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Chief pilot vs co pilot

The differences between chief pilots and co pilots can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a chief pilot and a co pilot. Additionally, a co pilot has an average salary of $93,703, which is higher than the $86,920 average annual salary of a chief pilot.

The top three skills for a chief pilot include flight operations, pilot-in-command and PIC. The most important skills for a co pilot are FAA, PIC, and flight operations.

Chief pilot vs co pilot overview

Chief PilotCo Pilot
Yearly salary$86,920$93,703
Hourly rate$41.79$45.05
Growth rate6%6%
Number of jobs16,6387,852
Job satisfaction45
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4444
Years of experience44

Chief pilot vs co pilot salary

Chief pilots and co pilots have different pay scales, as shown below.

Chief PilotCo Pilot
Average salary$86,920$93,703
Salary rangeBetween $59,000 And $126,000Between $72,000 And $121,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCalifornia-
Best paying companyNetJets-
Best paying industryManufacturing-

Differences between chief pilot and co pilot education

There are a few differences between a chief pilot and a co pilot in terms of educational background:

Chief PilotCo Pilot
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 68%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorAviationAviation
Most common collegeSUNY FarmingdaleSUNY Farmingdale

Chief pilot vs co pilot demographics

Here are the differences between chief pilots' and co pilots' demographics:

Chief PilotCo Pilot
Average age4444
Gender ratioMale, 95.6% Female, 4.4%Male, 83.8% Female, 16.2%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 2.7% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 7.0% Asian, 2.7% White, 81.9% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%Black or African American, 2.6% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 6.8% Asian, 2.7% White, 82.1% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.3%
LGBT Percentage9%9%

Differences between chief pilot and co pilot duties and responsibilities

Chief pilot example responsibilities.

  • Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
  • Maintain and operate aircraft to FAA standards for airworthiness and maintenance.
  • Take ownership of the entire storage infrastructure, from Compellent SAN to third-party technology products.
  • Perform the duties of, flight planning, aircraft utilization and pilot/co-pilot duties in the Caribbean.
  • File IFR flight plans with FSS, calculate weight/balance and fuel requirements prior to each flight segment.
  • Develop and implement operational and administrative policies to align company policies and procedures with government (FAA) regulatory guidelines.
  • Show more

Co pilot example responsibilities.

  • Lead performance analysis, plan test sequences, document test details, and liaise with engineers and FAA representatives.
  • Operate company-owned aircraft in compliance with all FAA regulations and international procedures.
  • Assist with all aspects of administration, logistics and equipment inventory, ensuring successful financial execution.
  • Conduct pilot proficiency and standardization evaluations in both A320 aircraft and simulator.

Chief pilot vs co pilot skills

Common chief pilot skills
  • Flight Operations, 15%
  • Pilot-In-Command, 9%
  • PIC, 8%
  • Operations Specifications, 6%
  • Training Programs, 5%
  • ATP, 4%
Common co pilot skills
  • FAA, 44%
  • PIC, 40%
  • Flight Operations, 8%
  • SIC, 3%
  • ISR, 2%
  • Corporate Aircraft, 1%

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