To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, a person must:
1. Be at least 18 years of age
2. Be able to read, write, and converse fluently in English
3. Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course
4. Hold at least a current second-class FAA medical certificate
5. Pass the FAA written exam with a score of 70% or better
6. Pass an oral and practical flight test on procedures and maneuvers selected by an FAA examiner
Required Aeronautical Experience
Log a minimum 250 hours of flight time consisting of at least:
- 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes
- 100 hours as pilot in command flight time, which includes at least:
- 50 hours in airplanes
- 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes
Twenty (20) hours of training must include:
- 10 hours of instrument training
- 10 hours of training in an airplane with retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered
- One day cross-country flight with a stop at another airport at least 100 NM from the original point of departure
- One night cross-country flight with a stop at another airport at least 100 NM from the original point of departure
- 3 hours of preparation for the practical test within the 60 days preceding the test
Ten (10) hours of solo flight training which includes:
- One cross-country flight at least 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 hours of night flight with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings at an airport with an operating control tower