Commercial Certificate

A Commercial Pilot Certificate allows pilots to accept some jobs which pay them to fly.

Training Requirements

Training requirements for the Instrument rating are documented in 14 CFR part 61.129. The bulleted list below is a summary of those requirements.

• Must hold at least a current private pilot certificate
• Must be at least 18 years of age
• Must be able to read, speak, write, and understand English
• 100 hours of flight time in a powered aircraft
• 100 hours of pilot-in-command time, which must include:
  • 50 hours in airplanes
  • 50 hours of cross country flight time (10 hours of which must be in airplanes)
• 20 hours of training as PIC, which must include the following:
  • 10 hours of instrument training
  • 10 hours of training in a complex aircraft
  • One 2-hour cross country flight in daytime with a total straight-line distance of at least 100 nautical miles
  • One 2-hour cross country flight in nighttime with a total straight-line distance of at least 100 nautical miles
  • 3 hours of training with an authorized flight instructor
• 10 hours of solo flight time
• 300 nautical mile cross-country flight with landings at 3 locations
• 5 hours of night VFR flight time including 10 takeoffs and landings
• Completion of a written aeronautical knowledge test. Columbus Flying Club can provide ground instruction for this test and an FAA test center is conveniently located at the airport.
• Completion of an oral and practical exam with a designated pilot examiner

Cost

Since time logged from your previous training is carried forward when training for a commercial pilot certificate, the total cost of training depends on the current amount of time logged in the required areas.