A British airline looks set to pay pilots at the Chicago O’Hare International Airport a whopping $100,000 a year to essentially not fly an aircraft.
Although most people think of flying when they picture a pilot’s job, the role also includes tasks like coordinating with air traffic control and working closely with teams on the ground.
Even so, it’s unusual to see a pilot position with virtually no time in the air — but that’s what appeared in a British Airways listing seeking taxi crew members based in Chicago.
Instead of taking off, the successful candidates would be responsible for ground-moving British Airways’ Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft from one terminal to another at O’Hare.
The setup stems from how the airline operates at the airport: flights arriving from the UK typically come into Terminal 5 because that’s where Customs and Border Patrol is located, while many departures back to the UK leave from Terminal 3 due to an arrangement with American Airlines.
That means someone has to reposition aircraft between terminals so boarding and departure schedules stay on track for passengers.
Before it was taken down, the advert listed a base salary in the region of $90,000 to $100,000, with the final figure depending on experience and relevant qualifications.
On the airline’s requirements page, the role was described as follows: “You will play a critical role in helping achieve On Time Performance by safely ground taxiing British Airways Boeing 777 and 787 aircraft between terminals at Chicago O’Hare airport.”
The posting also noted that applicants should know Chicago O’Hare International Airport well and have a ‘solid track record of safety’.
According to People, such job is more intended for pilots who are ‘semi -retired’ and are not permitted to fly commercial planes and heading towards the end of their career.
While the headline salary may look substantial, figures from ATP Flight School suggest major US airlines including American, Delta, United, Alaska and Southwest can pay more than $117,000 for First Officer positions.
Still, even if this Chicago-based role sounds more straightforward than operating full commercial flights, it comes with its own pressures.
O’Hare handles around 70 million passengers each year, putting it among the busiest airports in the US.
With busy taxiways, congestion, and tight turnaround times, ground taxi crews can be key to keeping airport operations moving and departures running to schedule.