Day in the life
A Day in the Life of a Commercial Pilot
What commercial pilots actually do from the start of a shift to the end: the tasks, tools, schedule and realities of the job.
Check weather, NOTAMs and the charter itinerary. From there, the day usually includes plan flights and check weather and NOTAMs, calculate weight, balance and performance, and inspect aircraft before flight. Schedules vary widely: charter pilots are often on call, cargo pilots fly nights and corporate pilots follow executives’ travel.
Hour by hour: a typical shift
No two days are identical, but this timeline reflects a realistic day for a commercial pilot working full time.
- Check weather, NOTAMs and the charter itinerary.
- Calculate weight and balance for four passengers and their bags.
- Preflight the twin-engine aircraft and order fuel.
- Brief passengers and depart under an IFR clearance.
- Land, help passengers off and arrange ground transport.
- Fly the return leg after checking updated weather.
- Log flight time and post-flight the aircraft.
Where commercial pilots work
Pilots work in cockpits, on ramps and in flight planning offices. Some jobs involve remote locations, overnight trips and flying in challenging weather.
Hours and schedule
Schedules vary widely: charter pilots are often on call, cargo pilots fly nights and corporate pilots follow executives’ travel.
Tasks you’ll do most often
- Plan flights and check weather and NOTAMs
- Calculate weight, balance and performance
- Inspect aircraft before flight
- Fly safely under FAA regulations
- Communicate with air traffic control
- Handle passengers or cargo
- Keep logbooks and flight records
Tools you’ll use every day
- Aircraft and avionics
- Electronic flight bags such as ForeFlight
- Weather services
- Weight and balance tools
- Headsets
- Logbooks
The best and hardest parts of the job
What people like
- Flying for a living
- Strong pay with experience
- Variety of flying jobs
- Path to airline careers
What’s hard
- Expensive flight training
- Irregular schedules
- Medical requirements
- Time away from home
You’ll likely thrive if…
- I’ve always wanted to fly
- I stay calm when things go wrong
- I can follow checklists precisely
- I like making decisions
- I’m okay with irregular schedules
- I can invest in flight training
Not sure? Take the free Commercial Pilot fit quiz or the Career Match Quiz.
Staying safe on the job
- Use checklists for every phase of flight
- Follow personal and legal weather minimums
- Manage fatigue and duty limits
- Keep medical certification current