Table 1Transition record

co-pilottosecond officer

A co-pilot already meets 72% of what the second officer role asks for. The move turns on 7 required skills not yet in the profile.

From co-pilot

72%

Overlap1

To second officer

24 Skills carried over

7 Required, not held

36 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 36

This move: 36 of 100 · moderate

1 Share of the second officer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the co-pilot profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 24 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A second officer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a co-pilot background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held ensure smooth on board operations management skills
already held inspect aircraft information skills
already held undertake procedures to meet aircraft flight requirements assisting and caring
already held respond to changing navigation circumstances communication, collaboration and creativity
already held ensure ongoing compliance with regulations assisting and caring
already held read 3D displays information skills

All 24 carried skills, including the 21 the second officer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 12 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 working with machinery and specialised equipment 2 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held address aircraft mechanical issues required
required, not held perform aircraft maintenance required

optional, not held undertake procedures to meet helicopter flight requirements optional

02 assisting and caring 2 required

required, not held ensure compliance with airport security measures required
required, not held comply with checklists required

03 engineering, manufacturing and construction 2 required

required, not held electrical systems used in transportation required
required, not held electronics required

04 services 1 required

required, not held airport safety regulations required

05 management skills 2 supplementary

optional, not held consider economic criteria in decision making optional
optional, not held make independent operating decisions optional

06 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 1 supplementary

optional, not held launching of satellites into orbit optional

1 further area in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a second officer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 24 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held air transport law knowledge
already held aircraft flight control systems knowledge
already held airport planning knowledge
already held aviation meteorology knowledge
already held carry out navigational calculations skill
already held common aviation safety regulations knowledge
already held deal with challenging work conditions skill
already held ensure aircraft compliance with regulation skill
already held ensure ongoing compliance with regulations skill
already held ensure public safety and security skill
already held ensure smooth on board operations skill
already held follow verbal instructions skill
already held geographic areas knowledge
already held handle stressful situations in the work place skill
already held inspect aircraft skill
already held interpret visual literacy skill
already held operate cockpit control panels skill
already held perform routine flight operations checks skill
already held read 3D displays skill
already held undertake procedures to meet aircraft flight requirements skill
already held use meteorological information skill
already held apply airport standards and regulations skill
already held geostationary satellites knowledge
already held respond to changing navigation circumstances skill

The 1 learning area not shown above

Skill to acquire Tier

07 working with computers 1 supplementary

optional, not held have computer literacy optional

5 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held undertake procedures to meet helicopter flight requirements optional
optional, not held consider economic criteria in decision making optional
optional, not held have computer literacy optional
optional, not held launching of satellites into orbit optional
optional, not held make independent operating decisions optional

28 held skills the second officer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role air traffic control operations knowledge
not needed by the target role analyse weather forecast skill
not needed by the target role analyse work-related written reports skill
not needed by the target role apply signalling control procedures skill
not needed by the target role apply transportation management concepts skill
not needed by the target role balance transportation cargo skill
not needed by the target role be friendly to passengers skill
not needed by the target role civil aviation regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role communicate with customers skill
not needed by the target role comply with air traffic control operations skill
not needed by the target role create a flight plan skill
not needed by the target role ensure compliance with civil aviation regulations skill
not needed by the target role have spatial awareness skill
not needed by the target role implement airside safety procedures skill
not needed by the target role operate radar equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate radio equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate radio navigation instruments skill
not needed by the target role operate two-way radio systems skill
not needed by the target role perform flight manoeuvres skill
not needed by the target role perform take off and landing skill
not needed by the target role prepare transportation routes skill
not needed by the target role read maps skill
not needed by the target role run preventive simulations skill
not needed by the target role tolerate stress skill
not needed by the target role undertake procedures to meet requirements for flying aircraft heavier than 5,700 kg skill
not needed by the target role use different communication channels skill
not needed by the target role visual flight rules knowledge
not needed by the target role write work-related reports skill

4 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held airport safety regulations required
required, not held electrical systems used in transportation required
required, not held electronics required
optional, not held launching of satellites into orbit optional

Index

Other moves recorded from co-pilot

Full index of moves from co-pilot

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.