0 a person who flies an aircraft:
a fighter/helicopter/bomber/airline pilot
1 a person with detailed knowledge of an area of water, such as that around a port, who goes onto a ship to direct it safely
2 a programme that is made to introduce a new radio or television series and test how popular it is:
3 a small flame that burns all the time in a gas device, such as a cooker or a device for heating water, and that starts the main flame burning when the gas is turned on
4 A pilot plan, product, or system is used to test how good something is before introducing it:
If the pilot scheme is successful, many more homes will be offered the new television service.
6 to test a new product before it is sold:
We shall pilot several new cosmetic products to selected potential purchasers.
7 to be responsible for introducing a new law or system and making certain it is established:
20 years ago he piloted a bill through Parliament on working conditions.
8 to direct a ship into a port or through an area of water
9 a person who flies an aircraft, or someone who directs a ship safely through an area of water:
10 (of a plan, product, or system) done as a test before introducing it:
12 a television or radio programme that is made to test how popular it is with an audience in order to decide whether to make a new series:
They commissioned a pilot to test audience reactions.
13 a test done by a business over a short period to see if a particular product, service, etc. is worth investing in:
15 to test a new idea for a product, service, etc. over a short period to see whether it is worth developing and investing in:
The scheme is being piloted by a few councils with a view to extending it nationwide.
16 to be responsible for making sure something develops or goes through a process without problems:
pilot sth through sth Two congressmen, one Democrat and one Republican, piloted the bill through the House.
17 a pilot product, programme, project, etc. is something that is tested first over a short period to see whether it is worth developing and investing in:
a fighter pilot
a helicopter pilot
The pilot had no recollection of the events leading up to the crash.
Shortly before the crash the pilot had reported a malfunction of the aircraft's navigation system.
The pilot and several passengers were held prisoner by the gunmen for 57 hours.
The questionnaire was piloted in a sample of practice patients to establish its comprehensibility and the completeness of responses to the individual items.
The pilots have earlier received clearance from an air traffic controller to taxi to the runway.
He succeeded in piloting the ship into an unfamiliar fjord and signalled for assistance.
