Description

Air pilots fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to provide air transportation and other services such as crop spraying and aerial surveying. Flight engineers assist air pilots with monitoring, troubleshooting and maintenance of aircraft systems and with pre- and post-flight inspections. Flying instructors teach flying techniques and procedures to student and licensed pilots. Air pilots, flight engineers and flight instructors are employed by airline and air freight companies, flying schools and by other public and private sector aircraft operators.

Job Titles

• Aerial crop duster
• Airplane pilot
• Charter pilot
• Helicopter pilot
• Topographic survey pilot

Main Duties

• Conduct pre-flight inspection of aircraft and check passenger and cargo distribution to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met
• Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air-traffic control, inform crew members of flight and test procedures and direct activities of aircraft crew during flights
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions and other information
• Conduct in-flight tests and monitor functioning of aircraft equipment and systems during flights, maintain communications with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters and respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions
• Prepare flight evaluation reports
• Train pilots to use new equipment, or prepare them for examinations to revalidate or upgrade existing licences
• May fly new or experimental planes to examine their flight performance and safety
• May participate in search and rescue operations, forest firefighting, aerial surveying, crop dusting and other services.

Workplaces

• Airline and air freight companies
• Flying schools
• Private and public sector aircraft operators

Skills

• Digital Literacy
• Operation and Control
• Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment
• Critical Thinking
• Decision Making

Abilities

• Arm-Hand Steadiness
• Auditory Attention
• Control of Settings
• Depth Perception
• Far Vision

Personal Attributes

• Attention to Detail
• Stress Tolerance
• Active Learning
• Adaptability
• Analytical Thinking

Similar Occupations

• Air traffic controllers and related occupations (72601)

Source: OaSIS