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Transport & Logistics · Updated Aug 2026

Airline Pilots, Copilots, and Flight Engineers

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

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
59/100
Moderate

How much of this occupation’s work can be materially affected by current AI systems.

Replacement Risk
48/100
Moderate

How likely exposure is to translate into reduced human demand.

Includes provisional estimates for AI adoption pressure and labour-market resilience. How this is measured

Evidence quality
Confidence82/100
Task coverage86%

Confidence reflects task coverage, mapping and capability-evidence quality, and how much of the score rests on provisional inputs.

Task-level evidence

What is driving the score?

Occupation scores are built from the task mix—not a single prediction about a job title.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
TaskImportanceAI impactExposure
Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.High
69
Steer aircraft along planned routes, using autopilot and flight management computers.High
67
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.High
67
Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.High
69
Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.High
69
Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.High
69
Brief crews about flight details, such as destinations, duties, and responsibilities.High
69
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.High
67
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.Medium
69
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.High
38
Record in log books information, such as flight times, distances flown, and fuel consumption.Medium
69
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight, adhering to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.High
37
Inspect aircraft for defects and malfunctions, according to pre-flight checklists.High
38
Make announcements regarding flights, using public address systems.Medium
67
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.High
68
Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.High
31
Perform minor maintenance work, or arrange for major maintenance.High
69
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

Routine, digitized, and highly repeatable tasks face the greatest pressure.

  1. Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.69
  2. Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.69
  3. Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.69
  4. Confer with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters to keep abreast of flight conditions.69
Hardest to automate

Where people still matter

These tasks score lowest on automation feasibility—physical presence, judgement, accountability and real-world variability all resist end-to-end automation.

  1. Monitor gauges, warning devices, and control panels to verify aircraft performance and to regulate engine speed.01
  2. Work as part of a flight team with other crew members, especially during takeoffs and landings.02
  3. Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.03
  4. Use instrumentation to guide flights when visibility is poor.04
  5. Check passenger and cargo distributions and fuel amounts to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met.05
Where else this work leads

Related occupations

Occupations O*NET links to this one. Relatedness reflects shared work, not a claim that these roles are safer.

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Beyond AI capability

Adoption and labour-market outlook

Structural factors are kept separate from raw capability so you can see what actually resists automation. Adoption pressure and labour-market resilience are still provisional models—25% of this occupation’s replacement-risk weight rests on them.

Human dependency73
Physical dependency60
Adoption pressure67
Labour-market resilience63
Methodology & sources

O*NET 30.3 occupational data interpreted through the JobsVsAI capability, automation and structural-constraint models.

Confidence82/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →