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How exposed to AI is a Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineer?

Of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for airline pilots, copilots, and flight engineers, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 14 cannot be sped up at all. Here is which.

Exposure means published research judged an AI could halve the time a task takes, at the same quality. It does not mean the task stops needing a person. How to read this

Also called
Airbus CaptainAirline CaptainAirline PilotCaptainCheck AirmanCo-PilotCommercial Airline PilotFirst Officer (FO)Line PilotPilot
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
26
tasks rated for this occupation
61%
hold a degree, from a survey of 24
81k
people do this job in the US
8 of 52
least protected in transport

Every task, and what AI can do with it

These are O*NET's task statements for this occupation, exactly as written, sorted into the three bands by the ratings behind this report. Nothing has been reworded.

Only with software built on top

12
  • Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions
  • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights
  • Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions
  • Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights
  • Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights
  • Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption
  • Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems
  • Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures
  • File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic
  • Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency
  • Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports

Cannot be sped up

14
  • Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor
  • 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
  • Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists
  • Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed
  • Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers
  • Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met
  • Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights
  • Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities
  • Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight
  • 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
  • Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance
  • Load smaller aircraft, handling passenger luggage and supervising refueling
  • Test and evaluate the performance of new aircraft
What this does not say

This is not a prediction about your job

Nobody surveyed an employer. Tasks are counted equally, so a percentage here is a share of the list rather than a share of your week. And the ratings were made in 2023, which makes every figure a floor rather than a ceiling.

It must never be used to select anyone for redundancy. The full limits are here.

Where to go next

This is the standard task list for the title. The useful next question is which of the tasks you actually do should go near AI, and which should not.

Sort your own tasks Read the full report

Exposure ratings from Eloundou, Manning, Mishkin and Rock, GPTs are GPTs: Labor market impact potential of LLMs, Science 384, 1306–1308, 2024, used under the MIT licence. This page includes information from the O*NET Database by the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration (USDOL/ETA), used under the CC BY 4.0 license. O*NET® is a trademark of USDOL/ETA. People Team AI has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications. Employment figures from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics.