What is a Male Pilot Called? It‘s Just "Pilot" These Days
To answer the question right off the bat – a male pilot is referred to simply as a pilot. While historical terminology drew gender-based distinctions, nowadays the terms "pilot", "aviator", "captain" and so on apply equally to men and women.
As a lifelong aviation fanatic and flight simulation gamer, terminology is important when striving for realism. So let‘s explore the pilot role and titles in more depth!
The History of Pilot Terminology
The early pioneering days of aviation were dominated by male aviators. As such, the terms "aviator" and later "pilot" became strongly associated with men. Women who flew aircraft were distinguished by the label "aviatrix".
This gender divide in terminology persisted for decades through the World War I and II eras. However by the mid-20th century, labels emphasizing gender differences were falling out of favor. As more female pilots entered both civilian and military aviation, "aviatrix" came to be seen as archaic.
By the 1970s and 80s, "pilot" became firmly established as the standard, gender-neutral term for anyone operating an aircraft. From a historical perspective, a male pilot used to be called an aviator, but now simply pilot applies.
Pilot Terminology Over Time
| Era | Male Pilots | Female Pilots |
|---|---|---|
| Early Aviation (1903-1930s) | Aviators | Aviatrix |
| Mid-century (1940s-1960s) | Pilot / Aviator | Aviatrix |
| Modern (1970s-present) | Pilot | Pilot |
This table shows how terminology for male and female pilots evolved over the 20th century before equalizing. Next let‘s look at common pilot ranks and roles today.
Key Pilot Ranks and Roles
While "pilot" serves as an umbrella term, various pilot sub-types exist based on qualifications, experience and operational domain.
Airline Pilots
For flying commercial jets, key pilot ranks include:
- Second Officer: Entry-level position for airline pilots. May also be called Flight Engineer.
- First Officer (Co-Pilot): Second-in-command after the captain.
- Captain: The pilot-in-command responsible for the aircraft, crew and passengers.
The progression usually goes Second Officer -> First Officer -> Captain as experience grows.
General Aviation Pilots
Beyond airlines, general aviation (GA) refers to all non-airliner flying. Common GA pilot types include:
- Student: A pilot in training who has not yet earned a full license. Will have an instructor present.
- Private Pilot: Holds a basic license to fly for personal reasons. Additional ratings needed to carry passengers or fly in poor weather.
- Commercial Pilot: Holds a professional license to fly for hire/work. Additional ratings may be required for specific tasks like crop dusting.
- Flight Instructor: Certified to train new student pilots working towards licenses and ratings.
Then there are many specialized roles like bush pilots, test pilots, aerobatics pilots, drone pilots and more that require particular skills.
The Path to Becoming an Airline Captain
The road to flying for major airlines is long but offers great rewards for those willing to put in the hard yards.
Step 1 – Flight Training
- Earn private and commercial pilot certificates
- Build hundreds of hours flight experience
- Obtain instrument rating for operating in cloudy conditions
- Gain multi-engine rating for flying jets/twin props
- Many study aviation in college to boost knowledge
Step 2 – Initial Airline Flying
- First airline job is often flight instructor or charter pilot
- Build hours and await a full-time airline position
- When hired by major airline, begin as reserve second officer
Step 3 – Move Up the Ranks
- Spend 1+ year as reserve second officer filling in
- Upgrade to reserve first officer as seniority grows
- Make it to full-time first officer (co-pilot)
- Finally upgrade from first officer to captain!
This whole journey can take over a decade of training and dues-paying. But at the end, airline captains at major carriers earn $200k+ a year!
For those with the skills and perseverance to ascend, commanding airliners is still an incredibly rewarding profession. The thrill never gets old!
Key Statistics on Airline Pilots
| Statistic | Detail |
|---|---|
| Annual Salary | $93k average. Up to $208k at top major airlines |
| Career Outlook | 5% growth over next decade is average |
| Total Employed | ~81,000 airline pilots in USA currently |
| Gender Breakdown | 94% male pilots, 6% female pilots |
While improving, female representation still remains very low. But regardless of gender identity, all airline pilots must meet the same stringent training and qualifications.
Now that we‘ve covered formal terminology and ranks, what about more casual pilot slang and lingo?
Common Slang Terms Used by Pilots
Beyond formal terminology, pilots also use plenty of informal lingo. Usually these colloquial terms get tossed around most frequently among military pilots or "old salt" senior airline captains.
Here are just a few of the many pilot slang expressions:
- Kick the tires, light the fires: Let‘s get this bird ready for takeoff!
- Wheels up time: Departure time once airborne.
- Cans: Headphones pilots wear.
- Hangar flying: Sitting around swapping stories.
- Hog: A-10 Thunderbolt II ground attack jet.
- Bug smasher: Small prop aircraft that flies low.
The aviation world has a language all its own. As both a simulation gamer and aviation geek, I‘ve always loved learning Pilotese lingo.
These casual nicknames and phrases add color. They also remind that while aircraft may be high-tech, pilots themselves are still regular people!
Which brings us to an area close to my heart as a gamer – flight simulation software. How accurately can home pilot simulations replicate the genuine experience?
Flight Sims vs Reality – Bridging the Gap
As gaming technology continually advances, consumer flight simulations strive harder than ever for true-to-life accuracy and depth. Products like Microsoft Flight Simulator 2020 showcase amazing photorealistic graphics and detailed flight modeling.
However current limitations still include:
Artificial feel – Home cockpit setups can‘t match the forces, motion and feel of real flight. Sensations are simulated visually but not physically.
Simplified systems – Most sims provide simplified aircraft system models for accessibility. Omitting full complexity.
The human element – AI traffic and ATC interactions lack the depth of real-world communication.
In a decade though, technologies like virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and better artificial intelligence could help home simulations exceed current realism limitations.
Future Pilot Technologies
| Technology | Description |
|---|---|
| Virtual Reality | Fully immersive VR goggles with 3D motion could finally mimic true vestibular sensations |
| Augmented Reality | Overlaying plane instrument data onto physical controls via AR visors |
| Artificial Intelligence | More lifelike conversational AI for ATC and multi crew interactions |
VR and AR devices already exist in aerospace applications for pilots. Adapting them to consumer simulations could push home flight immersion to extraordinary new levels!
The gap between fantasy and reality will close exponentially over the next 10-20 years. Yet labeled as pilot, captain or aviator, humans will remain at the controls into the foreseeable future!
So in closing, today all pilots regardless of gender are known simply as pilots. But various roles, ranks and colorful lingo help bring additional color the field. May fair skies and strong tailwinds await all aviators pursuing their wings! This is one gamer signing off for now.
