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Commercial Pilots
Also called : Captain, Charter Pilot, Check Airman, Commercial Pilot, EMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot), First Officer, Helicopter Pilot, Line Pilot, Pilot
What they do
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.
On the job, one would
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
KNOWLEDGE
- Transportation
Knowledge of principles and methods for moving people or goods by air, rail, sea, or road, including the relative costs and benefits.
- Customer and Personal Service
Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
- Geography
Knowledge of principles and methods for describing the features of land, sea, and air masses, including their physical characteristics, locations, interrelationships, and distribution of plant, animal, and human life.
- English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
SKILLS
- Operation and Control
Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
- Operations Monitoring
Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.
- Critical Thinking
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
- Monitoring
Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
- Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
ABILITIES
- Control Precision
The ability to quickly and repeatedly adjust the controls of a machine or a vehicle to exact positions.
- Far Vision
The ability to see details at a distance.
- Near Vision
The ability to see details at close range (within a few feet of the observer).
- Problem Sensitivity
The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing that there is a problem.
- Response Orientation
The ability to choose quickly between two or more movements in response to two or more different signals (lights, sounds, pictures). It includes the speed with which the correct response is started with the hand, foot, or other body part.
PERSONALITY
People interested in this work, will do well at jobs that need;
- Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
- Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
- Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
- Self-Control
Job requires maintaining composure, keeping emotions in check, controlling anger, and avoiding aggressive behavior, even in very difficult situations.
- Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
- Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
- Analytical Thinking
Job requires analyzing information and using logic to address work-related issues and problems.
- Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
- Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
- Leadership
Job requires a willingness to lead, take charge, and offer opinions and direction.
TECHNOLOGY
- Analytical or scientific software
- Aviation ground support software
- Calendar and scheduling software
- Charting software
- Data base user interface and query software
- Development environment software
- Flight control software
- Information retrieval or search software
- Map creation software
- Office suite software
- Project management software
EDUCATION AND TRAINING
- Preparation
Medium Preparation Needed
- Education
Training in vocational schools or an Associate deg
- Experience
Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations.
- Jobtraining
Employees in these occupations usually need one or two years of training involving both on-the-job experience and informal training with experienced workers.