Pilot
Pilots are non-player characters (NPC) that can be hired as crew to operate remotely-piloted Ship-Launched Fighters, or the player's ship while the player is operating the Ship-Launched Fighter. Pilots can be hired in the Crew Lounge available at many stations.
Each pilot has an initial hiring cost and is paid a profit share of all player earnings during their employment, both of which are based upon the pilot's combat rank. The profit share includes all profits from commodity trades, selling exploration data, completing missions, and redeeming bounty and combat vouchers.
The Crew Lounge has 5 pilots available to hire, one at each rank level. Up to 3 pilots may be hired at once. (After each hiring, the Crew Lounge pool is refreshed so that there are always 5 pilots from which to choose.)
| Rank | Hiring Cost (CR) | Profit Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Harmless | 15,000 | 2 |
| Mostly Harmless | 30,000 | 4 |
| Novice | 55,000 | 6 |
| Competent | 90,000 | 9 |
| Expert | 150,000 | 12 |
If the ship is equipped with a Fighter Hangar, one pilot can be set as active to go on the ship as a crew member. Any other hired pilots remain in the station (and will be accessible later at any station's Crew Lounge).
Any pilot's contract can be terminated at any time.
Notes
- If a pilot is fired before the player collects the payment, the pilot will not be paid a share of the profits.
Trivia
- Pilots were added in the Elite Dangerous: Horizons v2.2 "The Guardians" update[1].