According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor. | 98% |
| Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | 97% |
| Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings. | 97% |
| Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions. | 97% |
| Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists. | 96% |
| Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. | 96% |
| Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. | 94% |
| Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed. | 94% |
| Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers. | 93% |
| Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met. | 91% |
| Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions. | 88% |
| Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. | 86% |
| Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights. | 85% |
| Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities. | 84% |
| Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems. | 83% |
| File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic. | 81% |
| Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance. | 80% |
| Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights. | 79% |
| Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights. | 79% |
| Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency. | 76% |
| Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight. | 74% |
| Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption. | 74% |
| Load smaller aircraft, handling passenger luggage and supervising refueling. | 72% |
| Test and evaluate the performance of new aircraft. | 66% |
| Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems. | 63% |
| Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. | 61% |
