WEBVTT

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Flying a plane safely through the sky…

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with passengers or freight on board…

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takes more than excellent vision…

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airline and commercial pilots need

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quick reaction times and

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excellent problem-solving abilities.

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These pilots fly and navigate airplanes,

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helicopters, and other aircraft.

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Pilots run through detailed checks

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before every flight, including

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checking fuel supplies, aircraft weight limit,

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cargo balance, weather conditions,

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and aircraft condition.

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Tiny cockpits contain the flight crew

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for the duration of flight;

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strong teamwork and sharing of

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flight duties keep the pilot

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and copilot alert and rested.

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Pilots communicate frequently with

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air traffic controllers on the ground,

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from submitting their flight plan before take-off,

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to checking in during a flight,

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and receiving instructions for landing

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and handling storms or emergencies.

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Airline pilots fly public, scheduled flights.

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They may fly long-distance routes,

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and be away from home for extended periods.

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Those routes, along with

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mandatory rest periods between flights,

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cause pilots to have irregular work schedules.

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Pilots may be deputized as federal officers

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and carry firearms to protect the cockpit.

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Commercial pilots fly charter flights,

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rescue operations, firefighting missions,

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crop dusting flights, and take aerial photographs.

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They often have additional duties that include

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scheduling flights and aircraft maintenance.

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Those who fly at low levels must navigate

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hazards such as power lines. Commercial pilots

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typically need high school education, while

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airline pilots generally need a bachelor’s degree,

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the Airline Transport Pilot certificate,

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and thousands of hours of flight experience

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as a commercial or military pilot.

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All professional pilots must have a

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commercial pilot’s license from

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the Federal Aviation Administration.

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Flight training usually begins at a

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flight school or with an independent instructor.