Will “Airline Captain” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

18% Chance of Automation

“Airline Captain” will almost certainly not be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #204 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

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Job Description

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing, multi-engine aircraft, usually on scheduled air carrier routes, for the transport of passengers and cargo. Requires Federal Air Transport Pilot certificate and rating for specific aircraft type used. Includes regional, National, and international airline pilots and flight instructors of airline pilots.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 53-2011.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 152,770.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 0.00
Currently, there are 81,520 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Airline Captain”

Record in log books information such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption.
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control to ensure that flights are coordinated with other air traffic.
Test and evaluate the performance of new aircraft.
Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance.
Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.
Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
Evaluate other pilots or pilot-license applicants for proficiency.
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.
Load smaller aircraft, handling passenger luggage and supervising refueling.
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations and the principles of flight.
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.
Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.
Respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions.
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities.
Direct activities of aircraft crews during flights.
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.

Related Technology & Tools

Control wheels
Inertial navigation systems INS
Microwave landing systems MLS
Engine anti-ice systems
Brake pedals
Desktop computers
Emergency exit slides
Continuous flow emergency oxygen systems
Diluter demand emergency oxygen systems
Control display units CDU
Hydraulic actuators
Electric trim switches
Manual trim wheels
Brake management systems
Landing gear control systems
Digital communications display units DCDU
On-board intercom systems
Fire extinguishers
Recirculation control systems
Very high frequency omnidirectional range VOR systems
Notebook computers
Ultra high frequency UHF radio communication systems
Cockpit displays of traffic information CDTI
Aircraft data loaders
Pressure demand emergency oxygen systems
Equipment cooling controls
Passenger oxygen control systems
Pressurization control systems
Automatic direction finder ADF radio systems
Instrument landing system ILS localizers
Autopilot systems
Navigation mode selectors
Autobrakes
Fire suppression and control systems
Instrument landing system ILS glideslope receivers
Transponder landing systems TLS
Rudder pedals
Hydraulic pressure regulators
Distance measuring equipment DME
Very high frequency VHF radio communication systems
Very high frequency VHF direction finders
Airborne collision avoidance systems ACAS
High-frequency HF radio communication systems
Personal digital assistants PDA
Emergency life rafts
Electronic flight instrument systems EFIS
Attitude heading reference systems AHRS
Yaw damper systems
Flaps control levers
Nosewheel steering systems
Satellite-based navigation and guidance systems
Flight database systems
Anti-skid control systems
Fuel control systems
Point plotters
Ground proximity warning systems GPWS
Automatic landing systems
Hydraulic control systems
Data load selectors
Nondirectional radio beacon markers
Wing anti-ice systems
Radio frequency-based navigation and guidance systems
Head-up guidance systems HGS
Windscreen ice control systems
Rudder trim knobs
Power generation and distribution control systems
Global positioning system GPS devices
Pneumatics systems
Long range navigation LORAN-C systems
Aileron trim switches

Electronic aircraft information databases
Notam Development Group Airport Insight
AirSmith FlightPrompt
Navzilla
Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Log PPC
RMS Technology Flitesoft
doXstor Flight Level Logbook
Polaris Microsystems AeroLog Pro
Polaris Microsystems CharterLog
SBS International Maestro Suite
Skylog Services Skylog Pro
AeroPlanner
Nimblefeet Technologies Captain's Keeper
Microsoft Word
Pilot Navigator Software Load Balance
MJICCS PilotLog
IFT-Pro
CoPilot Flight Planning & E6B
Microsoft Excel