What Is The Lowest Rank For A Pilot?
A pilot’s rank is a crucial part of his or her career. It helps determine a pilot’s pay, benefits, and seniority within an airline. It also reflects the pilot’s overall experience.
Almost all airlines operate a seniority system. This system makes it possible for pilots to move up a rank when someone retires from the top of that list.
The lowest rank for a pilot is a second officer. These are typically employed by some airlines to act as cruise pilots, allowing the captain and SFO/FO to sleep during the flight.
First Officer
The most common pilot rank is a first office indigo cadet pilot program. This rank is usually obtained when a pilot has completed their Commercial Pilots License (CPL) and Instrument Rating (IR).
Some flight schools will even issue students up to three stripes, although this seems a little over the top given they haven’t actually operated a commercial aircraft at this point.
Senior First Officer
The highest ranking pilot when seated in the right-hand seat is a senior first officer. This rank is normally acquired when a pilot has completed their Instrument Rating (IR) and has logged more than 1,500 hours of flying experience.
Captain
A captain is the most experienced pilot on the flight deck and he or she has a huge amount of responsibility. He or she can lead large flights and be responsible for a wide range of administrative tasks and group assignments.