In the Air Force:
Astronaut; Bomber/Special Electronic Warfare and Radar Surveillance Integrated Avionics Helper, B-52; Experimental Test Pilot, Tanker; Flight Engineer Apprentice, E-4; Flight Engineer Journeyman, MC-130H; Mobility Pilot, Intra-Theater Airlift, General; Reconnaissance/Surveillance/Electronic Warfare Pilot, TR-1/U-2; Rescue Combat Systems Officer, HC-130J; Special Mission Aviator Journeyman, AC-130U; Special Operations Pilot, AC-130U; Trainer Pilot, T-7
In the Army:
0-5A/EO-5B/RC-7 Pilot; AH-64D Attack Pilot; Army Astronaut; Aviation, General; CH-47F Pilot; Jet Aircraft Pilot; Medical Service Corps Officer; OH-58D Pilot; UH-1 Pilot (RC); UH-60M Pilot
In the Coast Guard:
Aviation Engineering Specialty; Aviation Maintenance Technician; Avionics Electrical Technician
In the Marine Corps:
AV-8B Air Combat Tactics Instructor (ACTI) Qualification; Basic Fixed Wing Pilot; Colonel, Naval Aviator/Naval Flight Officer/Unmanned Aircraft System Officer; Formal School Officer Instructor-Naval Flight Officer; Naval Flight Officer (NFO), Qualified EA-6B Electronic Warfare Officer; Pilot HMH/M/L/A, CH-46 Qualified; Pilot VMA AV-8B Qualified; Pilot VMGR, KC-130 Aircraft Commander; Pilot VMR UC-35 Qualified; Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) Operator; Weapons and Tactics Instructor
In the Navy:
Aviator; CWO - Operations, Aviation; Flight Instructor, Training Planes; Flight Instructor-Pilot, Fleet Operational Aircraft; Naval Aircrewman (Avionics); Naval Flight Officer Instructor, Training Planes; Special Project Airborne Electronics Evaluator; Squadron Commanding Officer; Test Pilot; URL - Aviation Warfare Officer, Pilot
Flying a plane safely through the sky… with passengers or freight on board… takes more than excellent vision… airline and commercial pilots need quick reaction times and excellent problem-solving abilities. These pilots fly and navigate airplanes, helicopters, and other aircraft. Pilots run through detailed checks before every flight, including checking fuel supplies, aircraft weight limit, cargo balance, weather conditions, and aircraft condition. Tiny cockpits contain the flight crew for the duration of flight; strong teamwork and sharing of flight duties keep the pilot and copilot alert and rested. Pilots communicate frequently with air traffic controllers on the ground, from submitting their flight plan before take-off, to checking in during a flight, and receiving instructions for landing and handling storms or emergencies. Airline pilots fly public, scheduled flights. They may fly long-distance routes, and be away from home for extended periods. Those routes, along with mandatory rest periods between flights, cause pilots to have irregular work schedules. Pilots may be deputized as federal officers and carry firearms to protect the cockpit. Commercial pilots fly charter flights, rescue operations, firefighting missions, crop dusting flights, and take aerial photographs. They often have additional duties that include scheduling flights and aircraft maintenance. Those who fly at low levels must navigate hazards such as power lines. Commercial pilots typically need high school education, while airline pilots generally need a bachelor’s degree, the Airline Transport Pilot certificate, and thousands of hours of flight experience as a commercial or military pilot. All professional pilots must have a commercial pilot’s license from the Federal Aviation Administration. Flight training usually begins at a flight school or with an independent instructor.
What they do:
Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, national, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.
On the job, you would:
Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
Transportation
movement of people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road
Arts and Humanities
English language
Engineering and Technology
mechanical
computers and electronics
Math and Science
geography
Basic Skills
keeping track of how well people and/or groups are doing in order to make improvements
listening to others, not interrupting, and asking good questions
Problem Solving
noticing a problem and figuring out the best way to solve it
People and Technology Systems
thinking about the pros and cons of different options and picking the best one
figuring out how a system should work and how changes in the future will affect it
Controlled Movement
quickly decide if you should move your hand, foot, or other body part
quickly change the controls of a machine, car, truck or boat
Attention
do two or more things at the same time
pay attention to something without being distracted
Vision
see details that are far away
see details up close
Visual Understanding
quickly compare groups of letters, numbers, pictures, or other things
People interested in this work like activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions.
They do well at jobs that need:
Attention to Detail
Dependability
Self Control
Cooperation
Stress Tolerance
Integrity
You might use software like this on the job:
Spreadsheet software
Microsoft Excel
Presentation software
Microsoft PowerPoint
Data base user interface and query software
Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC
CoPilot Flight Planning & E6B
bachelor's degree or high school diploma/GED usually needed
In the military:
see titles from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, or Navy.
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