Aircraft pilots and flight engineers

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Pilots are trained professionals who fly airplanes and helicopters to carry out a wide variety of tasks. Although four out of five are airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers who transport passengers and cargo, others are commercial pilots involved in more unusual tasks, such as dusting crops, spreading seed for reforestation, testing aircraft, flying passengers and cargo to areas not service by regular airlines, directing firefighting efforts, tracking criminals, monitoring traffic, and rescuing and evacuating injured persons.

Except on small aircraft, two pilots usually make up the cockpit crew. Generally, the most experienced pilot, the captain, is in command and supervises other crew members. The pilot and copilot share flying and other duties, such as communicating with air traffic controllers and monitoring the instruments. Some large aircraft have a third pilot — the flight engineer — who assists the other pilots by monitoring and operating many of the instruments and systems, making minor inflight repairs and watching for other aircraft. New technology can perform many flight tasks, however, and virtually all new aircraft now fly with only two pilots, who rely more heavily on computerized controls.

Before departure, pilots plan their flights and routes carefully. They thoroughly check their aircraft to make sure the engines, controls, instruments and other systems are functioning. They also make sure baggage or cargo has been loaded correctly. They confer with flight dispatchers and aviation weather forecasters.

Airline pilots have the services of large support staffs and, consequently, perform few non-flying duties. Pilots employed by other organizations, such as charter operators or businesses, have many other duties. They may load the aircraft, handle all passenger luggage to ensure a balanced load and supervise refueling. They keep records, schedule flights, arrange for major maintenance and perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work.

Some pilots are instructors. A few specially trained pilots are “examiners” or “check pilots.” They periodically fly with other pilots or pilot’s license applicants to make sure that they are proficient.

By law, airline pilots cannot fly more than 100 hours a month or more than 1,000 hours a year. Most airline pilots fly an average of 75 hours a month and work an additional 75 hours a month performing non-flying duties. About one-fourth of all pilots work more than 40 hours a week. Most spend a considerable amount of time away from home. Flight assignments are based on seniority. Those pilots not employed by the airlines often have irregular schedules as well.

Although flying does not involve much physical effort, the mental stress of being responsible for a safe flight, no matter what the weather, can be tiring.

Training and qualifications

All pilots who are paid to transport passengers or cargo must have a commercial pilot’s license with an instrument rating issued by the FAA. Helicopter pilots must hold a commercial pilot’s certificate with a helicopter rating. To qualify for these licenses, applicants must be at least 18 years old and have at least 250 hours of flight experience. Applicants also must pass a strict physical examination and written test.

To fly in periods of low visibility, pilots must be rated by the FAA to fly by instruments. Airline pilots must fulfill additional requirements.

Job outlook

Pilots are expected to face strong competition for jobs through 2010. Employment is expected to increase about as fast as the average for all occupations. Expected growth in domestic and international airline passenger and cargo traffic will create a need for more airliners, pilots and flight instructors, but computerized flight management systems will continue to eliminate the need for flight engineers. Future business travel could also be adversely affected by the growing use of teleconferencing and other electronic communications. Employment of business pilots is expected to grow more slowly than in the past as more businesses opt to fly with regional and smaller airlines serving their area rather than to buy and operate their own aircraft.

Pilots who have logged the greatest number of flying hours in the more sophisticated equipment typically have the best prospects. For this reason, military pilots often have an advantage over other applicants. Opportunities for pilots in the regional commuter airlines and international service are expected to be more favorable. Employment of pilots is sensitive to cyclical swings in the economy.

Earnings

Civilian aircraft pilots and flight engineers commercial held about 117,000 jobs in 2000. About 84% worked as airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers. Earnings of airline pilots are among the highest in the nation and depend on factors such as the type, size and maximum speed of the plane and the number of hours and miles flown. In 2000, median annual earnings of airline pilots, copilots and flight engineers were $110,940. Median annual earnings of commercial pilots were $43,300 in 2000.