Things You'll Need:
- Private pilot license
- Ground training
- Second-class medical certificate
- Flight experience
- Passing exam scores
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Step 1
Meet the age and language requirements. You must be 18 years or older and fluently speak, read and write English.
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Step 2
Receive and log ground training from an accredited program, either from a private instructor, school or correspondence course.
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Step 3
Log approximately 250 hours of flight time. This varies depending on what type of aircraft you want to pilot commercially. Helicopters and light planes require less in-flight hours than larger aircraft. Your instructor or school will help you determine what the correct number of hours is for your selected aircraft.
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Step 4
Obtain a current Federal Aviation Administration medical certificate. You will receive a student certificate during your initial training. You will need to upgrade to a second-class certificate in order to obtain a commercial pilot's license.
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Step 5
Pass both the Pilot Knowledge and Practical Application tests with a score of 70 percent or better.
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Step 6
Hold an instrument rating. If you want to fly farther than 50 nautical miles (93 km) or at night, you must receive an instrument rating certifying that you can fly by instruments alone.
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Step 7
Apply for a license through the FAA. Once you've met the above requirements, you are eligible to apply for your commercial license through the FAA.
