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Part 61 F: Commercial Pilots

Eligibility (61.123)​

  • Must be 18 years old
  • Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language
  • Needs a student, sport, or recreational pilot certificate
  • Hold a 3rd class medical or BasicMed (to take the test)
  • Hold a private pilot certificate issued under part 61
  • Endorsed and pass a practical and knowledge test

Knowledge Test (61.125)​

  • Student must receive and log ground training or complete a home-study course on the following areas:
    • Applicable FARs of this chapter that relate to commercial pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations
    • Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety Board
    • Basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight
    • Meteorology to include recognition of critical weather situations, windshear recognition and avoidance, and the use of aeronautical weather reports and forecasts
    • Safe and efficient operation of aircraft
    • Weight and balance computations
    • Use of performance charts
    • Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations
    • Use of aeronautical charts and a magnetic compass for pilotage and dead reckoning
    • Use of air navigation facilities
    • Aeronautical decision making and judgment
    • Principles and functions of aircraft systems
    • Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to the aircraft
    • Night and high-altitude operations
    • Procedures for operating within the National Airspace System
    • Procedures for flight and ground training for lighter-than-air ratings

Flight proficiency requirements (61.127)​

  • Need ground and flight training around these areas:
    • Preflight preparation
    • Preflight procedures
    • Airport and seaplane base operations
    • Takeoffs, landings, and go-arounds
    • Performance maneuvers (steep turns, lazy 8s, etc.)
    • Ground reference maneuvers
    • Navigation
    • Slow flight and stalls
    • Emergency operations
    • High-altitude operations
    • Postflight procedures

Aeronautical experience (61.129)​

  • Exceptions for night, but no exceptions for small islands
  • 250 hours total flight time, including:
    • 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes
    • 100 hours of PIC time, including:
      • 50 hours in airplanes
      • 50 hours of XC flight, of which 10 hours must be in airplanes
    • 20 hours of flight training, including:
      • 10 hours of instrument training, 5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane
        • This must be specifically logged to the requirements in 61.129(3)(i)
        • This training must be done by a CFII
      • 10 hours of complex, turbine, or TAA aircraft
      • One dual 2-hour day XC flight >100nm
      • One dual 2-hour night XC flight >100nm
      • 3 hours within 2 months of the practical test
    • 10 hours of solo flight time or 10 hours performing the duties of PIC (PDPIC) with an instructor:
      • Restrictions:
        • The solo time and PDPIC time cannot be combined
        • No instruction can be given on PDPIC flights
        • PDPIC cannot be used on the 300nm solo requirement
      • One 300nm flight with landings at 3 points, which is a straight-line distance of at least 250nm from the departure point
      • 5 hours of night flight in VFR conditions, including:
        • 10 takeoffs and landings at an airport with an operating control tower

Privileges and Limitations (61.133)​

  • Without an instrument rating, flights are limited to:
    • 50nm with passengers for hire
    • No night flight with passengers for hire
  • Part 119.1 defines common carriage and when an air carrier certificate is required
  • Have the same privileges as a private pilot including:
    • Carrying passengers or property for hire, except:
    • You cannot provide a transportation service
    • You cannot advertise to transport people
    • You can't be paid to carry persons or property in your own airplane
  • AC 120-12A: Holding Out, Private vs. Common Carriage
  • AC 61-142: Sharing operating expenses

Endorsements​

  • AC 61-65 A.34: student is prepared for the private pilot knowledge test
    • This is only given if you gave the ground instruction
    • AC 61-65 A.82 is used if the student used a home study course
  • AC 61-65 A.35: private student is prepared for the practical test (needed along with A.1 and A.2)

ACS​

Commercial Pilot for Airplane Category ACS

Scenarios​

Commercial helicopter to commercial ASEL​

  • Adding a category at the same level
  • Look at 61.63(b), which states:
  • Must meet:
    • Aeronautical experience for 61.129
    • Knowledge areas in 61.125
    • Flight proficiency in 61.127
    • AC 61-65 A.74 additional category endorsement, along with the A.1 endorsement
  • No knowledge test

Commercial multi-engine to commercial ASEL​

  • Adding a class rating at the same level (commercial to commercial)
  • Look at 61.63(c), which states:
    • No need for 61.129 aeronautical experience
    • Need training in 61.127
    • Need training in the 61.127 operation areas
    • No minimum flight time, and no 3 hours within 2 months of the practical test
    • AC 61-65 A.74 additional category endorsement, along with the A.1 endorsement