pilot

pilot

I. pi‧lot¹ W3 /ˈpaɪlət/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[Date: 1500-1600; Language: French; Origin: pilote, from Italian pedota, from Greek pedon 'oar']
1. someone who operates the controls of an aircraft or spacecraft:
an airline pilot
a fighter pilot
The official report into the accident says that it was caused by pilot error (=a mistake by the pilot).
2. someone with a special knowledge of a particular area of water, who is employed to guide ships across it:
a harbour pilot
3. pilot study/project/scheme etc a small study, project etc which is carried out as a test to see if an idea, product etc will be successful:
a pilot scheme which could be extended to other areas
4. a television programme that is made in order to test whether people like it and would watch it:
a pilot for a new sitcom
⇨ ↑automatic pilot
• • •
THESAURUS
■ people on a plane
▪ pilot someone who operates the controls of a plane: an airline pilot | He has a pilot’s licence.
▪ co-pilot a pilot who shares the control of a plane with the main pilot: The pilot became ill, and the co-pilot had to land the plane.
▪ captain the pilot who is in charge of an aircraft: This is your captain speaking. We will be arriving at Gatwick Airport in approximately 10 minutes.
▪ the flight crew all the people who work on a plane during a flight: The flight crew asked for permission to land at Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport.
▪ the cabin crew the people whose job is to serve food and drinks to passengers on a plane: The cabin crew will be serving drinks shortly.
▪ flight attendant someone whose job is to serve food and drink to passengers on a plane: The flight attendant told him to go back to his seat.
▪ steward/stewardess a man/woman whose job is to serve food and drinks to passengers on a plane: I asked the stewardess if I could have a blanket.