# Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

> 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.
- **Entity Type:** role
- **Schema Version:** role.v1
- **Soc Code:** 53-2011.00
- **Summary:** 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.

## Aliases

- Airline Captain
- Captain
- First Officer (FO)
- Pilot
- Airbus Captain
- Airline Pilot
- Check Airman
- Co-Pilot
- Commercial Airline Pilot
- Line Pilot
- Air Force Pilot
- Aircraft Captain

## Tasks

| Text | Type | Iwa |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. | Core | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | Core | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. | Core | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists. | Core | 4.A.1.b.2.d |
| Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers. | Core | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met. | Core | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions. | Core | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. | Supplemental | 4.A.4.b.4.g |

## Emerging Tasks


## Activities

| Name | Iwa |
| --- | --- |
| Pilot aircraft. | 4.A.3.a.4.a |
| Report vehicle or equipment malfunctions. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Notify others of emergencies, problems, or hazards. | 4.A.4.a.2.g |
| Respond to transportation emergencies. | 4.A.4.a.5.e |
| Communicate with others to coordinate vehicle movement. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Monitor equipment gauges or displays to ensure proper operation. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Inspect aircraft or aircraft components. | 4.A.1.b.2.d |
| Monitor work environment to ensure safety or adherence to specifications. | 4.A.1.a.2.g |
| Monitor engine operation or functioning. | 4.A.1.a.2.a |
| Coordinate flight control or management activities. | 4.A.4.b.4.g |
| Resolve issues affecting transportation operations. | 4.A.4.a.7.c |
| Choose optimal transportation routes or speeds. | 4.A.2.b.1.d |
| Meet with coworkers to communicate work orders or plans. | 4.A.4.a.2.c |
| Record operational details of travel. | 4.A.3.b.6.h |
| Provide transportation information to passengers or customers. | 4.A.4.a.3.c |
| Arrange maintenance activities. | 4.A.2.b.5.b |
| Maintain locomotives or other rail equipment in good working condition. | 4.A.3.b.4.e |
| Train transportation or material moving personnel. | 4.A.4.b.3.d |
| Test performance of aircraft equipment. | 4.A.1.b.2.l |
| Evaluate performance of applicants, trainees, or employees. | 4.A.2.a.1.d |
| Plan flight operations. | 4.A.2.b.6.b |

## Capabilities

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Operation and Control | transferable_skill | 4.88 |
| Response Orientation | ability | 4.88 |
| Transportation | knowledge | 4.78 |
| Problem Sensitivity | ability | 4.75 |
| Operations Monitoring | transferable_skill | 4.62 |
| Control Precision | ability | 4.62 |
| Reaction Time | ability | 4.25 |
| Near Vision | ability | 4.25 |
| Far Vision | ability | 4.25 |
| Active Listening | essential_skill | 4.12 |
| Critical Thinking | essential_skill | 4.12 |
| Monitoring | essential_skill | 4.12 |
| Deductive Reasoning | ability | 4.12 |
| Perceptual Speed | ability | 4.12 |
| Rate Control | ability | 4.12 |
| Depth Perception | ability | 4.12 |
| Judgment and Decision Making | transferable_skill | 4 |
| Oral Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Written Comprehension | ability | 4 |
| Oral Expression | ability | 4 |
| Inductive Reasoning | ability | 4 |
| Information Ordering | ability | 4 |
| Flexibility of Closure | ability | 4 |
| Spatial Orientation | ability | 4 |
| Selective Attention | ability | 4 |
| Time Sharing | ability | 4 |
| Arm-Hand Steadiness | ability | 4 |
| Multilimb Coordination | ability | 4 |
| English Language | knowledge | 3.92 |
| Reading Comprehension | essential_skill | 3.88 |
| Time Management | transferable_skill | 3.88 |
| Peripheral Vision | ability | 3.88 |
| Speaking | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Active Learning | essential_skill | 3.75 |
| Hearing Sensitivity | ability | 3.75 |
| Speech Recognition | ability | 3.75 |
| Speech Clarity | ability | 3.75 |
| Public Safety and Security | knowledge | 3.71 |
| Mechanical | knowledge | 3.7 |
| Geography | knowledge | 3.7 |

## Skills

| Name | Type |
| --- | --- |
| Depth Perception | Common Skill |
| Deductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| Critical Thinking | Common Skill |
| Active Listening | Common Skill |
| Information Ordering | Specialized Skill |
| Inductive Reasoning | Common Skill |
| English Language | Common Skill |
| Time Management | Common Skill |
| Reading Comprehension | Common Skill |
| Speech Recognition | Specialized Skill |
| Active Learning | Common Skill |
| Geography | Specialized Skill |
| Complex Problem Solving | Common Skill |
| Mathematics | Common Skill |
| Visualization | Specialized Skill |
| Physics | Specialized Skill |
| Systems Analysis | Specialized Skill |
| Social Perceptiveness | Common Skill |
| Writing | Common Skill |
| Finger Dexterity | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Word | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Visio | Specialized Skill |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Outlook | Common Skill |
| Microsoft Excel | Common Skill |
| Learning Strategies | Specialized Skill |
| Instructing | Specialized Skill |
| Psychology | Specialized Skill |
| Negotiation | Common Skill |
| Telecommunications | Specialized Skill |
| Chemistry | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Maintenance | Specialized Skill |
| Foreign Language | Common Skill |
| Biology | Specialized Skill |
| Presentation Software | Specialized Skill |
| Installation | Specialized Skill |
| Equipment Selection | Specialized Skill |

## Tools

| Example | Category | Hot | In Demand |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| R | Object or component oriented development software | yes | yes |
| Microsoft Excel | Spreadsheet software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Office software | Office suite software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Outlook | Electronic mail software | yes | no |
| Microsoft PowerPoint | Presentation software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Visio | Process mapping and design software | yes | no |
| Microsoft Word | Word processing software | yes | no |
| AeroPlanner | Information retrieval or search software | no | no |
| Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| AirSmith FlightPrompt | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| CoPilot Flight Planning & E6B | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Document Object Model DOM Scripting | Object or component oriented development software | no | no |
| doXstor Flight Level Logbook | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Electronic aircraft information databases | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| IFT-Pro | Route navigation software | no | no |
| MJICCS PilotLog | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Navzilla | Route navigation software | no | no |
| Nimblefeet Technologies Captain's Keeper | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Notam Development Group Airport Insight | Information retrieval or search software | no | no |
| Pilot Navigator Software Load Balance | Analytical or scientific software | no | no |
| Polaris Microsystems AeroLog Pro | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| Polaris Microsystems CharterLog | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| RMS Technology Flitesoft | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |
| SBS International Maestro Suite | Calendar and scheduling software | no | no |
| Skylog Services Skylog Pro | Data base user interface and query software | no | no |

## Work Context

| Name | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Importance of Being Exact or Accurate | 4.84 |
| Spend Time Sitting | 4.74 |
| Face-to-Face Discussions with Individuals and Within Teams | 4.62 |
| Spend Time Using Your Hands to Handle, Control, or Feel Objects, Tools, or Controls | 4.6 |
| In an Enclosed Vehicle or Operate Enclosed Equipment | 4.57 |
| Work With or Contribute to a Work Group or Team | 4.55 |
| Time Pressure | 4.54 |
| Health and Safety of Other Workers | 4.44 |
| Contact With Others | 4.43 |
| Impact of Decisions on Co-workers or Company Results | 4.43 |
| Exposed to Sounds, Noise Levels that are Distracting or Uncomfortable | 4.41 |
| Consequence of Error | 4.37 |
| Freedom to Make Decisions | 4.33 |
| Frequency of Decision Making | 4.12 |
| Physical Proximity | 4.05 |
| Level of Competition | 4.05 |
| E-Mail | 4.03 |
| Importance of Repeating Same Tasks | 3.97 |
| Work Outcomes and Results of Other Workers | 3.88 |
| Indoors, Environmentally Controlled | 3.77 |
| Public Speaking | 3.73 |
| Coordinate or Lead Others in Accomplishing Work Activities | 3.68 |
| Exposed to Extremely Bright or Inadequate Lighting Conditions | 3.65 |
| Determine Tasks, Priorities and Goals | 3.64 |
| Exposed to High Places | 3.62 |
| Exposed to Very Hot or Cold Temperatures | 3.59 |
| Wear Common Protective or Safety Equipment such as Safety Shoes, Glasses, Gloves, Hearing Protection, Hard Hats, or Life Jackets | 3.59 |
| Degree of Automation | 3.58 |
| Exposed to Radiation | 3.51 |
| Exposed to Contaminants | 3.5 |
| Conflict Situations | 3.47 |
| Telephone Conversations | 3.45 |
| Outdoors, Exposed to All Weather Conditions | 3.42 |
| Pace Determined by Speed of Equipment | 3.4 |
| Deal With External Customers or the Public in General | 3.34 |
| Dealing With Unpleasant, Angry, or Discourteous People | 3.14 |
| Spend Time Making Repetitive Motions | 3.01 |
| Exposed to Cramped Work Space, Awkward Positions | 2.85 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Conditions | 2.78 |
| Exposed to Hazardous Equipment | 2.75 |

## Preparation

- **Job Zone:** 4
- **Job Zone Name:** Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed
- **Education:** Most of these occupations require a four-year bachelor's degree, but some do not.
- **Experience:** A considerable amount of work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is needed for these occupations. For example, an accountant must complete four years of college and work for several years in accounting to be considered qualified.
- **Svp Range:** (7.0 to < 8.0)

### Education Distribution

| Label | Percentage |
| --- | --- |
| Bachelor's Degree | 61.02 |
| High School Diploma | 18.17 |
| Less than a High School Diploma | 8 |
| Associate's Degree (or other 2-year degree) | 6.29 |
| Post-Secondary Certificate | 5.08 |
| Some College Courses | 1.45 |

## Person Fit

| Name | Family | Value |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Dependability | work_style | 10 |
| Attention to Detail | work_style | 9 |
| Integrity | work_style | 8 |
| Cautiousness | work_style | 7 |
| Transportation/Machine Operation | specific_interest_area | 6.3 |
| Achievement Orientation | work_style | 6 |
| Self-Control | work_style | 5 |
| Realistic | career_interest_type | 4.74 |
| Conventional | career_interest_type | 4.7 |
| Stress Tolerance | work_style | 4 |
| Mechanics/Electronics | specific_interest_area | 3.88 |
| Engineering | specific_interest_area | 3.82 |
| Enterprising | career_interest_type | 3.81 |
| Investigative | career_interest_type | 3.15 |
| Perseverance | work_style | 3 |
| Management/Administration | specific_interest_area | 2.73 |

## Related Roles

| Soc Code | Slug | Title | Tier |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 53-2012.00 | role-53-2012-00 | Commercial Pilots | Primary-Short |
| 53-2021.00 | role-53-2021-00 | Air Traffic Controllers | Primary-Short |
| 53-2022.00 | role-53-2022-00 | Airfield Operations Specialists | Primary-Short |
| 53-6032.00 | role-53-6032-00 | Aircraft Service Attendants | Primary-Short |
| 53-5021.00 | role-53-5021-00 | Captains, Mates, and Pilots of Water Vessels | Primary-Short |
| 49-3011.00 | role-49-3011-00 | Aircraft Mechanics and Service Technicians | Primary-Long |
| 53-6051.01 | role-53-6051-01 | Aviation Inspectors | Primary-Long |
| 53-4011.00 | role-53-4011-00 | Locomotive Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 53-1044.00 | role-53-1044-00 | First-Line Supervisors of Passenger Attendants | Primary-Long |
| 17-2011.00 | role-17-2011-00 | Aerospace Engineers | Primary-Long |
| 53-2031.00 | role-53-2031-00 | Flight Attendants | Supplemental |
| 53-1041.00 | role-53-1041-00 | Aircraft Cargo Handling Supervisors | Supplemental |

## Career Clusters

| Cluster | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Supply Chain & Transportation | supply-chain-transportation |

## Education Level

- **Category:** Bachelor's degree

## Study Programs

| Title | Slug |
| --- | --- |
| Transportation and Materials Moving | transportation-and-materials-moving |

## Market

- **Median Wage:** 226600
- **Mean Wage:** 280570
- **Pct10Wage:** 98560
- **Pct25Wage:** 154360
- **Employment:** 99300
- **Area Title:** U.S.

## Industries


### Top

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq | Median Wage |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 93290 | 19.6 |  |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 560 | 0.06 | 68870 |
| 31-33 | 31-33 | Manufacturing | Sector | 90 |  | 94720 |
| 62 | 62 | Health Care and Social Assistance | Sector | 80 |  | 93660 |
| 621910 | 621910 | Ambulance Services | National industry | 80 |  | 93660 |
| 54 | 54 | Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services | Sector | 40 |  | 162290 |
| 42 | 42 | Wholesale Trade | Sector |  |  | 141540 |
| 55 | 55 | Management of Companies and Enterprises | Sector |  |  | 85610 |

### Concentrated

| Naics | Slug | Title | Level | Employment | Lq |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 48-49 | 48-49 | Transportation and Warehousing | Sector | 93290 | 19.6 |
| 61 | 61 | Educational Services | Sector | 560 | 0.06 |
- **Count:** 8

## Ai Signals

| Source | Label | Score | Scale | Release |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| frey_osborne | Computerization probability | 0.18 | 0-1 probability | 2013-baseline-2016-employment-snapshot |
| felten_aioe | AI occupational exposure | -0.2070626 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_image_generation_aioe | Image generation occupational exposure | 1.008655 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |
| felten_language_modeling_aioe | Language modeling occupational exposure | -0.7584905 | relative exposure score | 2021-plus-generative-ai-workbooks |

## Ai Outlook


### Index

- **Value:** 41
- **Percentile:** 39
- **Band:** Moderate
- **Version:** ai-exposure-index-v1

#### Components

| Percentile | Source |
| --- | --- |
| 43 | felten_aioe |
| 50 | openai_gpts_are_gpts |
| 31 | microsoft_working_with_ai |
- **Component Count:** 3

### Exposure

| Source | Label | Value | Percentile | Band | Note |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| felten_aioe | Overall AI exposure (Felten et al.) | -0.2070626 | 43 | Moderate | How much this job's abilities overlap with what AI systems can do, across many AI capabilities. A relative research score, not a forecast of job loss. |
| eloundou_gamma | LLM task exposure, γ (OpenAI / Eloundou) | 0.6136363636363636 | 50 | Moderate | Share of this job's tasks where a large language model plus simple tools could cut the time to do them by at least half. γ is capped at 1.0 and many jobs reach that ceiling, so treat a top score as 'in the top group', not a precise rank. |
| microsoft_applicability | AI assistant applicability (Microsoft) | 0.09949449364676712 | 31 | Low | How applicable today's AI assistants are to this job's activities, measured from real Microsoft Copilot conversations. Applicability is not the same as replacement. |

### Frey Historical

- **Source:** frey
- **Label:** Computerization probability (Frey & Osborne, 2013)
- **Value:** 0.18
- **Percentile:** 33
- **Band:** Low
- **Note:** A pre-LLM (2013) estimate of how automatable this job is by computerization and robotics. Shown for historical context only — it is not part of any current AI ranking.
- **Teleworkable:** no

### Eloundou

- **Alpha:** 0.09090909090909091
- **Beta:** 0.3522727272727273
- **Gamma:** 0.6136363636363636

### Usage Tasks

| Task | Usage Percent | Importance |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. | 0.002978525855658583 | 3.08 |
- **Usage Release:** 2026-01-15-v4-plus-2025-03-27-v2

### Bls

- **Growth Percent:** 3.9
- **Growth Percentile:** 63
- **Direction:** About average
- **Annual Openings Thousands:** 11.7
- **Annual Openings Percentile:** 66
- **Employment2024Thousands:** 100
- **Employment2034Thousands:** 103.9

### Sources

| Source | Version |
| --- | --- |
| bls_employment_projections | 2024-2034 |
| dingel_neiman | dingel-neiman-workathome |
| felten_aioe | felten-raj-seamans-aioe |
| frey_osborne | frey-osborne-automation |
| microsoft_working_with_ai | working-with-ai |
| openai_gpts_are_gpts | gpts-are-gpts |

## Counts

- **Tasks:** 24
- **Skills:** 37
- **Capabilities:** 120
- **Tools:** 25
- **Related Roles:** 20

## Source

- **Dataset:** gold.onet_role_starter_surface
- **Version:** 30.3
- **Generated At:** 2026-06-02T21:00:32.945303+00:00
- **Content Hash:** 0e050d562dce7394