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Commercial Pilot

Stable

Aviation

Flies passenger or cargo aircraft after cadet pilot training and a commercial pilot licence. Malaysia Airlines and AirAsia cadet programmes are the main entry route; pay scales steeply with rank from Second Officer to Captain.

AviationGeneral

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Check aircraft prior to flights to ensure that the engines, controls, instruments, and other systems are functioning properly.
  2. 2Co-pilot aircraft or perform captain's duties, as required.
  3. 3Consider airport altitudes, outside temperatures, plane weights, and wind speeds and directions to calculate the speed needed to become airborne.
  4. 4Use instrumentation to pilot aircraft when visibility is poor.
  5. 5Monitor engine operation, fuel consumption, and functioning of aircraft systems during flights.
  6. 6Order changes in fuel supplies, loads, routes, or schedules to ensure safety of flights.
  7. 7Contact control towers for takeoff clearances, arrival instructions, and other information, using radio equipment.
  8. 8Start engines, operate controls, and pilot airplanes to transport passengers, mail, or freight according to flight plans, regulations, and procedures.
  9. 9Plan flights according to government and company regulations, using aeronautical charts and navigation instruments.
  10. 10Check baggage or cargo to ensure that it has been loaded correctly.
  11. 11Obtain and review data such as load weights, fuel supplies, weather conditions, and flight schedules to determine flight plans and identify needed changes.
  12. 12Conduct in-flight tests and evaluations at specified altitudes and in all types of weather to determine the receptivity and other characteristics of equipment and systems.
  13. 13Choose routes, altitudes, and speeds that will provide the fastest, safest, and smoothest flights.
  14. 14Write specified information in flight records, such as flight times, altitudes flown, and fuel consumption.
  15. 15Coordinate flight activities with ground crews and air traffic control, and inform crew members of flight and test procedures.
  16. 16Rescue and evacuate injured persons.
  17. 17Perform minor aircraft maintenance and repair work, or arrange for major maintenance.
  18. 18Request changes in altitudes or routes as circumstances dictate.
  19. 19Supervise other crew members.
  20. 20Instruct other pilots and student pilots in aircraft operations.
  21. 21File instrument flight plans with air traffic control so that flights can be coordinated with other air traffic.
  22. 22Fly with other pilots or pilot-license applicants to evaluate their proficiency.
  23. 23Plan and formulate flight activities and test schedules and prepare flight evaluation reports.
  24. 24Teach company regulations and procedures to other pilots.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • Flyer
  • Pilot
  • Aviator
  • Captain
  • Copilot
  • FO Pilot
  • AAM Pilot
  • EMS Pilot
  • UAM Pilot
  • Balloonist

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationPost-secondary certificate

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

EnglishDraws directly on English Language — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
GeographyDraws directly on Geography — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Mechanical Engineering StudiesDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
PhysicsDraws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Design & Technology (RBT)Draws directly on Mechanical — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Customer and Personal Service83%
  • English Language80%

    English

  • Transportation80%
  • Geography72%

    Geography

  • Public Safety and Security72%
  • Mechanical67%

    Mechanical Engineering StudiesPhysicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

Skills to build

CommunicationOrganisationTeamwork

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleContact most of the time
  • Dealing with customers or the publicNot at all
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Handling conflict situationsRarely
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherEvery day
  • Noisy environmentOften

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Operate large scale uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones for various commercial purposes, such as aerial photography, surveying land and structures, or monitoring wildlife.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

0%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

Growing role in the US

US Bureau of Labor Statistics data, not Malaysian. Shown because it's the only forward-looking demand estimate we have for this job.

Pay in the private market

Monthly pay from fresh grad to mid-career, from the salary guide cited on this page.

Entry

Private
RM4,200 – RM5,700

Mid-career

Private
RM9,000 – RM18,000

Government pay isn't shown: we haven't yet sourced the SSPA civil-service salary tables, and we won't estimate them.

Job demand outlook

Stable

Steady, reliable demand: a consistent number of openings.

Your readiness

How your current SPM subjects line up with this career.

Add your SPM grades to see how ready you are for this career.

Add my grades

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

International Pre-U

A-Levels, AUSMAT, IB and more. The flexible premium route, local or overseas.

1–2 years

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About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Commercial Pilots

Source: Aviation A2Z / VisaVerge: MAS Pilot Salary 2025 · as of Oct 2025

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org