Commercial Pilot

Hourly Rate

R22

R44

B206

With Instr./Pilot: $200 $400 $650
Solo Flights: $185 n/a n/a
Ground Course: $30

Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, you must:
  1. be at least 18 years of age;
  2. be able to read, speak, write and understand the English language;
  3. hold at least a private pilot certificate;
  4. meet the aeronautical experience requirements that apply [see below];
  5. pass the knowledge test;
  6. pass the practical test.
To exercise the privileges of a commercial pilot certificate, you must hold at least a current second-class medical certificate.

Aeronautical Experience

If you are applying for a commercial pilot certificate with a rotorcraft category and helicopter class rating, you must log at least 150 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
  1. 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in helicopters;
  2. 100 hours of pilot in command flight time, which includes:
    1. at least 35 hours in helicopters;
    2. 10 hours in cross-country flight in helicopters.
  3. 20 hours of training that includes at least:
    1. 10 hours of instrument training in an aircraft;
    2. one cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure,
    3. one cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a helicopter in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure.
  4. 10 hours of solo flight which includes at least:
    1. one cross-country flight with landings at a minimum of three points, with one segment consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
    2. 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern).

Aeronautical Knowledge

If you are applying for a commercial pilot certificate you must receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or complete a home-study course on the aeronautical knowledge areas that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.