As they become more experienced, these pilots occasionally fly charter planes and perhaps get jobs with small air transportation firms, such as air taxi companies. Some advance to career flying jobs. A small number get flight engineer jobs with the airlines. In the airlines, advancement usually depends on seniority provisions of union contracts. After 5 to 10 years, flight engineers advance according to seniority to copilot and, after 10 to 20 years, to captain.
Seniority also determines which pilots get more desirable routes.
In a non airline job, a co-pilot may advance to pilot and, in large companies, to chief pilot in charge of aircraft scheduling, maintenance, and flight procedures. Due to an expected shortage of pilots, the job outlook for pilots should be favorable in the coming years. Employment growth coupled with an expected wave of retirements will provide many job openings for pilots. Many pilots who were hired in the late 1960's during the last major boom in the air transportation industry will be subject to mandatory retirement soon. In addition, the military, which in the past provided the majority of pilots, has increased its benefits and financial incentives in an effort to retain pilots.