Commercial Airline Pilots
Researched by Nathaniel H. 2002-03	RESEARCH REPORT  MY INTERVIEW  BIBLIOGRAPHY  ABOUT THE AUTHOR  PRODUCTS I CREATED DEDICATION  WHY I CHOSE THIS TOPIC  SELF-EVALUATION  THANK YOU

Airline pilots operate aircraft for commercial airlines to transport passengers, freight, mail, or other commodities. They are in command of their crew, plane, and passengers during the time the plane is in motion. Commercial airline pilots work under the rules of the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration). 

Commercial airline pilots have several responsibilities. On the plane the pilots need to be in command of the crew and passengers. They make sure the plane is safe, and they try their best to keep the plane from being hijacked. Before a flight a pilot must determine the weather and flight conditions. Pilots must also perform system operation checks to test the proper functioning of instruments, controls, and electronic and mechanical systems on the flight deck.

Commercial airline pilots work 7 days a week unless they get a day off. They work 14-18 hours a day during the night and morning flying a plane, or performing other commercial duties. Some pilots fly during the morning and early afternoon, but they perform other commercial duties in the late afternoon and night. Other pilots perform other commercial duties in the morning and early afternoon, but they fly planes in the late afternoon and night. 

Commercial airline pilots primarily work indoors in two different places. They work at the airport and in the plane.

There are three specific kinds of commercial airline pilots. They’re the captain, the co-pilot also known as the first officer, and sometimes a flight engineer also known as the second officer.

The career of commercial airline pilot has some good aspects. Pilots get to go to different places around the world, they get to fly free if they fly on the airline they work for, or fly inexpensively on other airlines. They get more days off than other jobs.

Some bad aspects of being a commercial airline pilot are that you have to work 14-18 hours a day, and you have to be away from your family 10-15 days a month.

Subjects to study in high school through college are mechanical drawing, geometry, algebra, meteorology, physics, math, and science.

To become a commercial airline pilot the minimum education level you must receive is a high school diploma.

To receive a license to become a commercial airline pilot you must have the student pilot license, and the private pilot license. You also must pass a physical exam and a written exam given by the FAA.

There are two subjects you must study from 5-7th grade and they are math and science. You must study math so when you’re flying you can do quick and accurate calculations to keep the plane safe. You need to study science so you know how to solve problems with the plane.

The earning range for a commercial airline pilot starts at $26,290 for a rookie pilot working at a small airline. If you’re a captain at a large airline you can earn up to $200,000 a year.

In America there are 117,000 commercial airline pilots as captains, co-pilots, and flight engineers. In Washington State there are 1,150 pilots and flight engineers.

There are some jobs related to being a commercial airline pilot. They’re a helicopter pilot, an astronaut, and an aircraft mechanic.

To become a commercial airline pilot you must receive a high school diploma, meet strict training requirements and may complete one or more years of college.

Commercial airline pilots must meet strict health requirements. They primarily concern the heart, lungs, physical dexterity, and eyesight. Dependence on drugs, even prescription drugs may be disqualifying. Almost every airline will allow glasses, so pilots have 20/20 vision.

Commercial airline pilots must pass a detailed written exam and demonstrate to an examiner most of the skills required for a private certificate, but performed with a higher degree of precision.

One terrific website for commercial airline pilots is http://www.alpa.org/.

To become a commercial airline pilot the youngest you can be is 18 years old.

Personal skills needed to succeed in becoming a commercial airline pilot are leadership, management, technical ability, mechanical ability, scientific thinking, and to be manipulative with your hands.

History of Career

There were people in the past who were important in commercial airline pilots. Orville and Wilbur Wright were important because they made the first successful motor powered plane in 1909 at Kitty Hawk, North Carolina. Charles Lindbergh was important because he was the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean. The first airmail service began in 1918. By 1926 16 operators held contracts for mail routes, and many of today’s major airlines trace their history to those 16 operators. The first commercial operation was a 20-minute flight between Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida using a Benoist flying boat. The fare was $5.
 
 
 
 

Who I Interviewed And What I Learned I interviewed Calvin Douglas Havnaer on December 10, 2002. He was a good choice for me because he’s a captain of a Boeing 777. His mailing address is 102 Canaan Road, New Paltz, NY 12561. He has been involved with commercial piloting for 18 years. What made him interested in becoming a commercial pilot was he flew as a passenger on a Boeing 707 when he was in the 5th grade, and he read the novels by Antoine de St. Exupery. The training he went through started as a private pilot license all the way up to a flight engineer, Turbojet. He enjoyed the range of subjects a person must be familiar with to be successful in commercial airline pilots, like meteorology and navigation. Some history he told me about was the first commercial operation was a 20-minute flight between Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida using a Benoist flying boat and the fare was $5. He also told me the first airmail service was in 1918. He said security has changed the most in recent years for commercial airline pilots. What is new in the field of commercial airline pilots is the technology. The most important organizations for commercial airline pilots are Allied Pilot’s Association (APA) and Airline Pilot’s Association (ALPA). Some major problems facing commercial airline pilots are the financial problems in the industry, like bankruptcy. What he predicted for the future is increasing technological sophistication may eliminate the need for two pilots in the cockpit or even any pilots on the aircraft. Things that will change in the near future are pilots may be carrying weapons to discourage hijackers. The advantages for commercial airline pilots are they travel free or inexpensively and they get more days off than other jobs.  He was very nice to let me interview him on his own time and for giving me a lot of good information.

Bibliography "Aircraft Pilots and Flight Engineers." February 27, 2003 http://www.bis.gov./ "Air Line Pilots Association". February 6, 2003. http://www.alpa.org/ "Airline Pilots, Commercial." Career Center. 1996.Vol.1 Pp.9-12 Cosgrove, Holli. "Pilots." Encyclopedia of Careers and Vocational Guidance. 2000. Pp.151-153 Havnaer, Calvin D. E-mail interview. December 10, 2002. McCormick, Barnes W. "Helicopter". Encarta Encyclopedia Deluxe. 2001. Pelta, Kathy. What Does an Airplane Pilot do?. Dodd, Mead and Company. 1981 Pp.17-18, 68-69 "Pilots." Career Discovery Encyclopedia. 2000. Vol.6. Pp.104-105. Where the Sky Is the Limit? Air Line Pilots Association. Herndon, Virginia. September, 2001. Pp.4, 8-12.

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