What does a pilot do?
A pilot is an individual who works in the aviation industry to operate aircraft and transport passengers and cargos from one location to another. Pilots can fly and navigate different types of aircrafts such as helicopters, large commercial aircraft, or cargo planes. They must perform pre-flight inspections and check flight logs to secure safety for all crews and passengers who are on board. Pilots can also decide to work as flight instructors or establish an aviation school when they have gained enough experience in the aviation industry.
Pilot responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real pilot resumes:
- Pilot company Lear 35 and manage the department.
- Manage the UAV payload on the ground and in the air to meet customer expectations.
- Serve as a professional pilot managing a flight crew and ensuring safe transportation of VIP's internationally.
- Supervise aircraft maintenance activity on P-3C patrol and UH-1N helicopter aircraft.
- Transport people and parts to offshore facilities in VFR and IFR conditions
- Serve as remote pic and visual observer on a team on various projects involving UAV applications.
- Experience in international operations to countries including Mexico, Canada, Belize, and multiple countries in the Caribbean.
- Co-Manage the DOD's only combat flight inspection operation.validate the safety of civilian and military airspace, procedures and facilities.
- Hire to pilot UAV aircraft for students to complete their PHD thesis on a variety of disciplines that incorporate GPS technologies.
- Flight duties include GPS and or VOR navigation, radio operations, and using effective crew resource management in IFR operations.
- Train initial and recurrent students in classroom and simulator environment including aircraft systems, system integration training and aircraft operations.
- Certify flight instruction, CFI & CFII.
- Support PIC on each leg.
- Receive ATP with single pilot type rating.
- Provide CRM courseware and ICAO/ FMS-GPS procedural instruction.
Pilot skills and personality traits
We calculated that 16% of Pilots are proficient in PIC, Pilot-In-Command, and Flight Operations. They’re also known for soft skills such as Communication skills, Problem-solving skills, and Quick reaction time.
We break down the percentage of Pilots that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- PIC, 16%
Perform the duties of PIC and SIC while clients are training and being evaluated in CL65 flight simulator.
- Pilot-In-Command, 13%
Directed and assisted Pilot-In-Command in emergency procedures.
- Flight Operations, 8%
Conducted domestic and international flight operations with additional duties including aircraft management, logistics planning and customer service.
- ATP, 7%
Certified FAA License ATP with type rating DA - 20 Aircraft.
- Helicopter, 5%
Reacted with expedited mission management and delegated to the aircrews for efficient no-notice helicopter launches.
- Federal Aviation, 5%
Assisted captain in operating transport category aircraft Embraer-190, efficiently and within compliance of all company procedures and Federal Aviation Regulations.
Common skills that a pilot uses to do their job include "pic," "pilot-in-command," and "flight operations." You can find details on the most important pilot responsibilities below.
Communication skills. The most essential soft skill for a pilot to carry out their responsibilities is communication skills. This skill is important for the role because "pilots must speak clearly when conveying information to air traffic controllers and other crew members." Additionally, a pilot resume shows how their duties depend on communication skills: "coordinate communications between air traffic control to ensure required rules and regulations was approved before every flight day. "
Problem-solving skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling pilot duties is problem-solving skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "pilots must be able to identify complex problems and figure out appropriate solutions." According to a pilot resume, here's how pilots can utilize problem-solving skills in their job responsibilities: "resolved numerous conflicts arising in daily flight operations. "
Quick reaction time. pilots are also known for quick reaction time, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to pilot responsibilities, because "pilots must respond quickly, and with good judgment, to any impending danger." A pilot resume example shows how quick reaction time is used in the workplace: "single pilot ifr operations flying time critical chemotherapy supplies and interest bearing federal reserve notes. "
The three companies that hire the most pilots are:
- Executive Jet Management34 pilots jobs
- NetJets34 pilots jobs
- Air Methods23 pilots jobs
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Compare different pilots
Pilot vs. Captain/check airman
There are some key differences in the responsibilities of each position. For example, pilot responsibilities require skills like "pilot-in-command," "flight operations," "atp," and "helicopter." Meanwhile a typical captain/check airman has skills in areas such as "faa," "passenger safety," "line checks," and "unscheduled." This difference in skills reveals the differences in what each career does.
On average, captain/check airmen reach similar levels of education than pilots. Captain/check airmen are 1.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Pilot vs. Check airman
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that pilot responsibilities requires skills like "flight operations," "atp," "helicopter," and "federal aviation." But a check airman might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "line checks," "recurrent training," "airmen," and "instructor pilot."
Check airmen earn higher levels of education than pilots in general. They're 6.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 1.4% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pilot vs. Plane captain
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a pilot is likely to be skilled in "pic," "pilot-in-command," "flight operations," and "atp," while a typical plane captain is skilled in "hand tools," "cleanliness," "maintenance manuals," and "fod."
Most plane captains achieve a lower degree level compared to pilots. For example, they're 6.5% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 1.2% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Pilot vs. Air ambulance captain
Even though a few skill sets overlap between pilots and air ambulance captains, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a pilot might have more use for skills like "pic," "pilot-in-command," "flight operations," and "atp." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of air ambulance captains require skills like "faa," "single pilot," "patient transport," and "medical equipment. "
Air ambulance captains reach higher levels of education compared to pilots, in general. The difference is that they're 5.4% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.3% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of pilot
Updated January 8, 2025
