"Drop the Pilot" is a song written and originally performed by Joan Armatrading. It was the first single to be released from Armatrading's 1983 album The Key, and was her third and (to date) final UK top 40 hit. It reached number 11 in the UK Singles Chart, and spent a total of ten weeks in the Top 40. The single was Armatrading's only appearance on the Billboard Hot 100, where it spent six weeks, peaking at number 78 on 25 June 1983.