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Commercial Pilots - 53-2012.00

O*NET-SOC Description

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-winged 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.

Sample of Reported Job Titles

  • Pilot
  • Captain
  • First Officer
  • Line Pilot
  • Charter Pilot
  • Check Airman
  • Flight Operations Director
  • Helicopter Pilot
  • Commercial Helicopter Pilot
  • EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot)

SOC Occupation Groups

Related Occupations

Tasks

  • Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
  • Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
  • Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.
  • Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
  • Co-pilot aircraft, or perform captain's duties if required.
  • 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.
  • Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
  • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
  • Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
  • File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
  • Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
  • Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
  • Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
  • Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
  • Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
  • Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.
  • Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
  • Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
  • Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
  • Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
  • Supervise other crew members.
  • Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.
  • Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
  • Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.

Detailed Work Activities

  • adhere to government aviation regulations
  • conduct preflight or in-flight tests or checks of aircraft equipment
  • coordinate flight activities with ground personnel
  • direct and coordinate activities of workers or staff
  • evaluate aircraft pilots for flying proficiency
  • flight test new or altered aircraft
  • follow aviation emergency procedures
  • load/unload passenger luggage or cargo
  • maintain flight records or logs
  • make decisions
  • monitor aircraft operation to detect problems
  • operate helicopters
  • operate navigation technology or equipment
  • perform safety inspections in transportation setting
  • pilot aircraft
  • plan flight patterns
  • read maps
  • read navigation charts
  • respond to in-flight data
  • review flight data prior to flight
  • sustain attention in air traffic emergencies
  • teach flight school
  • transport passengers or cargo
  • understand English for aviation communications
  • understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
  • use aircraft safety regulations
  • use established traffic or transportation procedures
  • use knowledge of geographic coordinates
  • use local or regional geographical knowledge to transportation
  • use two-way radio or mobile phone
  • use visual flight procedures

Military Crosswalk Titles

  • AH-1 Attack Pilot (RC) (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • AH-64A Attack Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • AH-64D Attack Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • ARH-70A Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Aviation Pilot (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • Aviation, General (Army - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Basic Pilot, Basic Rotary Wing (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Billet Designator-Helicopter Pilot (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Billet Designator-Helicopter Pilot (Marine Corps - Commissioned or Warrant Officer)
  • Billet Designator-Helicopter Pilot (Marine Corps - Warrant Officer only)
  • CH-47A/B/C Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • CH-47D Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • CH-47F Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • CH-54 Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Helicopter Pilot (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Helicopter Pilot, Air Liaison Officer (ALO) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Helicopter Pilot, HH-1H (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Helicopter Pilot, HH-3 (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Helicopter Pilot, SUPT-H Instructor (UH-1/TH-67/TH-1N) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Helicopter Pilot, UH-1H (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Light Plane Pilot (Coast Guard - Enlisted)
  • MH-47 Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • MH-60 Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • OH-58A/C Pilot (Observation) (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • OH-58A/C Scout Pilot (RC) (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • OH-58D Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • OH-6 Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Pilot Helicopter, AH-1Z/UH-1Y (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, AH-1 Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, CH-46 Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, CH-53 A/D Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, CH-53E Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, FRS Basic AH-1 (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, FRS Basic CH-46 (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, FRS Basic CH-53D (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, FRS Basic CH-53E (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, FRS Basic UH-1N (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Pilot HMH/M/L/A, UH-1 Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • RAH-66 COMMANCHE Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, Combat Search and Rescue, General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, CSAR-X (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, CVLSP (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, HH-60 (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, Other (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rescue Pilot, UH-1N (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Rotary Wing Aviator (Aircraft Nonspecific) (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • Special Operations Pilot, CAA (Rotary Wing) (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Special Operations Pilot, MH-53 (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Special Operations Pilot, MH-60 (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Special Operations Pilot, Special Operations Forces (SOF) Helicopter, General (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • Trainer Pilot, SUPT-H (Air Force - Commissioned Officer only)
  • UH-1 Pilot (RC) (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • UH-60 Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • UH-60M Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • UH-72A Pilot (Army - Warrant Officer only)
  • VH-3D Presidential Helicopter Pilot Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)
  • VH-60N Presidential Helicopter Pilot Qualified (Marine Corps - Commissioned Officer only)

Apprenticeship Crosswalk Titles

  • Air Transport Pilot

DOT Crosswalk Titles

  • Airplane Pilot
  • Airplane Pilot, Commercial
  • Airplane Pilot, Photogrammetry
  • Helicopter Pilot