Explore the rankings
Transport & Logistics · Updated Aug 2026

Commercial Pilots

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-wing aircraft on nonscheduled air carrier routes, or helicopters. Requires Commercial Pilot certificate. Includes charter pilots with similar certification, and air ambulance and air tour pilots. Excludes regional, national, and international airline pilots.

JVS 2.0.0-phase4b
AI Exposure
61/100
High

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

Replacement Risk
44/100
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
Confidence83/100
Task coverage87%

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
Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.High
67
Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.High
68
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.High
66
Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.High
69
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.High
68
Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.High
67
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.High
69
Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.High
66
Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.High
67
Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.High
69
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.High
66
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.High
37
Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.High
71
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.High
37
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.High
64
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.Medium
66
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.Medium
64
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.High
56
Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.High
16
Most exposed

Where AI can do more

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

  1. Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.71
  2. Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.69
  3. Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.69
  4. Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.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. Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.01
  2. Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.02
  3. Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.03
  4. Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.04
  5. Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.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.

See all rankings →
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 dependency65
Adoption pressure53
Labour-market resilience73
Methodology & sources

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

Confidence83/100
CalculatedAug 21, 2026
Read methodology →