An airline pilot is responsible for the safety of passengers but can also transport freight. He’s also responsible for the flight preparation according to the flight conditions, flight plan, weather, etc. He also calculates the fuel that is needed for the flight, and is responsible for the mass and balance of the aircraft.
During the flight, he manages the on-board computers and maintains a permanent link with the control centres on the ground. Pilots are responsible for all crew and passengers and are required to speak English fluently. An essential value for pilots is intellectual honesty.
Being a Captain on an international airline is the achievement of a long career. The career path of a pilot in a major airline is generally as follows: starting as a co-pilot on short/medium haul, then as a co-pilot on long haul, then as a captain on short/medium haul and finally as a captain on long haul.