crew videos

Aircraft pilots fly airplanes and helicopters to do everything from crop dusting to intercontinental travel to traffic reports for radio stations. Flight engineers assist the cockpit crew in some larger airplanes by monitoring and operating many of the instruments and systems, but computers are rapidly eliminating this position. Generally, jet pilots earn more than pilots of propeller-driven planes do view more

Avionics technicians keep airplanes in the sky. They repair and maintain components used for aircraft navigation, radio communications, flight control, weather radar systems and engine operation. They also work on computerized instruments that run the aircraft. They may have to analyze and develop solutions to complex electronic problems. This is one of the highest paid technical professions, and it’s easy to see why view more

Seafaring is not just a career…it’s a lifestyle. Captains and mates spend months at a time on vessels of all sizes…on inland lakes and rivers, as well as the open sea. Captains and mates are the senior officers of the ship. Earning one of these positions usually comes after years on board, demonstrating competence and working your way up through the ranks. The captain is responsible for every aspect of the voyage view more

The Crossing Guard helps keep pedestrians of all ages safe. Near schools, they are responsible for helping students cross streets safely, stopping traffic when necessary. At construction sites or other hazardous locations, Crossing Guards guide vehicle traffic and pedestrians around obstacles and workers, using signs, flags, and hand signals. At railroad crossings, they activate warning signal lights, lower crossing gates until trains pass, and raise gates when crossings are clear view more

Fishing is often called the most dangerous job in the world. Commercial fishing vessels can be trawlers, like the boat shown here that pulls a large net through the water. Or longliners, that string lines of hooks behind them for miles. Other vessels include: potters or lobster boats; gillnetters; purse seiners; and even hook and liners that catch their fish one at a time with fishing poles view more

Forest firefighters battle blazes in forests and rangelands. These fires can grow to the size of a small country, threatening wildlife, as well as homes and businesses in their path As soon as flames are spotted, forest firefighting crews mobilize. They drive or fly to the fire scene with hand tools, chainsaws, pumps and hoses, and heavy earth-moving machinery. A basic principle in fighting forest fires is to create a gap, or firebreak, to stop the spread of the flames view more

There’s more to making a movie or television show, than what the audience sees. Behind the scenes there are workers responsible for moving equipment and building sets. Called Grips, or Set-up Workers, they are the “muscle” on a film or TV shoot. Grips are “jacks of all trades.” They assist the electricians with lighting. They help move and set up camera equipment. Working under the guidance of the set designers, grips handle the movie’s carpentry needs view more

Commuter trains gliding between stations…subways running under city streets…freight trains chugging across the heartland…every kind of train needs a steady, experienced hand at the throttle…and on the brakes. Locomotive engineers are railroaders who have reached a cherished goal. Usually they have been chosen by the rail company from the ranks of experienced operations employees. After long hours of training, in the yard, in classrooms, and on simulators, a newly licensed engineer becomes an assistant engineer, moving on to handling trains in the railyard…and from there to longer runs view more

An actor’s appearance is a major part of his or her performance. Making the actor look right for the role is the job of the Makeup Artist. Professional Makeup Artists work in TV, movies and live theater. They begin by reading the script and learning details about the production. To create their designs, they consider many factors, including the age of each character and the setting and time period of the story view more

Imagine driving a vehicle longer than 3 football fields. Then imagine trying to parallel park it. Pilots of water vessels meet that kind of challenge everyday, guiding enormous commercial ships and tankers safely from sea, to busy port, and back again. Unlike the captain and crew, who travel with their ship, the pilot is usually stationed at the port. When a ship needs to enter…or leave…the harbor, the pilot is sent aboard to safely navigate it through the local waterways view more

A lot of work goes into the making of entertainment magic. That work is done by producers, directors, and actors. Most of the jobs they get are away from the bright lights of Broadway and Hollywood, in local theaters, television and radio studios, comedy clubs, circuses, even rodeos Actors entertain and communicate through their interpretation of dramatic roles. Many actors carve a career taking all kinds of parts, from pitching products in commercials to leading roles in a play view more

No matter how sophisticated modern rail travel can be…the trains still run on rails. So there are still jobs for rail track layers, just as there were in the early days when the railroads opened up America’s west. They go wherever on the system they’re needed, from the rail yard…to an underground tunnel down the line. The rails may also be in plant yards, quarries, sand and gravel pits and mines view more

When it comes to moving heavy equipment, Riggers are in for the long haul. Construction sites, factories, logging plants and shipyards all employ riggers to move large industrial equipment. The entertainment industry also hires riggers. They are needed to move large, heavy sets in and out of theaters and studios. A rigger uses pulleys, ropes and winches to haul items. This arrangement is called “block and tackle view more

There’s a lot more to traffic than “stop” and “go.” To keep motorists moving, Traffic Technicians perform many complex tasks. They might set the length of time a light stays “red…” Count the number of trucks using a particular bridge… Make sure a road crew is protected and well marked… Or analyze accident reports to determine if a highway interchange is too dangerous… Those are just a few examples, of the work that goes into enhancing safety and the smooth flow of traffic view more