According to people in this career, the main tasks are...
| Task | Importance |
|---|---|
| Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor. | 96% |
| Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures. | 95% |
| Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights. | 95% |
| Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly. | 95% |
| Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne. | 93% |
| Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment. | 92% |
| Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes. | 91% |
| File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic. | 89% |
| Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly. | 89% |
| Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights. | 88% |
| Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments. | 88% |
| Rescue and evacuate injured persons. | 88% |
| Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights. | 87% |
| Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required. | 86% |
| Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures. | 85% |
| Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate. | 84% |
| Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption. | 83% |
| Supervise other crew members. | 82% |
| Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations. | 82% |
| Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots. | 79% |
| Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency. | 78% |
| Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance. | 77% |
| 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. | 76% |
| Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports. | 73% |
| Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides. | 73% |
| Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes. | 61% |
