What is commercial pilot training? All FAQ answered.
People commonly have very little information on pilot training, even less about different pilot licenses.
In this post, I describe what commercial pilot training and license are.
However, a commercial pilot license allows a pilot to fly airplanes, with some restrictions.
What is commercial pilot training?
Advanced pilot training improves flying skills, and pilots get more knowledge of operating an airplane in complicated situations.
Commercial pilot training is the next stage after obtaining a private pilot license. Aspiring pilots get their private pilot license commonly after flying 50 hours.
The requirement for commercial pilot training varies from country to country.
However, in the Philippines, one can apply for a commercial pilot license with 150 hours of flight time.
On the contrary, the Indian aviation authority requires its pilots to fly 220 hours before certifying them with a commercial pilot certificate.
Thus the stage from a private pilot license to obtaining a professional pilot license is commercial pilot training.
I will use the example of a Filipino pilot.
Assuming a pilot student in the Philippines es have earned his private pilot license within 50 hours of actual flight.
Now this private pilot is willing to get a commercial pilot license.
Then he will have to fly 150 hours to be eligible for a commercial pilot license application.
The hours flown from 50 to 150 is the commercial pilot training stage.
And a pilot during this stage must practice some advanced maneuvers according to the local civil aviation body.
How to obtain a commercial pilot license?
It is necessary to fly the minimum hours the civil aviation body wants in any specific country to obtain a commercial pilot license.
As in India, a pilot has to fly a total of 220 hours to get his commercial pilot license, and in the Philippines, 150 hours will make you eligible to become a commercial pilot.
A vital thing to note is the commercial pilot license comes after the private pilot license.
One must acquire a private pilot license first.
Once a student pilot holds a private pilot license, he has to take commercial ground school.
This ground school syllabus is similar to the private pilot ground school syllabus. Yet the commercial pilot ground school is structured with more advanced and in-depth explanations of specific topics.
If you are willing to fly commercially, you must be ready for any complicated situation in flight.
After they complete the commercial ground schooling, the pilot has to fly more hours in their desired aircraft to build hours.
While building flight hours to meet the civil aviation authority requirement, one pilot must also note how many hours he has flown as a pilot in command and how many hours as a dual.
The Civil aviation regulation also indicates pilots to fly minimum PIC hours before applying for a commercial pilot license.
But a reputed flight school will trach all the flight hours and how many hours of pilot in command while the private pilot builds their hour.
After completing the minimum hour requirement for a private pilot, you can apply for the license.
You must pass the commercial pilot theory exam and have a flight with a checked pilot.
Once your check pilot is satisfied with your performance, you will be issued a commercial pilot license.
Holding a commercial pilot license will enable you to fly the airplane commercially.
How much is the cost for commercial pilot training?
The cost for commercial pilot training varies from country to country.
Reasoning different country has different flight hour requirements for this license. A student pilot will have to pay for flying for more hours.
If you are in the Philippines, you will have to pay for a flying total of 150 hours.
A student in India has to pay for 220 hours of flying time to get a commercial pilot license.
As the number of hours calculates the commercial pilot training cost, you will undoubtedly have to pay more in India than in the Philippines.
Nevertheless, the cost of pilot training also varies from school to school.
Commercial pilot training consists of ground school and several other associated costs.
Different schools will charge different rates for flying hours and ground class hours.
Some schools will charge you for books and supplies; many will include the price in the complete package.
Thus I can only give you the approximate cost idea for the pilot training course.
I can merely give you an approximate course cost, and from there, you can calculate to have an idea of your commercial pilot training cost.
Such as, if you are training to become a commercial pilot in the Philippines, you will have to fly for at least 150 hours.
So if you fly at a rate of 200 USD per hour for 150 hours of flying time, you will pay approximately 30,000 USD.
But this is only the cost of flying a Cessna 172 aircraft with a flight instructor.
This 200 USD includes the fee for the flight instructor as well.
And it is by no mean the exact price.
There are additional fees you have to pay as a student pilot.
Did you already forget about the ground classes?
You have to pay extra for your ground classes in a flight school. The ground school classes’ hourly rate varies from one school to another.
So I can’t give you the exact idea.
However, As I suggest to anyone willing to take commercial pilot training in the Philippines, the cost may vary between 45,000 USD to 55,000 USD.
It is just a rough idea.
RELATED: Pilot training cost in the Philippines.
Commercial pilot license requirements:
Before I say about the commercial pilot license requirements, I want to mention the commercial pilot training requirements.
First, you have to identify whether you are eligible to become a commercial pilot or not.
If you are not eligible to become a commercial pilot and fly 150 hours only to see that you can’t apply for a commercial pilot license, you will only waste your money.
Before you begin commercial pilot training, ask yourself why you want to become a commercial pilot.
If you are determined to work as an airline pilot, you must undergo commercial pilot training.
Do you have no interest in working in the airline and intend to fly for recreation?
A private pilot license and some additional rating will do the job adequately.
RELATED: What can you fly with a PPL?
But to work as a commercial pilot and to satisfy commercial pilot license requirements, you must have the following:
- At least 18 years of age;
- A high school graduate;
- Fluent in English;
- Have a first-class medical certificate;
- Have a valid private pilot license;
- Fly the minimum hours required by the civil aviation body. (150 hours for CAAP and 220 hours for DGCA);
- Pass the Civil aviation exams;
- Pass the check-ride.
After successfully satisfying the checklist, you can have your commercial pilot license.
What can you do with a commercial pilot’s license?
A commercial pilot license enables a pilot to work for hire and compensation. With a commercial pilot license, one can work full-time as a professional pilot.
Having a commercial pilot license can earn a decent amount of money until you start working on the airline.
To get an airline job with only a commercial pilot license was a thing of the past. Nowadays, with strict regulations and new laws, airlines do not hire fresh commercial pilots.
A commercial pilot licensee has to work his way up slowly to the airliner cockpit.
Yet, some lucky commercial pilots get a job immediately after they graduate from flight school.
Commercial pilots work for decent money to build hours and finally get their dream job.
So working as a professional pilot with a commercial pilot license is not a problem.
But building hours and being in the airline come with many other complications.
Some airlines require a commercial pilot to have at least 500 hours, and others may require 1500 hours.
As well as, airlines might want a commercial pilot applicant to have additional type ratings.
Nevertheless, being hired with a commercial pilot license is vast, with many opportunities in the aviation industry today. Indeed the pay will not be luxurious, but at least you will fly an airplane to have fun in the sky.
What are the differences between a private pilot license and a commercial pilot license?
A private pilot license is similar to a driving license. A private pilot can fly an airplane to any destination without any restriction.
The only restriction for a private pilots is they cannot fly into Class A airspace.
On the contrary, a commercial pilot with an instrument rating can fly into Class A airspace.
However, that is not the primary difference between a commercial pilot license and a private pilot license.
A private pilot licensee cannot fly for hire or compensation.
A commercial pilot licensee has the privilege of getting paid for transporting passengers and goods.
A commercial pilot can work as a professional pilot, but a private pilot has restrictions from working and receiving fees for flying passengers.
A private pilot can only fly for recreation and can operate an airplane with passengers.
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