What Does a Chief Pilot Do?

Nearly every type of aviation operator, from flight schools to the major airlines, has a chief pilot.  In many ways, it’s a generic term that means exactly what it sounds like it means — someone who is the most senior, or “chief,” pilot. But, what does a chief pilot do?

The chief pilot is in charge of and manages the flight operations and other pilots.

They are responsible for ensuring that all the pilots are trained and current, assigning them their duties, and ensuring the flight operations are safe and efficient. 

Sometimes, chief pilots have been at the company; other times, they’re experienced pilots hired directly to the position.

The only certainty is that they are experienced pilots — you don’t get the job of chief pilot right out of flight school.

All of that is pretty common sense, but in many businesses, the position is a requirement of the FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations).

The FAA has minimum requirements and official duties for the chief pilot for flight schools and airlines.

Here’s a look at the chief pilot’s legal requirements, responsibilities, and real-world duties.

What Does an Airline Chief Pilot Do (According to the FARs)?

If an airline operates under Part 121 (Scheduled Air Carrier) or Part 135 (Non-scheduled carriers), then there must be a chief pilot designated.

The chief must meet the minimum qualifications set out in the FARs, and there are also official duties that the FARs require. 

To act as chief pilot, the person must have an ATP.

They generally need at least three years of experience within the prior six years operating large airplanes typical of the operation. In other words, they must be qualified and experienced line pilots before they can be chief pilots.

The specifics are laid out in FAR Part 119.67.

The chief’s legal responsibilities include maintaining aviation safety standards and safe operating practices, being familiar with the applicable FARs, the operations standard procedures, and all maintenance and airworthiness requirements. 

Chief pilots are typically required to fly with an FAA check pilot annually.

This is only a brief summary of what the FARs require, so check the regulations applicable to the operator in question for specific details.

Part 141 Pilot School Chief Instructors

The FARs require a “chief instructor ” in a Part 141 pilot school. While this makes sense, most people at flight schools refer to them as the “chief pilot” simply out of tradition — that’s what they’d be called at airlines, after all. 

The qualifications to be a chief instructor are in FAR Part 141.35. 

Generally, they need to hold a commercial or ATP certificate with the appropriate ratings for the school’s teaching. They also need to pass a practical and knowledge test given by the FAA, including a proficiency test every year.

Finally, for each course, they must meet minimum time requirements.

For example, to be a chief instructor for a private pilot course, the chief must have at least 1,000 hours as a PIC and two years or 500 hours acting as a primary flight training instructor.

Similar, though slightly less strict, standards are listed for assistant chief and check instructors. However, flight schools are not required to have those positions. 

So, that’s what is required to become a chief instructor, but according to the FARs, what do they do?

Here are a few things the regulations require (source, FAR Part 141.85.):

• Certify each student’s records, test reports, and graduation certificates.
• Ensure each CFI passes an initial proficiency check and a recurrent check every 12 months
• Ensure each student accomplishes stage checks and end-of-course checks
• Maintain training techniques, procedures, and standards for the school
• Be available (present or by phone) any time that training is given 
• Can designate authority to do stage checks and end-of-course checks to an assistant chief or check instructors.

What Do Chief Pilots Really Do?

That’s the ‘nitty-gritty’ — the regulations that dictate who can be a chief pilot and what they do. But what does the job really look like day-to-day? 

Simply put, the chief pilot is usually the boss of the pilots.

All flight crew members report to them, and they typically report to the Director of Operations or a similar member of the airline’s management team. 

The regulations are vague because every operator (airline, flight school, or whatever) is a little different.

Some are global businesses based on multiple continents, while others are one-man bands where the chief pilot operates alone. Likewise, the job might look different for a charter operator with five planes versus a 121 airline with twice as many.

Some chiefs are office-bound, while others are line pilots flying as much as all the rest — in addition to their other duties. Their days look different, but their jobs have similar responsibilities. 

At a US airline, most chief pilots are senior captains who have settled into a management position after years at the company.

It’s a position usually hired from within a company since this provides chiefs who are already familiar with the operations and company culture. 

There’s much less flying involved, so while they keep current, they usually don’t fly the line.

With all their legal duties, chief pilots find that the more pilots on their team, the less time they have to do anything else. 

From the pilot’s perspective, the chief pilot at a big airline is like the school’s principal.

If you can go your whole career without the chief knowing your name, you’re probably doing something right.

Pilots usually only get face time with the chief if something goes wrong and they’re in big trouble!