How to become an air pilot, flight engineer or flying instructor
Official title: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
Also called: Co-pilot, Air pilot, Bush pilot, Test pilot, Check pilot, Chief pilot, Spray pilot, Relief pilot, Survey pilot, Air navigator, Airline pilot, Charter pilot
Air pilots fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to provide air transportation and other services such as crop spraying and aerial surveying. Flight engineers assist air pilots with monitoring, troubleshooting and maintenance of aircraft systems and with pre- and post-flight inspections. Flying instructors teach flying techniques and procedures to student and licensed pilots. Air pilots, flight engineers and flight instructors are employed by airline and air freight companies, flying schools and by other public and private sector aircraft operators.
Main tasks
- Air pilots
- Conduct pre-flight inspection of aircraft and check passenger and cargo distribution to ensure that weight and balance specifications are met
- Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air-traffic control, inform crew members of flight and test procedures and direct activities of aircraft crew during flights
- Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions and other information
- Conduct in-flight tests and monitor functioning of aircraft equipment and systems during flights, maintain communications with flight dispatchers and weather forecasters and respond to and report in-flight emergencies and malfunctions
- Prepare flight evaluation reports
- Train pilots to use new equipment, or prepare them for examinations to revalidate or upgrade existing licences
- May fly new or experimental planes to examine their flight performance and safety
How to become one
Pilots and flight engineers Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required. A university degree or college diploma may be required. A commercial pilot's licence (more than 200 hours of flight experience) or an air transport pilot's licence (more than 1500 hours of flight experience) is required. Additional licences or endorsements to fly different types of aircraft are required. Flight engineers require a flight engineer licence issued by Transport Canada. Structured training is provided by employers. Flight instructors Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required. A university degree or college diploma may be required. A commercial pilot's or an air transport pilot's licence is required. Transport Canada ratings and endorsements to provide instructions on different types of aircraft are required.
Ways in
- College or CEGEP: College or CEGEP program. 50% of workers hold a college or other non-degree diploma (Census 2021). Common fields: Air transportation; Vehicle maintenance and repair technologies/technicians; Business/commerce, general.
- Licence or registration: A commercial pilot's licence (more than 200 hours of flight experience) or an air transport pilot's licence (more than 1500 hours of flight experience) is required. Additional licences or endorsements to fly different types of aircraft are required. Flight engineers require a flight engineer licence issued by Transport Canada. A commercial pilot's or an air transport pilot's licence is required.
Pay · Outlook
- Median pay: $101,400 a year The middle half earn $64,994 to $138,645.
- About 19,200 people worked in this job in 2023, and about 22,600 are projected by 2033. (+17.7%)
- Projected labour market to 2033: strong risk of shortage.
Related jobs
- Air traffic controllers and related occupations
- Deck officers, water transport
- Engineer officers, water transport
- Railway traffic controllers and marine traffic regulators
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Questions people ask
How do I become an air pilot, flight engineer or flying instructor?
Pilots and flight engineers Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required. A university degree or college diploma may be required. A commercial pilot's licence (more than 200 hours of flight experience) or an air transport pilot's licence (more than 1500 hours of flight experience) is required. Additional licences or endorsements to fly different types of aircraft are required. Flight engineers require a flight engineer licence issued by Transport Canada. Structured training is provided by employers. Flight instructors Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required. A university degree or college diploma may be required. A commercial pilot's or an air transport pilot's licence is required. Transport Canada ratings and endorsements to provide instructions on different types of aircraft are required.
How much does an air pilot, flight engineer or flying instructor earn in Canada?
Median full-time pay is $101,400 a year (Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank)). The middle half earn $64,994 to $138,645.
Is an air pilot, flight engineer or flying instructor a growing career in Canada?
Yes. Employment is projected to grow 18% by 2033, from about 19,200 to about 22,600 people (Employment and Social Development Canada).
Do you need a degree to become an air pilot, flight engineer or flying instructor?
Not always. 25% of people in this job hold a bachelor's degree or higher. Ways in include: College or CEGEP program.
Sources
- Statistics Canada: Census 2021: employment by occupation, gender and education (98-10-0449) (2021 Census), Statistics Canada Open Licence, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Statistics Canada: National Occupational Classification (NOC) 2021 (Version 1.0), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Canadian Occupational Projection System (COPS) (2024 to 2033), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
- Employment and Social Development Canada (Job Bank): Wages by occupation (2025 (revised 2025-11-19)), Open Government Licence - Canada, retrieved 2026-10-03
Updated 2026-10-03