Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

• Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
• Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
• Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
• Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
• Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
• Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
• Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
• Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
• Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
• Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
• Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights.
• Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities.
• Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
• Record in log books information such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption.
• Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.

• 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.
• 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.
• Monitoring - Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
• Speaking - Talking to others to convey information effectively.
• Reading Comprehension - Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
• Judgment and Decision Making - Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
• Complex Problem Solving - Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
• Time Management - Managing one's own time and the time of others.

Source: O*NET OnLine information for Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers.