On the surface it may seem that bus drivers and airline pilots have essentially the same job: they follow a predetermined route according to a specific schedule to get passengers to their destination as quickly, safely, and uneventfully as possible. So does this make pilots basically bus drivers in the sky?
Pilots are often compared to bus drivers because they both transport passengers and sit for long lengths of time. While being a pilot is more complex than being a bus driver, the more important consideration in choosing a career is determining the nature of the work you’d love to do every single day.
If you’re considering becoming a pilot but are worried of the parallels to driving a bus, this article unpacks the similarities, differences, and deeper questions on this topic.
We recently put out a video on this topic as well:
Why are bus drivers and pilots compared in the first place?
Pilots and bus drivers perform similar tasks using different modes of transportation.
They get people from Point A to Point B, and from Point B to back to Point A. They accomplish that by following well-established routes and timetables.
From the outside, that may make it seem like both pilots and bus drivers have similar jobs, jobs that are both routine and even a bit boring.
If a bus driver just follows the same route day after day, and an airline pilot can use autopilot for a lot of the flight, it may seem that on the surface their jobs don’t involve much creativity or challenge.
How are bus drivers and pilots similar?
Bus drivers and commercial pilots require formal training, testing, certification, and licensing.
Bus drivers need a Class B commercial driver’s license (or CDL), and airline pilots must have both a commercial pilot’s license and a First Class Medical Certificate.
They must have some understanding about how to manage a large number of passengers and know how to keep them safe and comfortable from departure to arrival. And both follow predetermined routes and are required to abide by lots of laws, rules, and regulations governing their mode of transportation.
How are driving a bus and flying an airplane different?
The type of training and skills required to operate a jumbo jet and a bus differ significantly.
Flight training for a commercial pilot is more extensive and takes longer than the training required for a bus driver.
Flight involves three axes of movement, takeoffs and landings, frequent radio communication, and constant vigilance about the weather, terrain, and other factors that generally have less impact on ground transportation.
Aircraft also have an extensive and complex arrangement of mechanical systems (hydraulics, engines, pressurization, control surfaces, etc.) that must work in tandem to ensure safe flight. But newer buses are complex pieces of machinery and navigating them safely–especially over tricky terrain and in busy cities–requires considerable expertise.
Do pilots make more money than bus drivers?
The median salary for a commercial airline pilot in the United States (as of September 2021) is $140,301.
Bus driver salaries depend on the kind of bus driver a person is: school bus, city bus, tour bus, etc. In general, though, the median U.S. bus driver salary is $40,839.
In both cases, salary ranges depend on lots of factors, from education and certifications to the number of years of experience.
How do the perks compare for pilots and bus drivers?
Perks for commercial pilots and bus drivers can vary significantly, depending on their company, experience, and other factors.
Generally both offer some form of health insurance, sick leave, and vacation time. They can also provide free recurrent training, which is in the interest of the driver/pilot, the company, and their passengers.
Their companies may also give them discounted or even free travel within their franchise.
Is flying more prestigious than driving a bus?
Prestige isn’t about the kind of job you have but how professionally and skillfully you accomplish it.
Just because a pilot flies airplanes doesn’t automatically make him or her better or more important than a bus driver. There are mediocre pilots and amazing bus drivers, and everything in between.
Both industries also have their share of heroes, from the South Carolina school bus driver who calmly talked a hijacker off a bus full of children, to Captain Sully Sullenberger, who in 2009 safely landed US Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after a bird strike took out both of the Airbus A320’s engine shortly after takeoff from LaGuardia Airport.
How much you love your job and how well you accomplish it is far more important than your job title.
Related Questions
Should you become a pilot?
Finding the perfect job requires research into an area that interests you and comparing the reality to your dreams.
If flying is your passion, becoming a pilot might be the best fit for you.
Aviation training can be expensive and challenging, but it can also lead to a lucrative and satisfying career (also, there’s a huge shortage of pilots right now, so you couldn’t pick a better time to pursue that path).
Just know that sometimes our fantasy about doing a particular job day in and day out doesn’t square with the real world. It’s good to determine that early in your career, if possible.
Job shadowing, internships, and consulting with people already in the profession can help clarify your path. As the saying goes, do what you love, but also make sure that you love what you do day after day.
Will you be interested in flying as a full-time job?
Your interest areas are a great place to start. They inspire you and can serve as the spark that puts you on the right career path.
But as Jim Harmer discusses in his book, “Work Energy”, there’s a major difference between subject matter interest and the nature of work for a particular job.
Maybe you love flying and consider flying for a large air carrier your ideal job. But after talking to an experienced airline pilot, you might decide the long hours, time away from family, and extensive rules just don’t suit you.
Rather than risk disillusionment and burnout, you might explore other options such as pilot for a regional airline, Certified Flight Instructor (here’s how much CFI’s make), ferry pilot, transport pilot, or even aerobatic performer.
Aviation offers a big tent of possibilities. If flying is your passion, there’s definitely some career out there that will let you live your dreams.
How will I know if a flying job is right for me?
The ideal job brings together lots of elements, including salary, work hours, location, etc.. But it starts with passion for a particular area of work.
If you wake up each morning excited to get to your job, you know you’re on the right track.
Aspiring chefs should love to cook, librarians should really dig books, and airline pilots should at the very least enjoy flying passengers to and from their destinations.
A word of caution, however: make sure early on that you have a clear idea of the cost for earning your wings (which can be significant) and a solid plan for paying for your training.
While some students try to stretch their dollars by only taking lessons every few weeks, there’s a downside to that approach.
A lot of learning to fly is building muscle memory, and if you aren’t able to fly at least once a week (and ideally even more often), you might actually end up spending more money in the long run as you constantly work to re-learn skills that have atrophied between lessons.
What if my friends and family don’t want me to be a pilot?
People’s opinions about your career are formed by their own fears, experiences, biases, and other factors.
This can create more confusion and discouragement than clarity.
Family and friends may mean well when they offer suggestions about your career. But unless they share your passion for a particular area of work, or direct experience doing the job you want to do, it may just cloud your own judgment and lead you to make decisions you’ll later regret.
Maybe the people offering advice are afraid of flying, had bad experiences with airlines, or heard something third-hand about pilot pay and job security.
It’s best to do your own research and limit input from a few trusted people who are interested in helping you decide what path is best for you.
Conclusion
Bus drivers and pilots each have important roles to play in society.
They operate large and complex vehicles over (often) long distances. They help people get to their vacation destinations, attend important work meetings, and reconnect with loved ones they may not have seen in a very long time.
Either job can be incredibly rewarding for the right person. At the end of the day, people should do what they do because they’re driven by passion, vision, and a commitment to excellence.