Commercial Pilots
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing 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. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.
What is this job like?
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
- Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
- Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
- Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
- Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.
- Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
- Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
- Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.
- 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.
- Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
- Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.
- 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.
- Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
- Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
- Supervise other crew members.
- Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
Local Wage Data
Showing wage data for: New Orleans
Entry
Median
High
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Hourly Wage
$46,950
$80,310
$162,270
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