COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE

PREPARING FOR YOUR

PILOT CAREER


View of an airplane on the tarmac at an airport, with ground crew working around it and another plane in the background.

Getting your commercial license is an opportunity to direct your passion into a rewarding career in aviation. Options include flight instructor, tour pilot, skydive pilot, cargo pilot, corporate pilot, airline pilot, and many more.

To be eligible for your commercial certificate you’ll need to build some flight time (250 hours minimum by the time you go for the checkride), but to earn the rating itself you need to spend only a fraction of the effort and cost necessary for a private certificate. It’s possible to earn your commercial in 15 to 20 hours of flight training.

A man wearing sunglasses and a headset giving a thumbs-up in the cockpit of a helicopter.

Getting started

ᯓ ✈︎

Getting started ᯓ ✈︎

Learn what it takes to FLY COMMERCIAL

    • At least 18 years of age

    • Third class medical certificate

    • FAA Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test (passing grade is 70%)

    • FAA practical test

    • Flight training as listed in Flight Hour Requirements (below):

  • Single-Engine Land

    Applicant must have at least 250 hours of flight time including:

    100 hours of PIC time including 50 hours in airplanes and 50 hours of cross-country flight (10 of which must be in airplanes);

    20 hours of training including:
    (1) 10 hours of instrument training
    (2) 10 hours of training in a complex aircraft;
    (3) a 2-hour cross-country during the day with more than 100 nm straight-line distance from point of departure; and
    (4) a 2-hour cross-country at night with more than 100 nm straight-line distance from point of departure;
    (5) 3 hours in a single-engine airplane with an instructor within the preceding 2 calendar months in preparation for the practical test.

    10 hours solo or dual flight time including
    (1) one cross-country of at least 300 nm total distance with landings at 3+ points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nm from original departure point; and
    (2) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and landings in the pattern at an airport with an operating control tower.

    Multi-Engine Land

    Applicant must have at least 250 hours of flight time including:

    100 hours of PIC time including 50 hours in airplanes and 50 hours of cross-country flight (10 of which must be in airplanes);

    20 hours of training including
    (1) 10 hours of instrument training
    (2) 10 hours of training in a multi-engine complex aircraft;
    (3) a 2-hour cross-country during the day in a multi-engine airplane with more than 100 nm straight-line distance from point of departure; and
    (4) a 2-hour cross-country at night in a multiengine airplane with more than 100 nm straight-line distance from point of departure;
    (5) 3 hours in a multi-engine airplane with an instructor within the preceding 2 calendar months in preparation for the practical test.

    10 hours solo or dual flight time in a multiengine airplane including
    (1) one cross-country of at least 300 nm total distance with landings at 3+ points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nm from original departure point; and
    (2) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and landings in the pattern at an airport with an operating control tower.Additionally, you will need to pass the Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test and received the required ground instruction on the Aeronautical Knowledge Areas listed in FAR 61.125.

    * Night Time is any flight time between the end of evening civil twilight and the start of morning civil twilight. Easiest place to find these is

    * Cross Country flight must include a landing at an airport more than 50 nautical (not statute) miles from the original point of departure. Additional cross country requirements apply – e.g. night XC must be over 100nm total. The long solo XC has to include one leg of over 50 nm, plus be over 150 nm total.

  • Total hours and cost for Commercial Pilot training depends on previous experience.

    Please call the office for a quote based on your experience. We specialize in customizing our training programs to your needs.

    Rates: Please select your location for Aircraft and Instructor Rates. We have two Cessna 172RGs at Reid-Hillview that rent for $144/hour wet hobbs. Instructors range from $50-69 per hour depending on experience and seniority.

  • If you plan to complete your commercial and CFI certificates in quick succession, we highly recommend a combined course. To accomplish this, we will begin your training from the right seat for the CFI checkride. Since the Commercial checkride can be completed from the right seat, you can take the Commercial checkride just prior to the CFI checkride (you should be well prepared) and not have to switch between left and right seats.

Prices and rates are subject to change without notice. All training and rentals are subject to the terms and conditions in the Renter’s Agreement. Minimum 24 hours’ notice required for cancellation or you may be charged for the rental time.

Silhouette of an airplane flying in a cloudy sky.