Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers
Transportation and Material Moving
Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers operate and navigate aircraft to transport passengers and cargo safely and efficiently across regional, national, and international routes. Their role is vital in connecting people and goods worldwide, ensuring timely travel and commerce while upholding the highest safety standards. Daily activities include pre-flight checks, coordinating with air traffic control, monitoring aircraft systems, and adjusting flight plans as needed. This career offers fulfillment through the thrill of flight, the responsibility of safeguarding lives, and the opportunity to explore new destinations while fostering global connectivity.
What you might do
- Pilot and navigate fixed-wing aircraft during flights
- Ensure the safety of passengers, crew, and cargo
- Perform pre-flight and post-flight inspections of the aircraft
- Communicate with air traffic control and follow flight plans
- Monitor aircraft systems and performance during flight
- Provide leadership and direction to the flight crew
AI & the future of this role
While AI can assist with navigation and automation, human pilots remain critical for complex decision-making, emergency handling, and regulatory compliance, especially in unpredictable situations. Public trust in human oversight also plays a significant role.
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Includes O*NET® 30.3 Database information by USDOL/ETA under CC BY 4.0; modified by LostInCareer. Wage/outlook from BLS. Attribution details