MightyRecruiterCommercial pilots fly aircraft for various purposes. They usually transport cargo or carry out other jobs, such as spraying crops. They may also fly charter flights and transport people. This type of pilot generally does not fly on a set schedule, so flights and jobs may vary from day to day.
In creating your commercial pilot job description, you want to stress the importance of full training, licensing and certification as required by state and federal governments. In addition, pilots should have good people skills, including communication skills. A pilot should also be familiar with flying different types of aircrafts.
As you work on your commercial pilot job description, don’t forget to highlight the need for a pilot to be able to work as part of a team and have a commitment to safety. Use the following job description template to assist you as you craft your own.
Commercial Pilot Job Summary
If flying is your passion and you want to assist companies by providing them on-time and accurate deliveries via air, then you are who we need on our team. Our commercial airline is focused on providing the best service in the industry to our customers who are some of the biggest names in the business. We fly various cargo shipments around the United States with some flights outside of the country. You will be part of a dynamic and highly-trained crew. You should be experienced, dedicated and willing to do what it takes to ensure flights stay on schedule while maintaining safety. We reward our best pilots with a range of benefits that include excellent health insurance, paid time off and bonuses.
Job Responsibilities
- Fly aircraft based upon set flight plans while adhering to a strict schedule
- Create flight plans based on client needs and aircraft availability along with managing the coordinating work schedules for crew, maintenance and other team members
- Conduct preflight safety checks and work closely with the flight crew and maintenance crew to ensure any issues are addressed before leaving the ground
- Monitor loading and unloading of cargo to ensure a balanced load and careful handling procedures
- Check weather conditions and monitor possible issues to ensure that the flight can proceed as scheduled or make alternative plans in the case of a weather delay
- Maintain safe flying conditions while in the air, including using instrumentation as needed to pilot the aircraft when weather conditions reduce visibility and responding to any in-air issues swiftly to correct them and maintain the flight path
- Manage and lead the flight crew during takeoff, landing and when in the air while also being responsible for their safety throughout the whole flight
- Track schedules to ensure on-time deliveries and coordinate as needed with clients for delivery of cargo
Job Skills & Qualifications
Reqiured:
- Commercial pilot’s license
- Experience flying cross-country and at night
- At least 1,000 hours flying experience
- Valid passport
- Ability to pass criminal background check
Preferred:
- Military flight experience
- Bachelor’s degree in any field
Commercial Pilot Job Responsibilities
Your job responsibilities section will affect the focus of your commercial pilot job description. This, in turn, will influence the quality of applicants who respond to the listing. Use best practices to craft a comprehensive duties section that helps jobseekers understand what the open position entails and what you expect from employees.
When writing your commercial pilot job responsibilities section, limit yourself to no more than eight daily tasks. This constraint forces you to choose duties that most define the position. Start each task with action verbs specific to the work of commercial pilots. For example, “pilot,” “navigate” and “monitor” are more descriptive than “use,” “write” and “check.” Finally, format the duties in a bulleted list, which weeds out a lot of unnecessary text.
Read through some example responsibilities to get you started creating your own commercial pilot job description:
- Inspect aircraft, including engines, instruments and control systems before flights
- Calculate speed necessary for flight based on altitude, temperatures, weight of plan, wind speed and flight path
- Create flight plans, detailing flight altitude, planned route and fuel required
- Communicate flight plans with ground crew and air traffic control
- Pilot aircraft along planned route, during takeoffs and landings
- Handle flight emergencies
Commercial Pilot Job Specifications
In a high-liability career, such as commercial piloting, employee competence is paramount. The list of commercial pilot job specifications included in the qualifications and skills section of your job description should reflect this. As you work on this part of your description, focus on including the minimum requirements an ideal candidate must meet, and outline the unique technical skills of a commercial pilot.
Meet with the hiring committee, direct supervisor or employees already in the position to create an effective credentials section of your commercial pilot job description that includes required skills. You may also want to incorporate preferred qualities that could boost the chances of applicants landing the job. Take steps to ensure the accuracy of the list to make it easier for candidates to determine their own qualifications. This encourages jobseekers with the right experience, training and skill set to apply. It also discourages unqualified applicants from applying, which reduces the number of applications you’ll receive.
Here are some examples that may work in the job qualifications and skills section of your commercial pilot job description:
- Current airline transport pilot certification, required
- Instrument rating with additional 50 cross-country flight hours, required
- Multi-Crew Cooperation course completion, preferred
- Excellent communication skills, verbal and written
- Ability to quickly respond to emergency situations with appropriate actions
