Career Overlap Occupation record
RecordJob

Where a co-pilot can go next

5 destinations recorded, ranked by how much of the target role a co-pilot already meets. The closer to the top of Table 1, the less there is to learn.

Co-pilots are responsible for assisting captains by monitoring the flight instruments, handling radio communications, watching for air traffic, and taking over for the pilot as needed. They adhere to the pilot's commands, flight plans, and regulations and procedures of aviation national authorities, companies, and airports.

Also known as aircraft co-pilot, multi-crew pilot, aircraft first officer.

Technicians and associate professionals 52 skills on file 5 career moves 4 above 60% overlap Closest: commercial pilot, 78%

Fig. 2 · Career map 5 nearest · ESCO v1.2.1
commercial pilot 78% covered aircraft pilot 73% covered air force pilot 72% covered second officer 72% covered air traffic controller 52% covered co-pilot You are here
  • 70% and above · short step
  • 50 to 70% · real move
  • Below 50% · substantial retraining
The 5 nearest destinations from co-pilot, each one a link to that move’s record. Distance from the centre is how much retraining the move takes; the figure on each is how much of that role a co-pilot already covers. All 5 are listed in the tables below.
Table 1

Table 1 · Within reach

Table 2

Table 2 · A bigger jump

Possible, but expect real retraining rather than a sideways step.

Table 3

Table 3 · What the job itself asks for

A co-pilot needs 43 required skills and areas of knowledge. These 10 are the ones fewest other jobs share, so they say the most about the work.

Required skill Area
  • run preventive simulations constructing
  • undertake procedures to meet requirements for flying aircraft heavier than 5,700 kg working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • ensure smooth on board operations management skills
  • inspect aircraft information skills
  • balance transportation cargo handling and moving
  • create a flight plan management skills
  • apply signalling control procedures working with machinery and specialised equipment
  • undertake procedures to meet aircraft flight requirements assisting and caring
  • ensure ongoing compliance with regulations assisting and caring
  • implement airside safety procedures assisting and caring
Table 4

Table 4 · Jobs that lead here

The reverse view: occupations whose skills already cover much of what a co-pilot does. The figure is how much of this job each one brings.

Index

Look up another occupation

Co-pilot is filed under Technicians and associate professionals, ISCO major group 3. The full index lists all ten groups.

Note

How these figures were compiled

Overlap is how much of the target role is already part of a co-pilot’s work. It is directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. Every entry above opens the full comparison for that move: what carries over, what is missing, and where to start. The full method.