Air Pilots, Flight Engineers, and Flying Instructors

Nature of work

Air pilots fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to provide air transportation and other services such as crop spraying and aerial surveying. Flight engineers (second officers) assist air pilots with monitoring, troubleshooting and maintenance of aircraft systems and with pre- and post-flight inspections. Flying instructors teach flying techniques and procedures to student and licensed pilots. Air pilots, flight engineers and flight instructors are employed by airline and air freight companies, flying schools and by other public and private sector aircraft operators.

Job duties

Air pilots perform some or all of the following duties:

• Conduct pre-flight inspection of aircraft and check passenger and cargo distribution to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
• Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air-traffic control, inform crew members of flight and test procedures and direct activities of aircraft crew during flights.
• Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions and other information.
• Conduct in-flight tests and monitor functioning of aircraft equipment and systems during flights, maintain communications with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters and respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
• Prepare flight evaluation reports.
• Train pilots to use new equipment, or prepare them for examinations to re-validate or upgrade existing licences.
• May fly new or experimental planes to examine their flight performance and safety.
• May participate in search and rescue operations, forest firefighting, aerial surveying, crop dusting and other services.

Flight engineers perform some or all of the following duties:

• Inspect aircraft prior to takeoff according to pre-flight checklist and verify passenger and cargo distribution to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
• Assist air pilots in monitoring aircraft systems, equipment and functions during flight.
• Make in-flight repairs, such as replacing fuses and adjusting instruments, and follow emergency procedures to compensate for equipment malfunction or failure.
• Perform post-flight inspections, record equipment malfunctions and corrective actions taken during flight and report required repairs to ground maintenance personnel.

Flying instructors perform some or all of the following duties:

• Instruct student pilots in procedures and techniques of flying aircraft and in ground-school subjects such as navigation, radio procedures and flying regulations.
• Train licensed pilots for additional certification.

Sample job titles

• aerial sprayer
• air pilot
• airline transport pilot
• airplane pilot
• charter pilot
• commercial airline pilot
• flight engineer
• flight instructor
• helicopter pilot
• pipeline air patrol pilot

Skills

To work in these fields, you should have self-confidence and a strong sense of responsibility, and be a disciplined person able to work as part of the team on board the aircraft. Leadership qualities, initiative, and good communication skills are essential. You must be alert, quick-thinking, and able to perform under stress. Excellent coordination, agility, and physical and mental health are necessary. A mechanical aptitude is also important.

Job requirements

Pilots and flight engineers:

• Completion of high school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required.
• A university degree or college diploma may be required.
• A commercial pilot's licence or an air transport pilot's licence is required.
• Additional licences or endorsements to fly different types of aircraft are required.
• Flight engineers require a flight engineer licence issued by Transport Canada.
• Structured training is provided by employers.

Flight instructors:

• Completion of high school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required.
• A university degree or college diploma may be required.
• A commercial pilot's or an air transport pilot's licence is required.
• Transport Canada ratings and endorsements to provide instructions on different types of aircraft are required.

Other considerations

Helicopter operators are primarily restricted to the summer months. Employment levels are influenced by the amount of tourism activity and business travel, which both tend to vary with general economic conditions. Earnings will depend on the specific job, qualifications, and employer. Pilots who fly large jet aircraft generally earn the highest incomes, while those flying small aircraft on short domestic routes earn the least. People in these jobs usually work irregular hours including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

Regulations

Contacts

Employment and Education Navigator

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