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Three main types of career pilots exist: airline (passenger and cargo), corporate and military.
Airline pilots fly for large companies and are responsible for the safe completion of flights according to the schedule of their company. Each of the companies generally transports hundreds of passengers or pounds of cargo each day. These pilots' training and flight operations are subjected to extensive regulations by the FAA and tend to be very standardized across the country.
Corporate pilots may fly for corporations that own private planes for transportation of executives (e.g., Coca-Cola, Proctor & Gamble), or they may fly for a private individual or family. These pilots generally fly smaller, faster jets that are outfitted for luxury travel. Their schedules and destinations may have lots of variety and they may be subjected to more of an "on call" lifestyle.
Military pilots are used by all branches of the armed services and are trained by their respective branch. These pilots are generally subjected to stricter requirements in terms of age, physical fitness and academic testing. They are generally more "mission-oriented" and fly reconnaissance, observation, training and defense flights, though they also have transport and cargo operations. - Flight attendants are required crewmembers on U.S. registered aircraft that carry 48 passengers or more, so they are present on all major airline flights and on most regional airline flights. They may also work in the corporate sector for private flights. The first objective of any flight attendant is to ensure the safety of the passengers as they are trained to assist in medical emergencies and in the event of an aircraft emergency such as a forced evacuation or a water ditching. In the addition to these duties, they also perform hospitality tasks such as providing refreshments for passengers. Like airline pilots, flight attendants may be away from home around four nights or more per week. Unlike pilots, their training is generally provided by their company and runs approximately six to eight weeks.
- The aviation maintenance technician, or AMT, is the correct term for the more common term "mechanic." AMTs are certified professionals who have earned an Airframe and Powerplant Certification, or A&P. They are qualified to perform routine inspections and specific repairs on different types of aircraft ranging from single-engine trainers to jumbo jets. AMTs are important in the overall safe operation of all flight departments and are legally required to sign maintenance logs and documentation that prove the airplane is officially "airworthy" and in safe flying condition. They may work for a repair station based at an airport or for an airline or corporate flight department.
- Air traffic controllers are responsible for managing and monitoring the national airspace system, which is a complex conglomeration of highly regulated skies. They use radio communication and radar equipment to track the progress of most airborne traffic. Air traffic controllers are divided into two types: Terminal and Enroute. Terminal controllers work at airports and observe aircraft from an air traffic control tower located on airport property. They clear aircraft for takeoffs and landings and guide them while taxiing. Enroute controllers help to guide traffic in between airports, and give them weather alerts, traffic advisories, and keep them safely separated from other air traffic. Most air traffic controllers are government employees and trained by the federal aviation administration in Oklahoma City.
- Airport managers oversee airport operations at all types of airports from Atlanta Hartsfield to the dirt strip out in the countryside. The larger and busier the airport, the more complex this job becomes. Airports must comply with regulatory requirements that include noise output, size, capacity, and certain safety regulations. Airport managers oversee all operations including runway and taxiway renovations, ramp control for parked aircraft, airport security and badging, TSA requirements, passenger parking, user fees, fire safety and emergency response teams, and much more. They generally have MBAs or relevant degrees in finance, management, safety, or aerospace. They may have a team of people working under them to oversee specific departments within the realm of airport control.
