What do pilots do during a flight?

The pilot flying is primarily scanning the flight instruments to ensure proper speed is maintained and precise altitudes are flown during the approach. The pilot monitoring keeps an eye on these parameters as well, while continuing to correspond with approach and tower controllers.



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Many airlines provide crew rest areas on their aircraft, where pilots can sleep during long-haul flights. These areas are usually located in the tail, cargo area or above the cabin of the plane and are designed to be as quiet and comfortable as possible. Other crew members prefer to use business class seats to rest.

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Pilots must go through airport charts and relevant documentation for unfamiliar airports. Pre-flight inspections include physical checks, cockpit controls and flight software confirmation, and reviewing the aircraft's Technical Log Book. Any issues are addressed with maintenance technicians to ensure safety.

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Some crews talk a lot with each other, while others remain quiet for much of the flight. If pilots share a lot in common and enjoy discussing mutual topics of interest, an entire multi-day trip can be filled with conversation.

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At lower altitudes, the crew is busy performing after-takeoff & climb checklists, communicating with air traffic control (ATC), monitoring instruments, and configuring the airplane.

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Broadly and generally, the reasons a pilot may leave the flight deck in flight can be grouped into two categories: first, physiological breaks – restroom, stretch, or required rest on longer routes; and second, operational breaks – handling a passenger, aircraft, or crew issue that requires the pilot to leave the ...

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Usually not. However, some weather conditions can cause turbulence and up and downdrafts such that an airplane can not be controlled completely; that makes me nervous. The pilot can usually keep the pitch about right, but the airspeed will be going all over the place.

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Yes, the FAA permits pilots to listen to music as long as it's not distracting. Some headphones have the ability to have two inputs, one for comms and one for music, and can silence the music whenever audio is detected on the comms input.

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The rule of thumb says that if the aircraft isn't on the ground in the first third of the runway — go around. If the speed or the alignment isn't right, go for the gas. There is always a chance to play again. One of the tricky things about go-arounds is that the aircraft is trimmed for landing — not going around.

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Pilots typically do the following:
  • Check the overall condition of the aircraft before and after every flight.
  • Ensure that the aircraft is balanced and below its weight limit.
  • Verify that the fuel supply is adequate and that weather conditions are acceptable.
  • Prepare and submit flight plans to air traffic control.


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During their time off, some airline pilots find themselves enjoying the company of their friends and family, as this may not always be feasible during long trips. This is not your typical 9 – 5 job, so making sure to set aside time for your personal life and socializing is essential.

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Currently, the bragging rights for the longest flight in the world belong to Singapore Airlines' New York City to Singapore route. Its longest flight path, which connects Singapore's Changi Airport with New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport, 9,585 miles away, takes 18 hours and 40 minutes.

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According to the Bureau Of Labor Statistics, the median salary for airline captains, first-officers, second-officers, and flight engineers in the United States is $203,010 as of 2021. However, those working for major airlines as airline transport pilots can earn a much higher airline pilot salary than this.

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The most common form of communication in aviation, very high frequency (VHF) radio calls are what we use for around 95% of our communications with ATC. In simplified terms, the transmitting station sends a signal that travels in a straight line and is picked up by the receiving station.

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The most common form of communication in aviation, very high frequency (VHF) radio calls are what we use for around 95% of our communications with ATC.

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LiveATC Air Radio provides a quick and easy way to listen in on live conversations between pilots and air traffic controllers near many airports around the world.

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“The ups and downs are constant, and we fly at all different times of the day,” Deitz says. “It's a stress on your body.” Takeoff and landing are the trickiest parts of a given flight, requiring all of a pilot's attention and mental energy. Heart rate increases during those windows, studies show.

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During takeoff, the airplane is making the transition from ground to flight, with thinner lift and stall margins. You also have the hazards of high-speed abort should something go wrong. It's landings that fearful flyers hate, but in deference to the principles of lift, gravity, and momentum, this anxiety is misplaced.

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Given the space restraints of a typical plane, the pilots were taught to sleep in a seated position. They put their feet flat on the ground, while relaxing their hands in their laps. Breathe slow, deep breaths while relaxing every muscle in your face and letting your forehead, cheeks, mouth, tongue, and jaw go limp.

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Fatigue is particularly prevalent among pilots because of unpredictable work hours, long duty periods, circadian disruption, and insufficient sleep. These factors can occur together to produce a combination of sleep deprivation, circadian rhythm effects, and 'time-on task' fatigue.

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One important issue was how to ensure that the co-pilot didn't also accidentally fall asleep. This has been a real concern for many years in aviation, with some studies reporting that as much as 50% of pilots accidentally fall asleep during flights.

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