TransportationO*NET: 53-2012.00
Will AI Replace 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.
70out of 100
High Risk
AI Risk Score
70/100
Risk Level
High
Job Zone
3/5
Medium
Total Tasks Analyzed
19
🤖 What AI Can Do
- â–¸Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- â–¸Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- â–¸Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- â–¸Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- â–¸Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- â–¸Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
👤 What Requires Humans
- â–¸Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- â–¸Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
- â–¸Supervise other crew members.
Task Breakdown
🤖AI Can Automate (10)
- Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
- Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
- Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
- Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
- Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
- Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
- 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.
- Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
- File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
👤Requires Humans (3)
- Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
- Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
- Supervise other crew members.
âš¡AI-Assisted (6)
- Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
- Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
- Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
- Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
- Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
- Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
Key Skills Analysis
Operation and Control
Importance: 4.75/5.00
Operations MonitoringAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 4.38/5.00
Monitoring
Importance: 4.12/5.00
Critical ThinkingAI-Resistant
Importance: 4.00/5.00
Active Listening
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Judgment and Decision MakingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.88/5.00
Reading ComprehensionAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Speaking
Importance: 3.75/5.00
Active LearningAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
Complex Problem SolvingAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.62/5.00
CoordinationAI-Resistant
Importance: 3.25/5.00
Learning Strategies
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Troubleshooting
Importance: 3.12/5.00
Systems AnalysisAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.12/5.00
WritingAI-Vulnerable
Importance: 3.00/5.00
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Frequently Asked Questions
Based on our analysis, Commercial Pilots have a high risk of AI replacement with a score of 70/100. Many routine tasks in this role can be automated, but human oversight remains important.
Last updated: 2026-03-28· Data from O*NET 30.2 & Frey/Osborne automation research