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OaSIS 2025 Version 1.0
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72600.01 – Air pilots

Air pilots fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to provide air transportation and other services such as crop spraying and aerial surveying.

Overview

Example job titles

  • Aerial crop duster
  • Airplane pilot
  • Charter pilot
  • Helicopter pilot
  • Topographic survey pilot

Core competencies

  • Operation and Control to manage and navigate aircraft systems, execute precise maneuvers under varying conditions and make critical decisions swiftly to ensure safety and efficiency
  • Operation Monitoring of Machinery and Equipment to continuously assess and analyse aircraft systems, performance metrics and navigational data to ensure optimal functionality and safety during all phases of flight
  • Multi-Signal Response to quickly interpret and respond to multiple, simultaneous signals from various instruments and environmental cues, for precise decision-making when navigating adverse weather or emergency situations
  • Control of Settings to precisely manipulate and adjust flight controls and instruments under various conditions, while responding swiftly to any changes in the flight environment or system status
  • Attention to Detail to ensure all pre-flight, in-flight and post-flight procedures are completed accurately and in compliance with aviation regulations and operational standards
  • Knowledge in Vehicle, Machinery and Equipment Operations to understand and have expert proficiency in operating complex aircraft systems, advanced aerodynamics, navigation technology and performing precise control under various environmental conditions

Main duties

This group performs 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 revalidate 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.

Additional information

No data has been provided for this section.

Similar occupations classified elsewhere

Exclusions:

  • Air traffic controllers and related occupations (72601)

NOC hierarchy breakdown

NOC version

NOC 2021 Version 1.0

Broad occupational category

7 – Trades, transport and equipment operators and related occupations

TEER

2 – Occupations usually require a college diploma or apprenticeship training of two or more years; or supervisory occupations

Major group

72 – Technical trades and transportation officers and controllers

Sub-major group

726 – Transportation officers and controllers

Minor group

7260 – Transportation officers and controllers

Unit group

72600 – Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors

Occupational profile

72600.01 – Air pilots

O*NET in-it

This page includes information from the O*NET 27.2 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. Employment and Social Development Canada has modified all or some of this information. USDOL/ETA has not approved, endorsed, or tested these modifications.