COMMERCIAL
CERTIFICATE
WHY NOT GET PAID TO FLY?
APPLYING KNOWLEDGE. REFINING TECHNIQUE.
The commercial pilot certificate may very well be the best pilot certificate there is as this is the one that let's you get paid to fly. The ability to operate for compensation or hire is necessary to get a job flying for flight schools, charter companies, corporate flight departments, and airlines. Rent or own an airplane? Enjoy reduced insurance premiums with the extra value of this higher level of training and flight experience.
Whether you’ve already started or are just getting going, our commercial pilot programs not only get you licensed quickly, they get you highly proficient with even the most challenging tasks and skills. Contact us today to learn about our methods, develop a training plan, and schedule your lessons.
BASIC TRAINING
REQUIREMENTS
TSA Approval (for non-U.S. citizens only)
Private Pilot Certificate Holder
Total Flight Time: 250 Hours
Instructional Flight Time: 20 Hours
Complex or TAA Flight Time: 10 Hours
Earning a commercial certificate requires the skill and proficiency of a professional. We suggest that students complete as much recurrent training as they need beforehand to ensure their basic private pilot skills are a rock solid foundation on which their CFI can build. You can also work towards some of the commercial experience requirements on your own - towered night landings and the long three-point cross country can both be done solo. Get those logged, then start training.
THE PATH TO CERTIFICATION
Before getting started, make an appointment with our Flight School Director to develop a training plan that incorporates any flight experience requirements you have yet to meet. We recommend taking your FAA written exam (100 multiple choice questions, 70% passing score - use Gleim's Test Prep Software to help prepare!) and getting your 2nd class FAA medical prior to the start of training.
Our instructors will then work with you to improve control finesse, flying precision, and resource management with all of your training efforts ultimately leading to the FAA practical test (a.k.a. checkride) which consists of a 1 to 2 hour oral exam and a 1.5 to 2.5 hour flight test.
TYPICAL TIMELINE TO COMPLETION
2-3 MONTHS
Students are encouraged to sign up for a minimum of TWO 2.5-hour lessons per week, but greater frequency is beneficial as you'll maintain a higher level of retention from one lesson to the next. Total times and costs will ultimately depend on a variety of factors including weather, aircraft maintenance, natural ability, frequency of training, and dedication to at-home study.
Our commercial pilot curriculum consists of 26 lessons. Each lesson has an associated homework assignment that consists of approximately one hour of reading/studying/video watching. Proper progression is highly dependent on the timely completion of all homework assignments.
If you'll be training on a platform that is new to you, you'll be required to complete VFR transition training in your selected aircraft prior to beginning your commercial training. We strongly encourage commercial students with less than 220 hours of total time to split this course into two parts - Commercial I (the first ten lessons) and Commercial II (the remaining 16 lessons). With this approach, students will complete Commercial I which introduces them to all commercial flight maneuvers and related concepts, then the student will continue time building - incorporating long cross country operations and commercial flight maneuver practice - until they reach 235 hours of total flight time and return to regular lessons to finish up the course with Commercial II. If applicants intend to continue on to their CFI, they should also consider beginning their CFI training concurrently with their commercial training.
SLING LSA AIRCRAFT
TYPICAL COURSE COMPLETION COSTS:
$12,825
LSA Rental Hours (40 @ $200/Hour) = $8,000
CFII Instruction (35 @ $90/Hour) = $3,150
Training Materials/Subscriptions = $500
Written Exam Fee = $175
Checkride Fee = $1000
Total = $12,825
DIAMOND DA40 AIRCRAFT
TYPICAL COURSE COMPLETION COSTS:
$15,425
DA40 Rental Hours (40 @ $265/Hour) = $10,600
CFII Instruction (35 @ $90/Hour) = $3,150
Training Materials/Subscriptions = $500
Written Exam Fee = $175
Checkride Fee = $1000
Total = $15,425
CIRRUS SR20 AIRCRAFT
TYPICAL COURSE COMPLETION COSTS:
$21,575
SR20 Rental Hours (40 @ $365/Hour) = $14,600
CFII Instruction (35 @ $120/Hour) = $4,200
Training Materials/Subscriptions = $1,600
Written Exam Fee = $175
Checkride Fee = $1000
Total = $21,575
