More Flying Careers

There’s more to a career as a commercial pilot than just flying an airplane for Delta or United. In fact, being a commercial pilot in a sector other than working for an airline has some of its own unique benefits, like better working conditions and a more favorable job outlook over the next few years.

What You Can Do

There are a lot of careers that can be pursued with a commercial pilot’s license. In the agricultural sector, pilots are needed to dust crops. TV stations use helicopter pilots to report on traffic situations and to cover breaking news stories from the air. Fire stations employ commercial pilots to douse wildfires with water and special chemicals; the police coast guard and hospitals employ helicopter pilots with a penchant for danger to help in rescue situations. Commercial pilots are also employed by corporations and individuals to fly their private aircraft. Transport companies hire pilots to make scheduled and unscheduled deliveries of goods.

Job Information

Commercial pilots generally experience less job security but more freedom in their careers than airline pilots. Some work part time, or they work for multiple employers at once. The job outlook for commercial pilots in the coming years is a bit better than the outlook for airline pilots, and job opportunities should be good.

Unlike airline pilots, commercial pilots don’t spend such long hours away from home, and they don’t generally have to worry about fatigue from jet lag. On average, they do earn significantly less than airline pilots, however, and they have less job security and employment benefits.

A 19 percent increase in commercial piloting jobs is expected by 2018, which is faster than the national average for all occupations.
The middle 50 percent of commercial pilots earn $46,000-88,000 a year.
Sectors employing large numbers of commercial pilots are nonscheduled air transport services, technical and trade schools, and ambulatory healthcare services.
Alaska, Louisiana, and Arkansas are the states with the highest concentration of commercial pilots.

Education and Training

To become a commercial pilot, you need a commercial pilot’s license from the FAA. To earn this license, you need at least 250 flying hours, training in certain navigational techniques, and to be in good physical shape. Trade schools, aviation colleges, and regional airports offer the training necessary to obtain this license. Some employers, such as transport companies, may have additional hiring requirements, such as a higher number of flight hours or training in specific flying techniques.

Sources:

Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers. (2011) Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Commercial Pilots. (2011) Bureau of Labor Statistics.