co-pilot
Role lens
Soaring through the skies as a co-pilot is a challenging and rewarding career, offering a unique blend of technical expertise, teamwork, and responsibility. If you're fascinated by aviation and thrive in high-pressure environments, this could be your perfect flight path.
As a co-pilot, you’re an integral part of the flight crew, working alongside the captain to ensure the safe and efficient operation of an aircraft. Your role involves constant vigilance and a deep understanding of aviation procedures. You’ll be actively involved in every stage of a flight, from pre-flight checks to landing, supporting the captain and taking over when necessary. This position demands precision, quick thinking, and excellent communication skills.
- • Monitoring flight instruments and navigation systems to ensure accurate flight path.
- • Handling radio communications with air traffic control and other aircraft.
- • Assisting the captain in pre-flight planning, including reviewing weather conditions and flight routes.
Where this occupation is in demand
Reported labour shortages and surpluses, by year. Published for occupation groups, not for individual job titles.
Deeper colour: reported the same way in more consecutive years.
Figures cover Science and engineering associate professionals — 267 jobs including this one.
In shortage: Denmark, Italy, Latvia, Luxembourg.
Longest-running shortage: Latvia, 3 years.
Select a place on the map to see its figures.
About this source›
Source: ELA/EURES labour shortages and surpluses. Readings are published at occupation-group level, and cover Europe. Editions differ in annex layout and country coverage, so a change between years does not always mean the labour market changed. Countries in grey were not reported, which is not the same as being in balance.
Explore More
Find your career path and explore the science behind our recommendations.
Could co-pilot fit you?
Answer three quick questions. This is not a full assessment — it is a teaser to help you decide whether to compare your profile.
Do you enjoy tasks that require Attention to Detail?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Dependability?
Do you enjoy tasks that require Self-Control?
Future Outlook for co-pilot
The outlook for co-pilot reflects a balanced mix of automation exposure and durable, human-led work.
How are these scores calculated?
The Resilience Score (0–100) estimates how structurally protected this occupation is from automation and AI disruption, based on task-level analysis. Higher scores mean more human-judgment-intensive tasks. AI Exposure shows the estimated percentage of task hours that current AI capabilities could affect. These are model-derived structural indicators, not predictions about individual job security.
How could co-pilot change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How could co-pilot change as AI adoption grows?
This role is likely to change gradually, with AI supporting selected tasks rather than replacing the whole occupation.
Illustrative scenario based on task automatability — not a forecast. Values are rounded the further ahead you look.
How AI may change this role
Deterministic, model-based interpretation of current role signals — not a guarantee of replacement.
What still depends on people
- ensure ongoing compliance with regulations
- deal with challenging work conditions
- ensure public safety and security
Where AI may become a co-pilot
- use meteorological information
- have spatial awareness
- analyse work-related written reports
Tasks most exposed to automation
No single task here is highly automatable yet.
Vital Signs & AI Vectors
AI Exposure Vectors
0-100%Exposure to AI-assisted analysis, pattern recognition, and predictive modelling tasks
Exposure to physical automation, robotics, and sensor-driven task displacement
Exposure to content generation, creative augmentation, and large language model tools
Exposure to workflow automation, decision-support software, and process digitisation
Technical Details
NexFuture v3.0 estimates automation exposure natively from ESCO essential-skill groups, weighted by skill mass and calibrated against expert anchors. Scores are probabilistic estimates, not guarantees. See the NexFuture Methodology White Paper for full details.
Measures automation exposure. It does not measure pay, demand, or how many jobs exist near you.
What people in this role usually do
Supply Chain & Transportation
A typical day as a co-pilot
09 09:00 · Morning apply transportation management concepts
10 10:30 · Mid-morning create a flight plan
12 12:00 · Midday apply signalling control procedures
14 14:00 · Afternoon balance transportation cargo
15 15:30 · Late afternoon comply with air traffic control operations
17 17:00 · Wrap-up ensure aircraft compliance with regulation
Task order is illustrative. Individual days vary.
-
air traffic control operations
The procedures for organising air traffic, preventing collisions and ensuring smooth operations during flights, and the tasks performed by air traffic controllers, including Interaction and effective communication between aircraft and air traffic controllers.
-
air transport law
The rules and regulations governing air transport, including international law.
-
aircraft flight control systems
The setting, features and operation of aircraft flight control systems such as flight control surfaces, cockpit controls, connections, and operating mechanisms required to control the flight direction of an aircraft.
-
airport planning
The principles and procedures that govern the development of airports in order to meet the demand for aviation services and comply with the applicable regulations.
-
aviation meteorology
The scientific field of study that interprets the impact of weather on air traffic management (ATM) and how thorough changes in pressure and temperature values at airports can create variations in head and tail-wind components, and may impose low visibility operating conditions. Knowledge of aviation meteorology can help to reduce negative impact on the ATM system by diminishing disruption and the consequent problems of disturbed flow rates, lost capacity and induced additional costs.
-
civil aviation regulations
The body of regulations, rules and signals that apply to the field of civil aviation, including marshalling signals.
- geographic areas
- visual flight rules
-
operate radio equipment
Set up and operate radio devices and accessories, such as broadcast consoles, amplifiers, and microphones. Understand the basics of radio operator language and, when necessary, provide instruction in handling radio equipment correctly.
-
operate radio navigation instruments
Operate radio navigation instruments to determine the position of aircraft in the airspace.
-
operate two-way radio systems
Use radios that can receive and transmit sound signals in order to communicate with similar radios on the same frequency such as mobile phones and walkie talkies.
-
operate radar equipment
Operate radar screens and other radar equipment. Ensure that aircraft fly at a safe distance from one another.
-
ensure ongoing compliance with regulations
Conduct tasks and procedures to ensure that aviation certificates maintain their validity; undertake safeguarding measures as appropriate.
-
comply with air traffic control operations
Act in compliance with instruction provided by air traffic controllers.
-
ensure aircraft compliance with regulation
Ensure that every aircraft complies with applicable regulation and all components and equipment have officially valid components.
-
undertake procedures to meet aircraft flight requirements
Ensure that operation certificates are valid, guarantee that take-off mass is a maximum of 3,175 kg, verify that the minimum crew is adequate according to regulations and needs, ensure that the configuration settings are correct, and check if engines are suitable for the flight.
-
undertake procedures to meet requirements for flying aircraft heavier than 5,700 kg
Ensure that operation certificates are valid, validate that take-off mass is a minimum of 5,700 kg, verify that the minimum crew is adequate according to flight needs and regulations, ensure that the configuration settings are correct, and check if the engines are suitable for the flight.
-
operate cockpit control panels
Operates control panels in the cockpit or flight deck according to the needs of the flight. Manage on-board electronic systems to ensure a smooth flight.
-
perform flight manoeuvres
Perform flight manoeuvres in critical situations, and associated ‘upset’ manoeuvres, in order to avoid collision.
-
perform take off and landing
Perform normal and cross-wind take-off and landing operations.
-
interpret visual literacy
Interpret charts, maps, graphics, and other pictorial presentations used in place of the written word.
-
read maps
Read maps effectively.
-
read 3D displays
Read 3D-displays and understand the information they provide on positions, distances, and other parameters.
-
use meteorological information
Use and interpret meteorological information for operations dependent on climatic conditions. Use this information to provide advise on safe operations in relation to weather conditions.
-
have spatial awareness
Be aware of your position and the space around you. Understand the relationship of objects around you when there is a change of position.
-
apply transportation management concepts
Apply transport industry management concepts in order to improve transportation processes, reduce waste, increase efficiency, and improve schedule preparation.
-
follow verbal instructions
Have the ability to follow spoken instructions received from colleagues. Strive to understand and clarify what is being requested.
-
prepare transportation routes
Prepare routes through the addition or subtraction of routes, making changes to route frequency, and changing the service span of routes. Adjusts routes through providing additional running time to routes, adding additional capacity during periods of overcrowding (or reducing capacity during periods of low passenger numbers), and adjusting departure times in response to changes in circumstances along a given route, thereby ensuring efficient use of resources and achievement of customer relations goals.;
-
create a flight plan
Develop a flight plan which details the flight altitude, route to be followed ,and amount of fuel required using different sources of information (weather reports and other data from air traffic control).
-
deal with challenging work conditions
Deal with challenging circumstances in which to perform work, such as night work, shift work, and atypical working conditions.
Skill DNA
Work personality traits and values that define this role
See whether this role fits your Career DNA
Take the free Career DNA assessment to see how co-pilot aligns with your interests, work style, and future path. In less than 10 minutes, you will get a personalized fit signal and a roadmap for what to do next.
Scan to continue on mobileGrowth Pathways & Similar Roles
Explore typical career progression paths, adjacent skills, and similar roles to plan your next transition.
Where does co-pilot fit?
Similarity scores based on skill overlap from ESCO data.
Frequently asked questions
- What kind of training is required to become a co-pilot?
- Becoming a co-pilot requires extensive training, including flight school, obtaining a Commercial Pilot License (CPL), and accumulating significant flight hours. Specific requirements vary by airline and national aviation authority, but typically involve rigorous theoretical and practical examinations.
- How does the co-pilot's role differ from the captain's?
- The captain holds ultimate responsibility for the safety of the flight and the passengers. The co-pilot assists the captain in all aspects of flight operations, providing support, monitoring systems, and taking over control when required. It’s a collaborative role where both pilots share responsibility but the captain has final authority.
- What personality traits or work styles are particularly important for a co-pilot?
- Successful co-pilots demonstrate strong attention to detail (1.C.5.b), a proactive approach to problem-solving (1.C.5.a), the ability to follow instructions precisely (1.C.4.a), a commitment to teamwork (1.C.3.a), and the capacity to remain calm and focused under pressure (1.C.4.b).
- Co-Pilot — is there a shortage in Europe?
- No. In the 2025 ELA/EURES edition, a surplus was reported in 5 of the 9 European countries that assessed this occupation group: Austria, Czechia, Finland, France and 1 more. 4 countries reported a shortage. These assessments are published per occupation group rather than per job title.
- Co-Pilot — what does it pay in the United States?
- $226,600 a year at the median, as of 2025-05. State medians run from $97,680 to $618,090. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics. This is a United States figure and not a projection for Europe.