventional occupations are often associated with office work, accounting, mathematics/statistics, information technology, finance, or hum
Enterprising
Work involves managing, negotiating, marketing, or selling, typically in a business setting, or leading or advising people in political and legal situations. Enterprising occupations are often associated with business initiatives, sales, marketing/advertis
Investigative
Work involves studying and researching non-living objects, living organisms, disease or other forms of impairment, or human behavior. Investigative occupations are often associated with physical, life, medical, or social sciences, and can be found in the f
Social
Work involves helping, teaching, advising, assisting, or providing service to others. Social occupations are often associated with social, health care, personal service, teaching/education, or religious activities.
Artistic
Work involves creating original visual artwork, performances, written works, food, or music for a variety of media, or applying artistic principles to the design of various objects and materials. Artistic occupations are often associated with visual arts,
Work Styles
Work Values
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