Commercial Pilot Requirements

From Pilots Almanac

A Commercial Pilot applicant must meet the following requirements:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English
• Hold a current FAA medical certificate
• Pass the FAA commercial pilot Knowledge Test with a score of 70% or better
• Hold an Instrument Rating or will be restricted against carrying passengers for hire on flights beyond 50 NM or at night.
• You must log at least 250 hr. of flight time that consists of at least:
  • 100 hr. in powered aircraft, of which 50 hr. must be in airplanes
  • 100 hr. as pilot in command flight time, which includes at least:
    • 50 hr. in airplanes
    • 50 hr. in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hr. must be in airplanes
  • 20 hr. of training in the areas of operation listed in item 8. below, including at least:
    • 10 hr. of instrument training of which at least 5 hr. must be in a single-engine airplane
    • 10 hr. of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered
    • One cross-country flight of at least 2 hr. in a single-engine airplane in day-VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 NM from the original point of departure
    • One cross-country flight of at least 2 hr. in a single-engine airplane in night-VFR conditions, consisting of a straight-line distance of more than 100 NM from the original point of departure
    • 3 hr. in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60 days preceding the test
  • 10 hr. of solo flight in a single-engine airplane training in the areas of operation required for a single-engine rating, which includes at least:
    • One cross-country flight of not less than 300 NM total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 NM from the original departure point
    • 5 hr. in night-VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower