Pilot facts for kids
A pilot is a person who drives or guides a vehicle. This can be an airplane, a spacecraft, or a boat. Pilots need to pass many tests and get a special license before they can operate these vehicles.
The pilot of an aircraft is usually in charge of the whole trip. A ship pilot often guides a ship through difficult areas, like a harbor.
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History of Pilots
The word aviator was first used in 1887. It came from "aviation," which means "air navigation." This word came from the Latin word avis, meaning bird. In the early days of flying, airplanes were very rare. Being an aviator meant you were brave and loved adventure.
To keep people safe, early aviation quickly made rules. Aircraft had to be controlled by a trained and certified pilot at all times. This pilot was responsible for a safe and legal flight. The Aéro-Club de France gave the first pilot certificate in 1908 to Louis Blériot. Other countries like Britain and the United States soon followed.
Civilian Pilots
Civilian pilots fly aircraft for many reasons. Some fly for fun or for charity. Others fly for businesses. Many civilian pilots work for airlines, carrying passengers and cargo. They also fly for corporate companies, in agriculture (like crop dusting), for forest fire control, or for law enforcement.
When pilots work for an airline, they are called airline pilots. The main pilot in charge is often called the captain.
Airline Pilots
In 2017, there were about 290,000 airline pilots worldwide. Experts believe that 255,000 new pilots will be needed by 2027. This is because more people are flying, and many older pilots will retire.
Most new pilots will be needed in Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe. Some pilots who work for companies might even return to airlines because of the high demand.
Future of Flying: Automation
Some people think that the number of airline pilots might go down in the future. This is because new technology could allow airplanes to fly with fewer pilots, or even without any pilots on board.
In 2017, some experts thought that automated flights could become common in the next 20 years. They believed that planes might be controlled from the ground, with the pilot only stepping in if there's a problem.
Financial companies have also predicted that pilotless airliners could be possible around 2025. This could save a lot of money, mainly by reducing pilot costs. However, rules would need to change, and people would need to feel safe flying in planes without pilots. Many people are not yet comfortable with the idea of a pilotless flight.
Airlines are looking into this because they need to hire many new pilots. Pilot wages and training costs have been increasing. Going to pilotless airliners could happen slowly, like by having fewer pilots in the cockpit for long flights. Or, it could happen quickly. The aviation industry is still deciding how to move forward.
Current automated systems need to be watched by pilots. To replace pilots, planes would need artificial intelligence that can learn and make decisions.
Pilots Around the World
In some countries, like Pakistan and Thailand, many airline pilots used to come from the military. However, this is less common now in the United States and Western Europe. While some ex-military pilots do fly for airlines, many pilots are civilians. Military flight training is different from civilian training.
In Canada, flying an aircraft is regulated by the Aeronautics Act. This act sets the rules for pilot licenses. Each airline sets its own retirement age for pilots.
In the United States, there were over 691,000 active pilot certificates in 2020. This number was lower than in 1980, when there were over 800,000 pilots. The Air Commerce Act of 1930 created the rules for pilot licenses in America. Commercial airline pilots in the United States must retire at age 65.
Military Pilots
Military pilots fly for the armed forces of a country. Their jobs include fighting in wars and supporting operations. They get special training, often learning how to use weapons. Examples of military pilots include fighter pilots, bomber pilots, transport pilots, and astronauts.
Military pilots are trained differently from civilian pilots. This is because they fly different aircraft, have different goals, and face different situations. Many military pilots become civilian pilots after they leave the military. Their military experience helps them get a civilian pilot's license.
Unmanned Aircraft (Drones)
Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), also known as "drones," fly without a pilot on board. Some drones fly by themselves (autonomous). Others are controlled by one or more people from a distance. The person controlling a drone is often called its pilot or operator.
Depending on how complex the drone is and what it's used for, drone pilots may need special training or certification. However, they usually don't need the same licenses as pilots of planes with people on board.
Most places have rules about where drones can fly. This has limited their use, mostly to military and hobby flying. In the United States, drones cannot fly easily in controlled airspace (like near airports). If rules change to allow more drone use, there will be a big need for drone pilots and operators.
Space Pilots
The idea of a pilot also applies to space travel. A spacecraft pilot is an astronaut who directly controls how a spacecraft operates. This term comes from how the word "pilot" is used in aviation.
How to Become a Pilot
Pilots need to complete many hours of flight training and study. The training varies depending on the country. The first step is usually getting a Private Pilot License (PPL). In the United States, this means at least 35 to 40 hours of flight training. Most of this training is with a Certified Flight Instructor.
For those who want to fly professionally, a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is needed. To be the captain of an airliner, a pilot must get an Airline Transport Pilot License (ATPL). Since August 1, 2013, even a First Officer (co-pilot) needs an ATPL. Some countries or airlines also require a special certificate for working as a team in a multi-crew cockpit.
Images for kids
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U.S. Army Air Forces test pilot Lt. F.W. "Mike" Hunter wearing a flight suit in October 1942.
See also
In Spanish: Piloto de aviación para niños
