In regard to commercial flight, airline pilots and flight engineers do have strong competition in what they do, but they can be very rewarding jobs to have.
What pilots do
Pilots can fly airplanes for the commercial industry, or for the private sector or military. Most pilots work for airlines and transport cargo and passengers. Some pilots work with agriculture or environmental resources, or they may test aircraft or fly passengers to areas that regular airlines don't go to. Some pilots also work as rescuers and evacuate persons who have been injured while hiking, mountain climbing, or pursuing other risky ventures.
Job duties
Among the abilities pilots must have is to be able to plan flights carefully, make sure everything is working properly, and that things like baggage or cargo have been loaded correctly so as not to make the plane fly improperly. Flight dispatchers and weather forecasters also communicate with pilots to tell them what weather conditions are going to be like on the route and at the plane's destination. With that, pilots choose their flight route and the speed they'll take, as well as the altitude at which they'll fly, so that the flight is the smoothest, safest, and most economical possible.
In some cases, pilots have to fly with instrumentation, such as when there's poor visibility. If the pilot does this, he or she must have training specific to instrument flying. In that case, the pilot checks with dispatchers to make sure that the flight can be coordinated with other air traffic so that there aren't any accidents.
Taking off and landing the airplane is the most difficult part of the flight and requires that the pilot and copilot, as applicable, work together seamlessly. To become airborne, both pilots work to determine the speed at which the aircraft has to go. They take into account how hot or cold it is outside, the weight of the plane, and what speed and direction the wind is going in. Once the plane has reached so-called "takeoff speed," the pilot not flying the plane tells the pilot who is in control; then, he or she raises the nose of the plane to level it out. On long flights, the captain and first officer alternate flying between takeoffs and landing to avoid fatigue.
First and foremost, safety is crucial, especially for pilots and copilots who fly with passengers. It is up to these professionals to make sure the plan takes off, flies, and lands safely without injury to themselves or anyone else. In addition, they are also responsible to other passengers and planes in the air in that they must plan their flight paths accordingly so as to avoid collisions or "near misses."
Education and training
To become a commercial pilot, you have to have a commercial pilot's license along with instrument rating. The FAA issues this license. If you are a helicopter pilot, you must also hold a commercial pilot's license and have a helicopter rating.
To get a license, you have to have flight experience. You can attend flight school approved by the FAA to reduce the number of hours you have to fly to qualify. Some colleges and universities now offer degree credit for pilot training.
To become licensed as a pilot to the FAA, you have to be at least 18 years old with 250 hours of flight experience. The US Armed Forces is one good resource where you can get training as a pilot. If you are not a member of the Armed Forces, you can also become a pilot by attending flight schools or taking lessons from flight instructors who have been certified through the FAA. You must also pass a strict physical examination to make sure your health is good and that you have 20/20 vision with or without correction. You cannot have any physical handicaps that could impair your ability to fly. Written examinations are also necessary to get this licensure.
As a commercial pilot, you must also have an instrument rating, so that you can fly with instruments in the event of bad weather or poor visibility. To get this, you must have 40 hours of instrument flight experience and pass a written examination on FAA procedures and regulations regarding instrument flight. You must also show an examiner that you can fly with instruments.
In addition, as an airline pilot captain, you must have an airline transport pilot's license. You must also be at least 23 years old, have a minimum of 1500 hrs of flight experience (including instrument and night flight) and must pass the requisite FAA examinations, both written and flight. Most airline captains also have more advanced ratings depending on what's required for their particular job.
Other skills
In general, you must also pass several aptitude and psychological tests to fly commercially, because you must be able to make quick decisions under sometimes very severely stressful situations. You must also undergo periodic eye and physical exams, as well as a retest of your flying skills to keep your license.
How to get these types of paid traveling jobs
Oftentimes, you'll start as a commercial flight engineer or a first officer if you work for an airline. This may not necessarily be true if you work for companies as a private pilot, but usually you'll be required to hold a commercial pilot's license regardless.
