In
television, a
pilot is a first, extra long (often twice the normal length, but sometimes longer or shorter) episode of a
television series. The pilot is intended to get the public interested in the series, and to set the general background of the story.
In
telecommunication, a
pilot is a
signal, usually a single
frequency, transmitted over a
communications system for supervisory, control,
equalization[?], continuity,
synchronization, or reference purposes.
Note: Sometimes it is necessary to employ several independent pilot frequencies. Most radio relay[?] systems use radio or continuity pilots of their own but transmit also the pilot frequencies belonging to the carrier frequency multiplex system.
Source: from Federal Standard 1037C and from MIL-STD-188
A
pilot is someone who guides ships through the waters near a harbour.
A
pilot is also someone who flies a plane, see
Aviator.
Many appliances that use
natural gas as their fuel utilize a
pilot light, which is a small outlet of gas kept continually burning and generally used to light the larger burners on the appliance.