If you are looking to make money as a pilot, then a commercial pilot certificate is the right certificate for you.
How do I obtain my Commercial Pilot Certificate?
In order to obtain your Commercial pilot certificate, you must be at least 18 years of age, hold a Private Pilot certificate, and have
- 250 hours of total flight time
- 20 hours of flight training
- A second-class medical certificate (required when exercising commercial privileges)
I typically construct my commercial pilot training such that we begin with around 10 hours of dual instruction focusing on commercial maneuvers. Then the applicant has the skill set to practice those maneuvers on their own while building towards the 250 hours of flight time. Then we reconvene to do the last 10 hours of dual training getting the applicant ready for the commercial checkride.
What are the privileges and limitations of a Commercial Pilot Certificate?
The commercial pilot certificate allows you to receive compensation for your flying with some limitations. You can not transport a person from A to B and receive compensation unless that person/company owns the airplane. You can however tow banners, fly for skydiving operations, operate as a flight instructor (once you obtain the CFI certificate), and do pipeline and survey flying.
How Much Does it Cost?
The cost of obtaining your Commercial Pilot Certificate will depend upon how many hours you have to build. Assuming you have around 150 hours after your instrument training (which is when most applicants begin their commercial training), the cost would be around $12,000 – $14,000 depending upon the airplane you use for time building.
Ok, I’m interested. What are the next steps?
Fill out the form below and I’ll be in contact usually within a few hours to answer any questions and to walk you through every step of the process for obtaining your Commercial Pilot Certificate.