What does an aircraft pilot do?
An aircraft pilot handles the operations and maintenance of an aircraft. They are responsible for the safety of the aircraft, the passengers, and the crew. An aircraft pilot must have the required flight time experience, the necessary licenses, and a complete understanding of all airline safety protocols. This position also requires organizational skills, discipline, communication skills, and the ability to work well under pressure.
Aircraft pilot responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real aircraft pilot resumes:
- Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
- Conduct academic and flight training for USAF and international pilots in air-to-air combat tactics.
- Plan, brief, execute and debrief air combat training missions.
- Assist with all aspects of administration, logistics and equipment inventory, ensuring successful financial execution.
- Coordinate with AATD and USMA to assist with visits to the UK.
Aircraft pilot skills and personality traits
We calculated that 38% of Aircraft Pilots are proficient in FAA, Airspace, and Mission Planning. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Problem-solving skills, and Quick reaction time.
We break down the percentage of Aircraft Pilots that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- FAA, 38%
Developed and administered the unit's Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Congested Area Plan.
- Airspace, 11%
Coordinated with the U.S. Air Force for operational airspace usage before, during, and after commencement of hostilities.
- Mission Planning, 8%
Weather Observer Force protection Morse Code Communicator Mission planning Flag hoisting Emergency Medical Team Quality Assurance Manager Maintenance Manager Assistant Navigator
- UAS, 8%
Teach developed courses to First Responders to ensure safe and efficient operation of UAS.
- Army Aviation, 6%
Planned and directed the quality control management program for the Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF).
- Combat, 6%
Commanded a reconnaissance aircraft of 20 airmen on over 25 combat flights over Afghanistan.
"faa," "airspace," and "mission planning" are among the most common skills that aircraft pilots use at work. You can find even more aircraft pilot responsibilities below, including:
Communication skills. One of the key soft skills for an aircraft pilot to have is communication skills. You can see how this relates to what aircraft pilots do because "pilots must speak clearly when conveying information to air traffic controllers and other crew members." Additionally, an aircraft pilot resume shows how aircraft pilots use communication skills: "developed sql statements and stored procedures for back end communication. "
Problem-solving skills. Many aircraft pilot duties rely on problem-solving skills. "pilots must be able to identify complex problems and figure out appropriate solutions," so an aircraft pilot will need this skill often in their role. This resume example is just one of many ways aircraft pilot responsibilities rely on problem-solving skills: "provided professional and safe air transport solutions on company owned aircraft under pt. "
Quick reaction time. This is an important skill for aircraft pilots to perform their duties. For an example of how aircraft pilot responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "pilots must respond quickly, and with good judgment, to any impending danger." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of an aircraft pilot: "qualified section and division/strike leader responsible for all aspects of wartime mission planning and execution. ".
The three companies that hire the most aircraft pilots are:
- Citi2 aircraft pilots jobs
- Delaware North2 aircraft pilots jobs
- Michels2 aircraft pilots jobs
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Compare different aircraft pilots
Aircraft pilot vs. Plane captain
An aviator, also known as a pilot, operates aircraft for commercial or private use. Although their duties vary upon their company or industry of employment, it usually entails performing regular inspections before and after every flight, coordinating with staff, maintaining an active communication line with air traffic controller, determining routes and schedules, analyzing flight plans, and monitoring the weather conditions. Moreover, as an aviator, it is essential to be proactive and professional in dealing with issues and concerns.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between aircraft pilots and plane captain. For instance, aircraft pilot responsibilities require skills such as "faa," "airspace," "support facility," and "mission planning." Whereas a plane captain is skilled in "hand tools," "cleanliness," "maintenance manuals," and "fod." This is part of what separates the two careers.
The education levels that plane captains earn slightly differ from aircraft pilots. In particular, plane captains are 0.2% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree than an aircraft pilot. Additionally, they're 0.2% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Aircraft pilot vs. Captain/check airman
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that aircraft pilot responsibilities requires skills like "airspace," "support facility," "mission planning," and "uas." But a captain/check airman might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "passenger safety," "line checks," "unscheduled," and "training programs."
In general, captain/check airmen achieve similar levels of education than aircraft pilots. They're 4.9% more likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Aircraft pilot vs. Aviator
The required skills of the two careers differ considerably. For example, aircraft pilots are more likely to have skills like "faa," "airspace," "support facility," and "uas." But a aviator is more likely to have skills like "aircraft systems," "flight safety," "fixed wing aircraft," and "federal aviation administration."
Most aviators achieve a similar degree level compared to aircraft pilots. For example, they're 3.1% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 0.0% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Aircraft pilot vs. Check airman
Types of aircraft pilot
Updated January 8, 2025
