A professional who pilots airplane to transport passengers, mail, or freight, or for other commercial purposes. Responsibilities include:

• Reviews ship's papers to ascertain factors, such as load weight, fuel supply, weather conditions, and flight route and schedule.
• Orders changes in fuel supply, load, route, or schedule to ensure safety of flight.
• Reads gauges to verify that oil, hydraulic fluid, fuel quantities, and cabin pressure are at prescribed levels prior to starting engines.
• Starts engines and taxies airplane to runway.
• Sets brakes, and accelerates engines to verify operational readiness of components, such as superchargers, carburetor-heaters, and controls.
• Contacts control tower by radio to obtain takeoff clearance and instructions.
• Releases brakes and moves throttles and hand and foot controls to take off and control airplane in flight.
• Pilots airplane to destination adhering to flight plan and regulations and procedures of federal government, company, and airport.
• Logs information, such as time in flight, altitude flown, and fuel consumed.
• Must hold commercial pilot's certificate issued by Federal Aviation Administration.
• May instruct students or pilots in operation of aircraft.
• May be designated according to federal license held as Transport Pilot, or type of commercial activity engaged in as Airplane Pilot or Corporate Pilot.
• May be designated Airplane-Patrol Pilot when piloting airplane over pipelines, train tracks, and communications systems to detect and radio location and nature of damage.
• May be designated Airplane Captain when in command of aircraft and crew or Airplane First-Officer or Copilot when second in command.