


Providing instructions to the co-pilot and cabin crewĬommunicating with air traffic control to confirm takeoffs and landings Inspecting the different areas of an aircraft to ensure everything functions properly before boarding passengers Here are some of the high-level job duties that a captain can have:ĭeveloping flight plans for each flight to ensure the plane has adequate fuel and is an appropriate weight, considering cargo and passengersĬollaborating with meteorologists to evaluate the weather before a flight and adjust the flight plan as necessary Many of these duties focus on safety and assessing the conditions around flights before takeoffs and landings. Captains can perform all the same job duties as co-pilots, but they also maintain additional responsibilities as the first-in-command on each flight.
ASK THE CAPTAIN HOW TO
Related: How To Become a First Officer: A Step-by-Step Guide What is a captain?Ī captain is the highest-ranking official on an aircraft who operates the airplane and monitors the safety of everyone on board. Taking over for the captain if an emergency situation arises Reviewing the performance of an aircraft and keeping records of any important details Maintaining records of navigation and events that occur during a flight, such as turbulenceĬommunicating with the flight crew and the ground grew throughout each flight Helping the captain complete departures and landings Preparing an aircraft and its cockpit before flights They can have several responsibilities, such as: Co-pilots work in the cockpit of an airplane and take direction immediately from the captain. What is a co-pilot?Ī co-pilot, also sometimes called the first officer, helps the primary pilot or captain on a flight operate the airplane and maintain navigation. In this article, we explore what co-pilots and captains accomplish in their daily activities, explore pay differences and further expand on other differences between these two pilots. However, it can be helpful to learn about the differences between the two positions, especially the salaries they provide, to determine which career path might best suit your needs. Both pilots and co-pilots can help fly an airplane, and they typically have very similar responsibilities. Pilots, also called captains, and co-pilots are essential for safe and timely air travel.
