Definition
The plural form of pilot in command (PIC) — the pilots who, for separate flights or operations, hold final authority and responsibility for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time. At any given moment of flight, only one pilot serves as PIC; the plural refers to multiple pilots each acting as PIC on their own flights, or to the group of pilots qualified and designated to act in that role.
Plain English
More than one pilot who each carry the role of being the person in charge of an aircraft. The plural usually refers to a group of qualified captains across different flights, not two captains on the same flight at the same time.
Context Anchor
Seen in FAA material when a rule, procedure, or airport requirement applies to the person legally in charge of the flight.
Derivation
Pilot comes from older words meaning a person who steers or guides a ship. Command means authority to direct. Together, pilot in command points to the pilot who guides the aircraft and has the authority to make the final decisions for the flight.
Why Pilots Care
Identifies who holds legal authority to make go/no-go decisions and accept responsibility at airports requiring extra training.
Intuition Check
Do not assume the pilot in command is simply the person touching the controls. In FAA use, it means the pilot with final authority and responsibility for the flight.
Example Sentence 1
The special airport qualification rules apply to all pilots in command who operate scheduled flights into that airport.
Example Sentence 2
At the special airport, the pilots in command reviewed the local procedures together before departure.