If you want to be paid for your services as a pilot, a Commercial Pilot License (CPL) is what is required. This type of license permits its holder to be hired and paid to fly passengers and cargo.
Jobs like airline flying, corporate flying, flight instructing, banner towing, crop spraying, traffic reporting and pipeline patrolling all require a Commercial Pilot License.
To apply for a Commercial Pilot License, the applicant must meet the FAA eligibility requirements, complete ground school, flight training, as well as take the FAA written, oral, and practical exams.
Commercial Pilot Certificate Eligibility Requirements
The basic requirements to obtain this certificate vary from country to country. In the United States, the FAA requires an applicant to be:
At least 18 years old (You can start your training at 17, but you must be 18 to be issued a CPL).
Possess a valid Private Pilot License.
Read, speak, write, and understand English.
Have a Valid Medical Certificate.
As an aspiring commercial pilot, you will need to decide on which ‘class’ of aircraft you want to operate. You can choose between a commercial single-engine (SEL/SE) or a commercial multi-engine (MEL/ME). For example, to be a banner tower or a single-engine flight instructor, you will be flying aircraft with one engine, so you only need the SEL. However, to be an airline pilot or fly aircraft with multiple engines, you need a MEL or an additional multi-engine rating.
Medical Certificate
Just like obtaining a Private Pilot License, you will need to hold an aviation medical certificate. To fully utilize your commercial pilot privileges, a Class 1 or 2 medical certificate should be obtained.
For aspiring commercial pilots going to flight school in America, Canada, South Africa and Nigeria, you can book your medicals through our partner Aviation Medical Examiners.
Flight Training
To qualify for a commercial pilot certificate in the United States, the FAA requires you to log the following flight hours:
250 hours of flight time.
100 hours of pilot-in-command time in a powered aircraft.
50 hours of cross-country flying.
10 hours of instrument training.
Contrary to general belief, flight training does not have to be difficult, time-consuming and expensive. With our FAA flight training programme, you can achieve your FAA Private Pilot License, Commercial Pilots License, Instrument Rating and Multi-Engine Rating in JUST 6 MONTHS (or less) and $35,000-$40,000 making you fully qualified and ready to secure employment.
Checkride (Practical Skills Test)
After completing the 250 hours of flight time, you will receive a logbook endorsement from your instructor to sit the commercial pilot knowledge test and commercial pilot practical skills test known as a “Checkride.”
Difference Between Commercial Pilots and Airline Pilots
All airline pilots are commercial pilots, but not all commercial pilots are airline pilots.
(Yes, it’s easy to get confused.)
A commercial pilot simply means you possess a Commercial Pilot License and can be paid to fly, however, airline pilots fly specifically for airlines who operate scheduled flights.
For example, a flight instructor teaches students how to fly and gets paid so they are commercial pilots, however, they do not fly for airlines and are therefore not airline pilots.
If you wish to become a Pilot, we are willing to help you get there! Click on the link below to receive our flight training quote.
