If you want to make money doing what you love, the commercial pilot license is for you. The FAA requires that you hold a commercial license in order to receive money in compensation for the sole purpose of conducting a flight or flight training. The process for obtaining your commercial license includes passing a written test and learning commercial flight maneuvers. You have to have at least 250 hours of flight time total and part of the training must be conducted in a complex aircraft. These hours must consist of solo flight, cross country flight, instrument training, and night flying. It is not required that you have your instrument rating before you get your commercial license, but it is expected and highly recommended by any employer seeking to hire you for piloting. For budgeting purposes, set aside $3,000 for commercial training.
Commercial Pilot License