The Commercial License allows you to earn compensation while flying. The training is centered on your refinement of existing skills, being held to a higher standard than a Private Pilot, and gaining the required experience. FAR 61.129 lists the requirements for your Commercial License. ​

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Commercial Pilot – Airplane Single-Engine Requirements 61.129(a)

• Total Flight Time: At least 250 hours Total Time 

• Under 61.129(i) up to 50 hours of AATD Simulator time can be credited towards your 250 hours Total Time requirement, making the minimum actual airplane time required only 200 hours.​

  • 50 hours must be in airplanes.

• Powered Aircraft Time: 100 hours in powered aircraft

• Pilot-in-Command (PIC) Time 61.129(a)(3)

  • 100 hours PIC total

  • 50 hours PIC in airplanes

  • 50 hours cross-country PIC, including 10 hours in airplanes.

• Training (20 hours total) including:

  • 10 hours instrument training using a view-limiting device (5 hours in a single-engine airplane)

  • 10 hours in a complex airplane, turbine airplane, or Technologically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) The G1000 172SP NAV III Qualifies as a TAA

• One 2-hour daytime cross-country dual training flight in a single-engine airplane (over 100 NM straight-line distance).

• One 2-hour nighttime cross-country dual training flight in a single-engine airplane (over 100 NM straight-line distance).

• 3 hours of training in a single-engine airplane with an instructor within 2 calendar months before the practical test.

• 10 Hours of Solo or Instructor-Supervised PIC Duties (Pilot Performing Duties of PIC aka PDPIC) including 61.129(a)(iv)

  • One 300 NM cross-country flight with 3 landings, including one leg at least 250 NM Straight Line Distance from departure 

  • 5 hours night VFR with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at a towered airport.

• These Requirements must ALL be done EITHER Solo or PDPIC. You cannot do your long XC PDPIC, then do night landings solo. 

 

These Requirements can be met fairly quickly, especially if you completed the Cross Countries during your IFR Cross Country time building. The Curriculum for Commercial can also be completed quickly, since besides the addition of a couple maneuvers and tighter tolerances, all the flying skills you've already learned apply. By now, you have a good understanding of how flight training is, including the study habits, preparation, and dedication required to pass your checkride. You'll also have to take a written test for Commercial (CAX) however for an added Category rating (ex. Multi Engine Commercial) an additional written test is not required. Below is an outline of the King Schools Commercial Curriculum.

 

Cross Country and Night Flying ​

1. 100NM Day Dual training XC

2. 100NM Night Dual training XC

3. Long Commercial Cross Country (Solo OR PDPIC)

4. Night Landings and Flight Time (Solo OR PDPIC) 

5. Any Remaining Cross Country experience required 

Commercial Airwork

1. Complex Or Technologically Advanced Aircraft (TAA) time building​

2. Commercial Maneuvers and Landings to ACS including Chandelles, Steep Spirals, Lazy Eights, Steeper Turns, Slow Flight and Stalls, Commercial Landings, and the infamous Power Off 180 accuracy apporach

Checkride Preperation

1. Review of Maneuvers and Ground Lessons as Required

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Due to the variety of pilot experience factors that influence how much flying you'll have to complete, a broad estimate of instruction and flight time is difficult to make. Please reach out to us, or use our Cost Calculator to get a detailed estimate for your Commercial License!