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.
A Commercial Pilot License is the First Step in Launching your Aviation Career
During commercial pilot school you’ll gain the skills and knowledge required to begin earning an income as a pilot.
The Commercial Pilot Program Includes:
- 120 hrs. Total Flight Time
- 55 hrs. Dual Flight Training
- 65 hrs. Solo Flight Training
- 35 Hrs. Personalized Knowledge (Ground) Instruction
- Jeppesen Commercial Training System
Prerequisites:
- Hold a Private Pilot Certificate
- Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English
- Hold BasicMed or a 3rd class (or higher) FAA medical certificate. Later, to exercise the privileges of your commercial pilot certificate, you must hold at least a 2nd class medical certificate.
- Hold an instrument rating. While not strictly required by the regulations, a commercial pilot certificate is extremely limited without an instrument rating.
Want to Become a Commercial Airline Pilot?
Our Zero Time to Airline program is your best path to becoming a commercial airline pilot. This program will take you through every certificate and rating you need to start working as a flight instructor and build your hours to airline minimums.
Want to learn more? Click the button below to learn more about the Zero Time to Airline program.
What is a commercial pilot certificate?
A commercial pilot certificate allows a pilot to be paid to fly an airplane.
Without a commercial certificate, a pilot cannot receive compensation to fly passengers or cargo.
If you’re planning on a career as a pilot, regardless of if you’ll work for an airline, you’ll need a commercial certificate.
What do commercial pilots do?
A commercial pilot certificate allows a pilot to take any job that pays them as a pilot.
The most common job for someone who holds a commercial pilot certificate is airline pilot. If you want to become an airline pilot be sure to check out our guide on becoming an airline pilot.
Other common jobs for commercial rated pilots include cargo transport, aerial surveying, aerial firefighting, air ambulance, flight instructor and so much more.
You can check out our pilot salary article to see what you could be paid as a pilot.
What is the difference between commercial pilots and airline pilots?
An airline pilot holds a commercial pilot certificate so they are a commercial pilot. But to become an airline pilot you also have to hold an airline transport pilot certificate, which allows you to fly regularly scheduled passenger flights.
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.
Ready to start your training to become an Airline Pilot? Give us a call or fill out our contact form and we’ll help you decide which program is right for you.