Commercial Pilot License

Commercial Pilot License

A Commercial Pilot can fly for compensation or hire. Although this excludes regional and major airline flying, it includes just about everything else. From banner towing, pipeline patrol, and flight instruction, to air ambulance and corporate jet flying. Keep in mind however that just because the FAA says you’re legal to conduct certain types of flying, the company or their insurance underwriter may require more stringent requirements. The more flight time and experience you can put in your logbook, the better your chances of getting that job. While some jobs are traditionally used as “steppingstones” along a career path, other jobs could become the career.

To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, a person must:

(1) Be at least 18 years of age.

(2) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. 

(3) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:

(4) Conducted the required ground training or reviewed the person's home study on the aeronautical knowledge that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought; and

(5) Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test.

     (a) Pass the required knowledge test.

(6) Receive the required training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test.

     (a)Pass the required practical test.

     (b) Hold at least a private pilot certificate.

(7) Comply with the sections of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.

For an airplane single-engine rating:

A person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:

 (1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.

 (2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—

     (i) 50 hours in airplanes; and

     (ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of     which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.

(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in § 61.127(b)(1) of this part that includes at least—

     (i) 10 hours of instrument training using a view-limiting device.

     (ii) 10 hours of training in a complex airplane, a turbine-powered airplane, or a technically advanced  airplane (TAA).

     (iii) One 2-hour cross country flight in a single engine airplane in daytime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure.

     (iv) One 2-hour cross country flight in a single engine airplane in nighttime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

     (v) 3 hours in a single-engine airplane with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test.

(4) 10 hours of solo flight time in a single engine airplane.

     (i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the departure airport. 

     (ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at an airport with an operating control tower.