second-officer/references/skills.md

Competences — second officer

Source: ESCO v1.2.1 occupation-skill relations (http://data.europa.eu/esco/occupation/d48d4949-73a2-40d7-8350-329cda6b5a9a).

Essential

• address aircraft mechanical issues (skill/competence)
• air transport law (knowledge)
• aircraft flight control systems (knowledge)
• airport planning (knowledge)
• airport safety regulations (knowledge)
• aviation meteorology (knowledge)
• carry out navigational calculations (skill/competence)
• common aviation safety regulations (knowledge)
• comply with checklists (skill/competence)
• deal with challenging work conditions (skill/competence)
• electrical systems used in transportation (knowledge)
• electronics (knowledge)
• ensure aircraft compliance with regulation (skill/competence)
• ensure compliance with airport security measures (skill/competence)
• ensure ongoing compliance with regulations (skill/competence)
• ensure public safety and security (skill/competence)
• ensure smooth on board operations (skill/competence)
• follow verbal instructions (skill/competence)
• geographic areas (knowledge)
• handle stressful situations in the work place (skill/competence)
• inspect aircraft (skill/competence)
• interpret visual literacy (skill/competence)
• operate cockpit control panels (skill/competence)
• perform aircraft maintenance (skill/competence)
• perform routine flight operations checks (skill/competence)
• read 3D displays (skill/competence)
• undertake procedures to meet aircraft flight requirements (skill/competence)
• use meteorological information (skill/competence)

Optional

• apply airport standards and regulations (skill/competence)
• consider economic criteria in decision making (skill/competence)
• geostationary satellites (knowledge)
• have computer literacy (skill/competence)
• launching of satellites into orbit (knowledge)
• make independent operating decisions (skill/competence)
• respond to changing navigation circumstances (skill/competence)
• undertake procedures to meet helicopter flight requirements (skill/competence)

Market evidence (job-ad analysis, 7 ads, as of 2026-07-19)

Share of analyzed job ads mentioning the item (threshold ≥ 20 %). Source: JSearch/Adzuna APIs.

Hard skills

• aircraft maintenance — 29 %
• aircraft steering — 14 %
• aircraft systems operation — 14 %
• cargo operations — 14 %
• cargo handling — 14 %
• cross-service coordination — 14 %
• damage prevention — 14 %
• flight duties — 14 %
• flight management — 14 %
• flight operations — 14 %
• flight planning — 14 %
• harbor movements scheduling — 14 %
• helicopter control — 14 %
• incident reporting — 14 %
• flight test — 14 %
• flight testing — 14 %
• instructional delivery — 14 %
• instrument flight planning — 14 %
• aircraft documentation — 14 %
• log book maintenance — 14 %
• long-haul operation — 14 %
• maneuver execution — 14 %
• operational flight planning — 14 %
• ship navigation — 14 %
• system checkout — 14 %
• tank cleaning — 14 %
• technical documentation — 14 %
• voyage planning — 14 %
• weight and balance calculation — 14 %

Methods

• vertical replenishment (VERTREP) — 14 %
• operational check flight (OCF) — 14 %
• multi-pilot type rating — 14 %
• maintenance training — 14 %
• functional check flight (FCF) — 14 %
• gmdss system — 14 %
• evidence based training — 14 %
• fleet oiler manual — 14 %
• dynamic positioning (DP) systems — 14 %
• arpa radar — 14 %
• acceptance test profile (ATP) — 14 %

Responsibilities

• air traffic communication — 14 %
• aircraft delivery — 14 %
• aircraft system monitoring — 14 %
• aircraft recovery — 14 %
• communication management — 14 %
• conducting joint operations — 14 %
• crew briefing participation — 14 %
• environmental protection coordination — 14 %
• depot maintenance support — 14 %
• document crosscheck — 14 %
• cruise relief piloting — 14 %
• cargo inspection — 14 %
• cargo loading/discharge — 14 %
• flight operation — 14 %
• flight progress monitoring — 14 %
• flight qualification training — 14 %
• government coordination — 14 %
• handover to next crew — 14 %
• in-flight task execution — 14 %
• license verification — 14 %
• fuel consumption recording — 14 %
• supporting training courseware development — 14 %
• providing instructor duties — 14 %
• route navigation — 14 %
• safety precautions enforcement — 14 %
• performing flight duties — 14 %
• performing flight tests — 14 %
• performing maintenance tasks — 14 %
• training others — 14 %
• watch officer supervision — 14 %
• tank maintenance — 14 %
• workload distribution — 14 %