| Agricultural
Pilot (Aerial
Applicator) |
An
agricultural pilot flies airplanes and/or helicopters
carrying various chemicals and compounds such as herbicides,
insecticides, seeds and fertilizers to spray farmlands,
crops, forests, orchards, fields, or swamps. Some jobs
also require aerial surveying of wildlife animals, cattle,
and crops, or disbursing fire-extinguishing agents on
forest fires.
Salary Range
$20,000 - $70,000
Educational Requirements
High school diploma, special training, and license
Employers
Agricultural operators, large farms
There are different types of test pilots such as Experimental,
Engineering, and Production Test Pilots. Test pilots
must have “nerves of steel.” It is the most
hazardous job of all pilot jobs. Their job involves
testing new and overhauled airplanes to make sure they
are airworthy, which includes, but not limited to: testing
the limits of airplane’s design strength, performance
capabilities, and equipment, preparing written and oral
reports on their flight experiences, and making suggestions
for improvements. Test pilots that work for the FAA
may test new types of navigational aids or experimental
equipment aboard an airplane.
Salary Range
$15,000 - $200,000
Educational Requirements
College Preferred
Employers
FAA, airlines, aircraft manufacturing plants, government
agencies
|
Major/National Airline
Pilot |
For many pilots, the ultimate job is to be a major airline
pilot. Major/national airline pilots fly passengers
or freight/cargo to major and mid-size domestic and/or
international cities. There are numerous major/national
airlines in the United States, Canada, and other countries.
These airlines operate large jet aircraft manufactured
by Boeing such as the B-737, B-757, B-777, and Airbus
such as the A321, A330. Some
of the benefits of working for the major airlines
include: average annual salary between $100,000 and
$200,000 or more, flying a variety of airplanes, more
than 12 days off per month, excellent working conditions,
excellent benefits (health and medical) and retirement
plans, travel passes, and other privileges.
Airline
pilots begin their careers as First Officers (Co-Pilots)
with a regional airline, large corporation, or military
branch. After accumulating the necessary flight hours
and experience, they apply for pilot positions with
major/national airlines. Once hired by the major/national
airline, they begin as either a First Officer or Flight
Engineer. There are two-three types of pilot
positions with airlines: Captain, First Officer,
and Flight Engineer.
Salary Range
$23,000 - $250,000 or more
Educational Requirements
College Preferred; most require 4 year degree
Employers
Major and National Airlines
|
Commuter/Regional
Airline Pilot |
Many pilots use the regional airlines as a “stepping
stone” to accumulate the necessary flight hours
and experience to apply to the major/national airlines.
Regional airlines fly short/mid-range routes to small/mid-sized
cities to transport passengers to the major cities for
the major/national airlines to continue their trip.
They operate various airplanes ranging from turboprop
to small jet airplanes such as the Jetstream 32 and
41, Beech 1900, Saab 340, ATR, Dash-8, Regional Jet,
and others. These airplanes carry between 19 and 70
passengers. There are numerous regional airlines (link)
throughout the United States and Canada. Regional
airline pilots work more hours, have less days off,
smaller retirement plans, and lower pay rates compared
to the major/national airline pilots. There are two
types of pilot positions with the regional airlines:
Captain and First Officer.
Salary Range
$16,500 - $60,000
Educational Requirements
College Preferred; most require 4 year degree
Employers
Commuter and Regional Airlines
Air freight/cargo pilots fly time sensitive packages,
letters, freight, and cargo such as bank checks, express
packages, perishable food items, and more to small and
major cities. There are a few major air freight/cargo
companies in the United States, Canada, and other countries
such as UPS, FedEx, DHL, which operate large jet airplanes
such as B-757, B-767, B-747, A-321. There are also numerous
small to mid-size companies that have contracts with
some of the major cargo carries that operate various
small twin-engine, to turboprop and small jet aircrafts
such as the Piper Senecas, Beech Barons, Piper Aerostars
and the LearJets. These pilots typically fly during
the late night and early morning hours between 9p.m.
to 7a.m.
Salary Range
$25,000 - $200,000 or more
Educational Requirements
College Preferred; most require 4 year degree
Employers
Major Air Freight/Cargo Airlines
Private Companies
Helicopter
pilots typically fly short flights in duration at low
altitudes carrying workers and/or supplies to offshore
oil rigs, transporting accident victims to a hospital
heliport, lifting heavy loads to tops of buildings or
to remote mountain sites, rescuing stranded people,
or disbursing fire extinguishing agents on forest fires.
Helicopter pilots can maneuver their helicopter to hover
over a particular area, or land on a small cleared area.
Salary Range
$29,000 - $57,000
Educational Requirements
College Preferred; most require 4 year degree
Employers
Helicopter Operators, Large Corporations, Private Companies,
Hospitals, Government Agencies, Radio and TV Stations
Corporate
pilots fly aircraft owned by businesses or industrial
firms transporting company executives to domestic and/or
international cities for company business. The types
of airplanes flown vary between turbo-prop planes (i.e.
King-Air), executive jets (i.e. Citations to Gulfstreams),
and large jets (i.e. Boeing 737). Corporate pilots are
responsible for planning all aspects of each trip such
as flight planning, arranging for passenger meals and
ground transportation at destinations, loading and unloading
baggage, supervising the servicing and maintenance of
the aircraft, keeping aircraft records, and more.
Unlike
airline pilots, corporate pilots fly less routine
schedules and irregular hours. These pilots fly to
unfamiliar airports, and exotic or exciting places.
They are also at the call of the company executives
whenever they need to travel on company business.
Some large companies have several airplanes and a
flight department, in which their pilots may fly a
regular schedule. The benefits and compensations are
dependent on the type and size of the company.
Salary Range
$19,400-$115,000
Educational Requirements
College preferred; most require 4-year degree
Employers
Large Corporations (with a flight department)
Private Companies (with a flight department)
|
Air
Taxi or Charter Pilot |
Air
Taxi or Charter pilots fly fare-paying passengers to
destinations of their choice, as service demands. Some
pilots also fly cargo. Their flights are usually for
short to mid-range trips over varying routes in various
twin-engine airplanes to small executive jets such as
Beech Barons, King-Airs, Learjets, etc. Air
Taxi or Charter companies offer greater control and
flexibility in travel arrangements to accommodate
their customers. Some air taxi/charter companies have
scheduled flights to specific destinations similar
to an airline, but on a much smaller scale. Once air
taxi/charter pilots accumulate the necessary flight
hours and experience, most pilots apply to the (major,
national, or regional) airlines or large corporations
for career advancement.
Salary Range
$8-$18/hr
Educational Requirements
College preferred
Employers
Fixed Base Operators, Air Taxi Operators
Flight
Instructors teach students how to fly by demonstrating
and explaining, on the ground and in the air, basic
principles of flight, aerial navigation, communications
procedures, weather factors, and Federal Aviation Regulations
all pilots must adhere too. They also prepare their
students for various exams to help them earn their pilot
certificate(s) or rating(s).
| There
are three types of flight instructors: |
| 1. |
Certified
Flight Instructor (CFI) – teach students
seeking a Recreational, Private, or Commercial
Pilot Certificate. |
| 2. |
Certified
Instrument Instructor (CFII) - teach students
seeking an Instrument Rating. |
| 3. |
Multi-Engine
Instructor (MEI) – teach students seeking
a Multi-Engine Rating. |
Flight instructors work irregular hours, which are based
on several factors such as the type of seasons (i.e.
Summer, Winter), weather conditions, and students’
schedules. Once flight instructors accumulate the necessary
flight hours and experience, most instructors apply
to the regional airlines to earn the flight experience
required by the major/national airlines.
Salary Range
$12,300-$40,530
Educational Requirements
H. S. Diploma; flight instructors training
Employers
Flight Schools; Colleges/Universities with Flight Training
Programs
Military
pilots fly for one of the branches within the U.S. Armed
Forces (such as the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines,
National Guard, Coast Guards, and Reserves) defending
the United States of America and other interests around
the world. The types of aircraft flown are dependent
on the military branch, which range from small turbo-prop
airplanes, fighter jets, helicopters, to small executive
jets, and large transport airplanes. Most military pilots
also pursue careers as major/national airline pilots.
Salary Range
$21,000 - $99,000
Educational Requirements
College preferred
Employers
U.S. Armed Forces
Ferry
pilots fly new or old aircrafts from the aircraft’s
manufacturing plant to the customers or dealers' showrooms,
or from the seller to the buyer, etc. Ferry pilots may
fly various types of aircraft ranging from single and
twin-engine airplanes to small and large jets. Once
ferry pilots accumulate the necessary flight hours and
experience, most pilots apply to the regional airlines
to earn the flight experience required by the major/national
airlines.
Salary Range
$12,000-$65,000
Educational Requirements
H. S. Diploma
Employers
Aircraft manufacturers and dealers
| Other
pilot jobs include: |
| • |
Pipeline
Patrol Pilot
Pipeline/Patrol Pilots fly over various terrains,
frequently at low altitudes inspecting pipelines
or power lines, checking for signs of damage,
vandalism and other conditions requiring repairs.
Some pilots’ fly along the U.S. borders
patrolling these areas for illegal activities. |
| • |
Flight
Navigator
Flight Navigators plot the flight’s
course, reports positions, fuel consumption, estimates
arrival time, and other duties. |
| • |
Check
Pilot
Check pilots observe other pilots' procedures
and proficiency for certain flight maneuvers to
ensure that they are flying safely in the aircraft.
They also train new pilots. |
| • |
Aerial
Sight-seeing Pilot/Guide
Aerial Sightseeing pilots conduct sightseeing
tours for passengers by flying around tourist
attractions within their city. |
| • |
Flight
Simulator Instructor
Flight Simulator Instructors train new pilots
and observe other pilots' procedures and proficiency
for certain flight maneuvers to ensure that they
are flying safely in a flight simulator. |
| • |
Skywriter
Skywriter pilots fly small airplanes
that release chemicals in the sky as they perform
their aerobatic maneuvers to create words and/or
signs to be observed from the audience on the
ground. |
| |
Banner-tow
Pilot
Banner-tow pilots fly small airplanes or helicopters
with a company’s large banner sign attached
to the airplane’s tail to market their products
or services. |
| • |
Stunt
Pilot
Stunt pilots perform aerobatic maneuvers
at air shows displaying their flying skills and
stunts (at various altitudes ranging from 1,500
to possibly 10,000 feet) to audiences watching
from the ground. |
| • |
Traffic
Control Pilot
Traffic control pilots usually fly small single-engine
airplanes or helicopters for local TV and Radio
Stations around the city to monitor and report
traffic congestion, delays, accidents, etc. |
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