Aeroplane Pilot

An aeroplane pilot operates fixed-wing aircraft for commercial or private aviation, managing flight operations from pre-flight inspection through landing. They navigate using instruments and visual references, manage aircraft systems, communicate with air traffic control, and ensure compliance with Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) regulations and operational procedures. Pilots are responsible for the safety of passengers, crew, and cargo during all phases of flight.

Conduct pre-flight inspections of aircraft structure, engines, avionics, hydraulic systems, and fuel quantity using standard checklists. File flight plans with air traffic control centres, specifying route, altitude, airspeed, and estimated time of arrival. Monitor engine performance, fuel consumption, hydraulic pressure, electrical systems, and cabin pressurisation during flight using cockpit instruments and displays. Navigate using Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and Instrument Flight Rules (IFR), interpreting weather radar, navigation aids, and GPS positioning. Maintain radio contact with air traffic control, responding to clearances, instructions, and traffic alerts throughout the flight. Manage aircraft configuration including landing gear, flaps, and trim surfaces during takeoff, cruise, descent, and landing phases. Execute emergency procedures including engine failure recovery, hydraulic system loss, decompression, and fire management according to aircraft type procedures. Operate autopilot and flight management systems to maintain assigned altitude, heading, and navigation waypoints.

The standard entry pathway requires a bachelor degree or higher (ABS Skill Level 1). Specific qualification requirements vary by employer and state. Some employers may accept equivalent experience. Check yourcareer.gov.au for available courses and dewr.gov.au/skills-reform/free-tafe for subsidised training options.

You'll often start as a first officer on lower pay, building experience for years before commanding larger aircraft. Regional flying means irregular rosters, time away from home, and exposure to weather risks that city-based jobs don't have.

Regional and charter operators scatter across Australia, especially around mining regions and remote communities. Practically speaking, most commercial flying jobs concentrate in capital cities, while regional operators need pilots willing to base themselves in smaller towns.

Published for ANZSCO unit group 2311, the wider group this job sits in, not for this job on its own.

This is the median for full-time employees who are not managers and are paid at the adult rate, before tax and salary sacrifice. It is a guide to what the work pays, not a wage rate.

Source: ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.

• Active Listeningcore
• Adaptability and Flexibilitycore
• Attention to Detailcore
• Incident Reportingcore
• Multitaskingcore
• Policy and Procedure Adherencecore
• Problem Solvingcore
• Regulatory and Legislative Awarenesscore
• Risk Identificationcore
• Team Collaborationcore
• Time Management and Prioritisationcore
• Verbal Communicationcore
• Workload Self-Managementcore
• Continuous Learning and Upskilling
• Digital Literacy
• Goal Setting and Planning
• Record Management
• Report Writing
• Stakeholder Communication
• Written Communication

• ABS OSCA 2024, occupation definition and task statements
• ABS Survey of Employee Earnings and Hours, May 2025, customised report.
• ABS, 2021 Census of Population and Housing based on usual place of residence (Custom Report). OSCA Experimental Estimates.

Role data is drawn from official Australian Government sources, and each figure names where it comes from. Where a role is not in the ABS classification, the page shows no government figures for it. Data may not reflect every local variation.

Where our numbers come from.

Last updated: 30 October 2026