Most Prestigious Jobs for a Pilot
A pilot's job is to fly an airplane, helicopter or any other aircraft. Usually pilots fly in crews of at least two--the pilot and the co-pilot. Though most pilot jobs revolve around transporting cargo--either things or people--some pilot jobs revolve around law enforcement, military action, crop dusting and search-and-rescue missions. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), as of 2008, pilots earned an average of $111,680 per year. However, a pilot's pay is determined by rank, experience, capacity and career.
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Fighter Pilot
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A fighter pilot is a pilot who flies some kind of fighter jet or other military aircraft for one of the branches of the United States military. Only officers in the military can become fighter pilots. You also need to have an undergraduate degree first, join the military branch of your choice, graduate from that branch's officer training program and then graduate from that branch's pilot program. Though becoming an fighter pilot requires a lot of work and a long process, they enjoy some of the best training and reputations in the world. Fighter pilots also get to partake in the protection and defense of their country.
Shipping Company Pilot
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A shipping company pilot is considered a commercial pilot, just like any airline pilot, except that she works for companies such as the United States Postal Service (USPS), United Parcel Service (UPS) and Federal Express (FedEx), and carries shipments, parcels and mail instead of passengers. Though shipping company pilots don't get as much recognition as other pilots, they get more of an opportunity to fly better, newer and top-of-the-line aircrafts and usually command better pay than airline pilots. The biggest advantage to being a shipping company pilot as opposed to an airline pilot is job security. Ever since 9/11 airlines have been plagued by bankruptcy and layoffs, which shipping companies have been able to avoid.
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Airline Pilot
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Despite all the unfavorable things that have been happening to commercial airlines, including terrorist attacks, hijackings and unexplained crashes, being a pilot for a commercial airline such as American Airlines or United Airlines is still a very prestigious career. Unlike fighter pilots and shipping company pilots, airline pilots are responsible for transporting passengers from one place to another, safely, quickly and efficiently. Every time an airline pilot is able to land an airplane full of passengers at their destination, that pilot is celebrated for doing so, despite the fact that it's his job.
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- Photo Credit pilot image by Tijara Images from Fotolia.com
