Will “Test Pilot” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

55% Chance of Automation

“Test Pilot” will maybe be replaced by robots.

This job is ranked #314 out of #702. A higher ranking (i.e., a lower number) means the job is less likely to be replaced.

Care to share? Click for Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, or XING. 👍

Job Description

Pilot and navigate the flight of fixed-winged 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.

Job Details

The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 53-2012.00
The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 86,260.00
The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 0.00
Currently, there are 38,980 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Commercial Pilots”.

Also Known As…

Tasks for “Test Pilot”

Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
Check the flight performance of new and experimental planes.
Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.
Supervise other crew members.
Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
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.
Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
Pilot airplanes or helicopters over farmlands at low altitudes to dust or spray fields with fertilizers, fungicides, or pesticides.
Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties as required.
Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.

Related Technology & Tools

Digital multimeters
Mechanical nose wheel steering systems
Pneumatic emergency brake systems
Distance measuring equipment DME
Continuous flow emergency oxygen systems
Plotters
Personal computers
Emergency pressurization systems
Vise grip pliers
Air conditioning systems
Portable collision avoidance systems PCAS
Engine indicating and crew alerting systems EICAS
Desktop computers
Power brake systems
Electro-hydraulic control systems
Very high frequency omnidirectional range VOR systems
Emergency life rafts
Oil filter wrenches
Windscreen ice control systems
Cockpit displays of traffic information CDTI
Transponder landing systems TLS
Global positioning system GPS devices
Autopilot systems
Navigation mode selectors
Engine anti-icing equipment
Traffic alert and collision avoidance system TCAS
Flight director FD systems
Power generation and distribution control systems
Hydraulic landing gear systems
Long range navigation systems LRNS
De-icing equipment
Electronic flight instrument systems EFIS
Ultra high frequency UHF radio communication systems
Air pressurization systems
Anti-skid systems
Multipurpose fire extinguishers
Local area augmentation system LAAS receivers
Flight simulators
Recirculation control systems
Stability augmentation systems SAS
Autobrakes
Handheld calculators
Automatic landing systems
Airborne collision avoidance systems ACAS
Equipment cooling controls
Instrument landing system ILS receivers
Fuel control systems
Fire suppression and control systems
Laptop computers
Automatic direction finder ADF radio systems
Instrument landing system ILS localizers
High frequency HF radio communication systems
Very high frequency VHF radio communication systems
Nondirectional radio beacon markers
Wing anti-ice systems
Microwave landing system MLS receivers
Air data computers
Digital communications display units DCDU
Passenger oxygen control systems
On-board intercom systems
Ground proximity warning systems GPWS
Head-up guidance systems HGS
Flight management systems FMS
Yaw damper systems
Channel lock pliers
Inertial navigation systems INS
Engine fire detection systems
Engine fire extinguishing systems
Emergency exit slides
Personal digital assistants PDA
Oil filter pliers

Navzilla
Flight simulation software
Standard generalized markup language SGML
Polaris Microsystems CharterLog
Notam Development Group Airport Insight
Nimblefeet Technologies Captain's Keeper
AirSmith FlightPrompt
MJICCS PilotLog
doXstor Flight Level Logbook
Microsoft Office
RMS Technology Flitesoft
Airline Pilots Daily Aviation Logs PPC
SBS International Maestro Suite
Skylog Services Skylog Pro
Electronic aircraft information databases
Polaris Microsystems AeroLog Pro
AeroPlanner
Pilot Navigator Software Load Balance