NOC 72600: Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors
Air pilots fly fixed wing aircraft and helicopters to provide air transportation and other services such as crop spraying and aerial surveying. Flight engineers assist air pilots with monitoring, troubleshooting and maintenance of aircraft systems and with pre- and post-flight inspections. Flying instructors teach flying techniques and procedures to student and licensed pilots. Air pilots, flight engineers and flight instructors are employed by airline and air freight companies, flying schools and by other public and private sector aircraft operators.
Official Main Duties for NOC 72600
Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.
Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 72600
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors is categorized under TEER 2. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.
Express Entry Alignment
Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.
Target Category Status
Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).
NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 72600.
8252 continues as 82030 and part transferred to 72600 and part split off to emerging item 84120 and 85100
Regional Wages Across Canada
Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.
| Province / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $24.04 | $52/hr | $106 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $20/hr | $41.87/hr | $84.13/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $24/hr | $44/hr | $77.16/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $27/hr | $55.29/hr | $85.1/hr |
| Quebec → | $27.81/hr | $50.56/hr | $86.72/hr |
| Ontario → | $28.85/hr | $63/hr | $126.92/hr |
| Manitoba → | $22.81/hr | $45.11/hr | $80.84/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $24.23/hr | $50/hr | $79.07/hr |
| Alberta → | $28.05/hr | $54.11/hr | $89.95/hr |
| British Columbia → | $30/hr | $57.69/hr | $96.15/hr |
| Northwest Territories → | $24.55/hr | $41.43/hr | $59.91/hr |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Pilots and flight engineers
- Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required.
- A university degree or college diploma may be required.
- A commercial pilot's licence (more than 200 hours of flight experience) or an air transport pilot's licence (more than 1500 hours of flight experience) is required.
- Additional licences or endorsements to fly different types of aircraft are required.
- Flight engineers require a flight engineer licence issued by Transport Canada.
- Structured training is provided by employers.
- Flight instructors
- Completion of secondary school and graduation from a certified flying or aviation school are required.
- A university degree or college diploma may be required.
- A commercial pilot's or an air transport pilot's licence is required.
- Transport Canada ratings and endorsements to provide instructions on different types of aircraft are required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 72600
56 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Air traffic controllers and related occupations (See 72601 Air traffic controllers and related occupations)View NOC 72601→
- Ground school instructor (See 41210 College and other vocational instructors)View NOC 41210→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 72600 (Air pilots, flight engineers and flying instructors)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 72600, explore your TEER 2 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.