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How exposed to AI is a Commercial Pilot?

Of the 26 tasks O*NET lists for commercial pilots, 0 could be done in half the time with a chat window today. 16 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
CaptainCharter PilotCheck AirmanCommercial Helicopter PilotCommercial PilotEMS Helicopter Pilot (Emergency Medical Service Helicopter Pilot)First OfficerHelicopter PilotLine PilotPilot
Reachable today Needs software built first Cannot be sped up
26
tasks rated for this occupation
2%
hold a degree, from a survey of 21
43k
people do this job in the US
14 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

10
  • Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne
  • Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment
  • Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes
  • File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic
  • Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights
  • Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures
  • Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate
  • Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption
  • Supervise other crew members
  • Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports

Cannot be sped up

16
  • Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor
  • Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures
  • Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights
  • Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly
  • Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly
  • Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights
  • Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments
  • Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required
  • Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency
  • Rescue and evacuate injured persons
  • Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations
  • Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots
  • Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance
  • 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
  • Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides
  • Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes
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.