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What is a commercial pilot certificate?
The commercial pilot certificate is obtained after you have some experience as a pilot. This certificate allows you to be paid for the service of being a pilot when you are working for approved scheduled service carriers (part 121), on-demand carriers (part 135) and a few other services as allowed by regulations.
What is required to get a commercial pilot certificate?
It is typical of airplane pilots to acquire an instrument rating prior to the commercial pilot certificate but it is not required. Without an instrument rating commercial airplane pilots are limited to daytime operations and within 50 miles of their departure point. Although helicopter pilots without an instrument rating do not have this limitation it is still a valuable asset to have and can be done while building the required time for the commercial certificate.
The Basic Requirements for obtaining a Commercial Pilot Certificate are as follows:
Be at least 18 years of age
Hold a private pilot certificate
Be able to read, speak, and understand the English language
Obtain at least a current third-class medical certificate (second is only required to exercise the privileges of your commercial certificate)
Have logged at least 250 hours (200 for helicopters)
Pass a knowledge test as well as the practical test