Description
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.
- • Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- • Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- • Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- • Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
- • Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
- • Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- • Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
- • Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
- • Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
- • Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
- • Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
- • Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.
- • 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.
- • 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.
- • Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
- • Supervise other crew members.
- • Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
- • 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.
- • Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
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Tasks & skills:
O*NET occupational data (work activities, skills, knowledge).
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This site includes information from O*NET by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. Career Clutch has modified some of this information for student readability. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA.
Last reviewed: Jan 2026
