Commercial Pilot Certificate
What is a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
A commercial pilot certificate is an FAA credential that legally permits a pilot to act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft for compensation or hire.
Unlike a private pilot license, which restricts flying to recreational use where costs are shared, the commercial pilot license authorizes an aviator to work as a paid professional in the aviation industry.
What Can You Do With a Commercial Pilot License?
Holders of a commercial pilot license can accept employment in various sectors of aviation. Common entry-level jobs include aerial surveying, banner towing, crop dusting, and cargo transport.
Most career-oriented pilots use the commercial pilot license as a stepping stone to becoming a certified flight instructor (CFI) or an airline pilot. While “airline pilot” is a specific job title requiring an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, every professional pilot begins their paid career with a commercial pilot license.
Want to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot?
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What are the FAA Requirements for a Commercial Pilot License?
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates specific eligibility and flight experience requirements under 14 CFR Part 61 and Part 141.
General Eligibility Requirements:
- Be at least 18 years old.
- Read, speak, write, and understand the English language.
- Hold at least a Private Pilot Certificate.
- Hold a valid Second-Class Medical Certificate (to exercise commercial privileges).
- Pass the FAA Commercial Pilot Aeronautical Knowledge Test.
- Pass the Commercial Pilot Practical Test (Checkride).
Prerequisites for Commercial Pilot Training: While not strictly required by federal regulation to start training, obtaining an instrument rating is functionally mandatory. A commercial pilot without an instrument rating is restricted from carrying passengers for hire on cross-country flights exceeding 50 nautical miles and from carrying passengers at night.
Commercial Pilot Flight Training Requirements
The flight experience required varies depending on whether the student trains under Part 61 (flexible) or Part 141 (structured).
Part 61 Requirements (Total Time: 250 Hours):
- 100 hours of pilot-in-command time.
- 50 hours of cross-country flight time.
- 20 hours of training in the areas of operation (including 10 hours of complex or TAA aircraft training).
- 10 hours of solo flight training.
Part 141 Requirements (Total Time: 190 Hours):
- 35 hours of ground instruction.
- 120 hours of flight training specifically approved for the commercial course.
- 55 hours of dual flight training.
- 65 hours of solo flight training.
What is the Difference Between Commercial Pilots and Airline Pilots?
A commercial pilot license allows a pilot to get paid for flying services, such as charter flights, instruction, or aerial photography.
An Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate is the highest level of pilot certification and is required to pilot scheduled passenger airliners (Part 121 operations).
Every airline pilot is a commercial pilot, but not every commercial pilot is an airline pilot. The commercial license is the intermediate credential earned between 190–250 flight hours, while the ATP certificate requires 1,500 total flight hours (or 1,000/1,250 for restricted ATPs).
A commercial pilot certificate simply allows you as the pilot to be paid to fly. So you could consider a commercial pilot certificate to be a lower certificate than an ATP certificate.
You can check out our pilot salary article to see what you could be paid as a pilot.
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