Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers
| Description |
OES Code: 97702 |
Pilot and navigate flight of private or commercial aircraft for the transportation of passengers, freight, mail, or for other purposes. Must be Federally licensed. Include workers concerned with flight operations and maintenance when a pilot's or flight engineer's license is required. Include Test Pilots, Helicopter Pilots, and pilots who accompany other pilots to periodically test and review proficiency.
Wages, Hourly
| Entry-Level Hourly Wage |
$16.92 |
| 25th Percentile |
$19.59 |
| 50th Percentile (Median) |
$23.34 |
| 75th Percentile |
$31.80 |
Wages by California County
Hours & Benefits
By federal law Airline Pilots cannot fly more than 100 hours a month or 1,000 hours a year. Most pilots average 80 flying hours a month; however, total duty hours, including time for preflight and post-flight duties, repairs, and terminal delays can exceed 150 hours a month. The work hours of Agricultural Pilots, on the other hand, vary during the year according to seasons, weather, cycles of insects and weeds, the number of daylight hours and wind velocity. Pilots who seed small grains fly from early morning until dusk seven days a week for periods of several weeks or months. Pilots dusting crops with hazardous chemicals normally fly the first two or three daylight hours each morning. Some pilots have equipped their aircraft with lights and work at night.
Usual benefits include medical and dental insurance, retirement programs, paid vacation, and free or reduced rates on personal and family airline travel. Many Agricultural Pilots get sick leave and health insurance but seldom receive paid vacations since their work is seasonal.
Employment Trends
| Employment 1998 |
7,200 |
| Projected Employment 2008 |
8,300 |
| Percent Change 1998-2008 |
15.3% |
| Separations 1998-2008 |
1,700 |
Employment Trends by California County
Advancement
Advancement for Airline Pilots may involve moving from a small airline to a major carrier. Advancement within the same company depends largely on seniority. Flight engineers may become copilots within 2 to 7 years and captains within 5 to 15 years. Some pilots become check pilots, chief pilots, or self-employed. A few pilots transfer to managerial jobs. Experienced pilots move up the seniority list and become eligible to bid for larger aircraft, more desirable schedules, routes, or their own home base. Promotional opportunities for Agricultural Pilots include advancing to managerial positions or purchasing their own aircraft to become independent contractors or pest control operators.
Getting the Job & Other Information
Most pilots find employment by contacting employers directly. More entry opportunities for airline pilots will be with the regional airlines. Pilot unions also list employment opportunities. Photogrammetry Pilots should look in the yellow pages under Aerial Photography. The California Agricultural Aircraft Association aids Agricultural Pilots in finding employment. The Helicopter Association International provides employment services for Helicopter Pilots.
For a list of current job listing, browse Caljobs or America's Job Bank. |
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Education and Training
All pilots paid to fly passengers or cargo must have a commercial pilot's license with instrument ratings from the Federal Aviation Administration. Candidates must be at least 18 years old and have 250 hours or more of flying experience. They must pass a practical flight test, two written tests, and a medical examination. Captains and copilots must have an airline transport pilot's certificate. Agricultural Pilots must pass a written test given by the State Department of Food and Agriculture to obtain needed State licenses: Apprentice Pest Control aircraft Pilot Certificate or Journeyman Pest Control aircraft Pilot Certificate. They must also register with the country agricultural commissioner in each county where aerial pest control is performed. They must also serve a minimum of one year as an apprentice. They must complete 20 hours of continuing education every two years.
Certificates and ratings for all pilots are valid as long as they continue to pass periodic checks of their physical condition and flying skills. Minimum educational requirements for most
commercial airlines are high school graduation or two years of college. However, 95 percent of pilots hired by large commercial airlines during 1991 had four years or more of college. Pilot training is given in military or civilian flight schools. According to the APLA "more than half of the pilots currently flying for U.S. airlines have had military training…however, the military are training fewer pilots and requiring longer service commitments. You can reach your goal of becoming an airline pilot sooner through civilian training, much of which is geared to airline flying."
Two California community colleges offer programs in professional aircraft pilot and navigation: Cypress Community College and Long Beach City College. There are also 33 private schools in California that offer professional aircraft pilot and navigator training.
According to the ALPA, most airlines require at least 1,500 flight hours in multi-engine aircraft. Newly hired pilots for regional airlines average over 2,000 hours. The average multi-engine flight hours for new hires at major airlines is 4,000.
Helicopter Pilots need about 1,000 hours of helicopter flight time to be competitive for jobs. Most earn those hours as flying instructors after obtaining their own helicopter pilot’s certification.
Skills & Other Requirements
Aircraft Pilots frequently use the following skills and abilities:
--Spatial Orientation: Able to know one's location in relation to the environment, or to know where other objects are in relation to one's self.
--Control Precision: Able to quickly and repeatedly make precise adjustments to controls.
--Coordination: Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions
--Operation Monitoring: Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly
References
California Occupational Guide #290
Related Occupations: Air Traffic Controller, Aircraft Mechanic
Training: California Training and Education Providers (CTEP)
© 2000 California Occupation Information Coordinating Committee |
