Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Career, Salary and Skills

Occupation description

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.

National salary and employment

Top skills

Typical tasks

• Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
• Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
• Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
• Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
• Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
• Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
• Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.

Technology

• AeroPlanner
• Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC
• AirSmith FlightPrompt
• CoPilot Flight Planning & E6B
• Document Object Model DOM Scripting
• doXstor Flight Level Logbook
• Electronic aircraft information databases
• IFT-Pro
• Microsoft Excel
• Microsoft Office software
• Microsoft Outlook
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Visio
• Microsoft Word

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers salary by location

Areas with the highest reported employment for this occupation.

• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in TX
  Median $215,150 · Employment 10,930
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in CA
  Median $353,900 · Employment 10,670
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in New York, NY
  Median $335,270 · Employment 10,030
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in GA
  Median $618,090 · Employment 8,770
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Atlanta, GA
  Median $618,090 · Employment 8,700
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in FL
  Median $225,020 · Employment 7,760
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in NY
  Median $255,240 · Employment 6,900
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Los Angeles, CA
  Median $364,730 · Employment 6,710
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in IL
  Median $293,490 · Employment 6,460
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Chicago, IL
  Median $293,490 · Employment 6,360
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in KY
  Median $350,950 · Employment 6,260
• Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers Salary in Dallas, TX
  Median $212,810 · Employment 5,980

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