Commercial Pilots Go Back to List Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-winged 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.

Technology used in this occupation:
	Information retrieval or search software

Tasks
	Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
	Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
	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.
	Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
	Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
	Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
	Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
	Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
	Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.

Skills
	Operation and Control - Controlling operations of equipment or systems.
	Operation 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.
	Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
	Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
	Active Learning - Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
	Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
	Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

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.
	Public Safety and Security - Knowledge of relevant equipment, policies, procedures, and strategies to promote effective local, state, or national security operations for the protection of people, data, property, and institutions.
	Computers and Electronics - Knowledge of circuit boards, processors, chips, electronic equipment, and computer hardware and software, including applications and programming.
	Mathematics - Knowledge of arithmetic, algebra, geometry, calculus, statistics, and their applications.
	Administration and Management - Knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, and coordination of people and resources.
	Education and Training - Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
	Mechanical - Knowledge of machines and tools, including their designs, uses, repair, and maintenance.

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Education & Training   Education:   Most occupations in this zone require training in vocational schools, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree.   Related Experience:   Previous work-related skill, knowledge, or experience is required for these occupations. For example, an electrician must have completed three or four years of apprenticeship or several years of vocational training, and often must have passed a licensing exam, in order to perform the job.

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Wage Information
	Region Average Entry Level  Mid-Range  Annual  Hourly  Statewide $223,359.00 N/A  N/A  N/A - N/A  Bridgeport/Stamford $238,351.00 N/A  N/A  N/A - N/A  Hartford $162,332.00 N/A  N/A  N/A - N/A  New Haven $177,921.00 N/A  N/A  N/A - N/A

Occupation Outlook ( 2016 - 2026 ) Average Annual Job Openings:   42   Employment in this occupation is expected to grow more slowly than average, and the number of annual openings will offer limited job opportunities.

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	Some of the occupational information on this page is formulated from O*NETTM v17.0 data. O*NETTM is a trademark of the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration.