pilot

• Personne qui pilote ou est qualifiée pour piloter un avion, un vaisseau spatial ou un autre véhicule, ou personne qui guide un navire dans des eaux difficiles.

A noun referring to a person who operates or is qualified to operate an aircraft, spacecraft, or other vehicle, or a person who guides a ship through difficult waters.

1. Aircraft operatorA2formal

   A person who operates the controls of an aircraft.

   pilote d'aéronef

   • The pilot announced that we would be landing in 20 minutes.
   • She trained for years to become a commercial pilot.
   • The pilot skillfully navigated through the storm.

   Synonymesairmanaviatoraviatrixcaptainflyer

2. Ship navigatorB1formal

   A person with special knowledge of a particular waterway, employed to guide ships.

   pilotin

   • The harbor pilot boarded the ship to guide it into port.
   • A river pilot is essential for navigating the narrow channels.
   • The pilot used local knowledge to avoid the sandbanks.

   Synonymeshelmsmannavigatorsteersman

3. Test or trial episodeB1informal

   A single television program made to test audience reaction before a series is produced.

   épisode pilote

   • The network ordered a pilot for the new comedy series.
   • The pilot episode received excellent reviews from critics.
   • They filmed the pilot last summer but it was never picked up.

   Synonymespilot filmpilot program

• Verbe désignant l'action de diriger ou de manœuvrer un avion, un navire ou un véhicule, ainsi que le fait de tester ou de lancer un nouveau projet ou une nouvelle idée à petite échelle.

A verb used to indicate the act of operating or steering an aircraft, ship, or vehicle, or to test or introduce a new project or scheme on a small scale.

1. Operate an aircraftB1formal

   To control and navigate an aircraft.

   Piloter un aéronef

   • She piloted the plane through the storm.
   • He learned to pilot a helicopter in the army.
   • The captain piloted the aircraft safely to the runway.

   Synonymesaviatefly

2. Test or trialB2formal

   To test a new idea, product, or system on a small scale before full implementation.

   Tester en conditions réelles (projet pilote)

   • The company will pilot the new software in three offices.
   • They piloted the program in a few schools before expanding it.
   • We need to pilot the survey with a small group first.

   Synonymesassessbeta testdry runevaluatefield-testtesttrialtry out

3. Guide or steerB2formal

   To guide someone or something through a complex process or situation.

   Guider ou diriger

   • She piloted the project through the approval process.
   • He piloted the team through the difficult negotiations.
   • The manager piloted the company through the financial crisis.

   Synonymesconductdirectguideleadnavigateshepherdsteerusher