Commercial Pilot Certificate

The Commercial Pilot Certificate takes you to a higher degree of skill and flying ability and prepares you for a career in aviation. As a professional pilot, you can be paid for your flying services. You will learn of all the privileges and limitations you have as a pilot-for-hire. This certification involves in-depth training on certain aircraft systems. You will learn high performance maneuvers, and achieve a new level of mastery and safety. You will make perfect the basic skills you learned as a private and instrument pilot.

FAA Requirements

To be eligible for a Commercial Pilot Certificate a person must:

·            Be at least 18 years of age

·            Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language

·            Hold at least a current third class medical certificate.

·            Hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate or meet the requirements of FAR 61.73

·            Pass a written exam on the on the aeronautical knowledge areas of FAR 61.125.

·            Receive flight training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor.

·            Meet the aeronautical experience requirements that apply to the aircraft rating sought.

·            Pass a practical test on the areas of operation listed in FAR 61.127(b). 61.129.

Aeronautical Experience

At least 250 hours of flight time with at least:

·       100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.

·       100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least:

-50 hours in airplanes; and

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

·       20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in ?61.127(b)(1) with at least

-10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane;

-10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered

-One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;

-One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

-3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.

·       4) 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine plane on the areas listed in FAR 61.127(b)(1) which includes at least:

-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 original departure point. and

-5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

·       5) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop at an airport with an operating control tower.

Additional Information

The following websites contain a wealth of additional information that you may find helpful:

http://www.aopa.org/letsgoflying/ready/steps/index.html

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/

www.aopa.org

www.eaa.org

www.avweb.com

www.jetcareers.com

We would be more than happy to answer any additional questions you may have. Feel free to contact us anytime at the phone number listed above.