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FAA Part 61

Commercial Pilot Certificate 

Estimated Completion Time:
Ground School: 3 Weeks
​Flight Training: 2 Months
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Estimated Cost:
$32,000
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Class Commitment
Ground School: 1 lesson/week
Flight School: 2-3 lessons/week
Ready to turn your hobby into a career? Nightline Air offers a complete program to upgrade your current certificate to the Commercial level intended for those who either want to expand their skillset or set eye on a flying job. 
Let's get paid to fly! This program is the next step pilots take in pursing a career in aviation. The knowledge and skills that will be learned throughout the course will allow pilots to become an industry professional. 

About

The Commercial Certification Course is not much different from the Private Pilot License, other than being held to higher standards.

​Pilots will learn new maneuvers, such as chandelles, lazy eights and eights on pylon; which you will have to demonstrate proficiently on the practical test. Single Engine is for those students who require commercial pilot privileges in single engine aircraft only. To be eligible, students must be 18 years or older, log at least 250 hrs of total flight time in which training and other requirements must be met, and 10 hours training in a complex aircraft or a "Technically Advanced Avionics" aircraft (TAA). ​

​Nightline Air flight instructors are properly trained and certified to provide safety, learning, and enjoyment for the flight training journey. Instructors are committed to each pilot our school enrolls which provides a culture that is unmatched anywhere else. Our team is able to personalize the training material and format to each individual as learning and teaching styles vary. With our in-house maintenance and quick turnaround times, our aircraft provides an exceptional training platform for each course. Our ground and flight training syllabus allows our clients to receive instruction efficiently that allow pilots to build aeronautical knowledge and skill. ​
  • Ground School: As a Part 61 Flight Training School, we are authorized to administer a variety of methods to administer ground school. Unlike a Part 141 Program with mandatory in-person training, Nightline Air offers a complete comprehensive online ground school course that can be completed away from the Training Center. This course reviews the required knowledge areas the FAA has set in their Airman Certification Standards (ACS) to pass both the Written Exam and Practical Test with the FAA. These subject include airspace, aircraft systems, instruments, navigation, regulations, flight planning, professionalism, and more. Our flight instructors are properly trained to administer one-on-one ground instruction to students that need in-person training. This variety of training is not only cost-effective, but allows both the structure and flexibility that Part 61 provides. 
  • Flight Training: Flight Training is able to commence before, during, or after a student completes ground school whether done online, in-person, or a mix of both. Our flight training program is designed to support the success of the student in aircraft knowledge and mastery as required by the FAA Airman Certificate Standards (ACS). We recommend pilots to fly at minimum, 2-3 flights per week to keep student's on track to complete the program most efficiently. 
  • Time Building: Pilots usually need to build around 110 hours in order to take the Commercial Pilot Checkride at 250 hours. Since pilots are already a certificated pilot, we coordinate with other pilots to help build necessary flight time by reducing cost and time with other pilots. These flights can include both local and cross country flights. Each flight must be approved under school management.
Program Requirements
  • Commercial pilot candidates must be at least 18 years old, able to read, speak, write, and understand English, and hold at least a private pilot certificate.
  • Under CFR Part 61, a pilot needs at least 250 flight hours. That includes 100 hours of pilot-in-command time and 50 hours of cross-country. Cross-country flights are also part of the training; including one of three legs that is at least 300 nautical miles total with a single leg of at least 250 miles. Additionally, at least 10 hours of instrument training and 10 hours in a complex aircraft are required. All of these hourly requirements ensure that a commercial pilot is a proficient and experienced pilot.
  • While it is not required to have an Instrument rating in order to be a Commercial Pilot, it is highly recommended. An Instrument rating is a practical transition from Private to Commercial. Without an Instrument rating, a Commercial pilot will not be allowed to fly for hire at night or venture further than 50 nautical miles from the home base airport. Most pilots do not want to incur these limitations. So typically they’ll get an instrument rating on the way to their Commercial status.
  • Since a candidate must have a Private Pilot certificate to be a Commercial Pilot, chances are that they already hold at least a 3rd class aviation medical certificate. Commercial Pilots are still able to fly with a 3rd class medical; however, in order to utilize Commercial Pilot privileges, they must hold at least a current 2nd class medical. Obtaining a 2nd class medical is highly recommended before commencing commercial training. This ensures the student qualifies for the medical and doesn’t waste time and money on a certificate they can’t use.
  • During commercial flight training, students learn new maneuvers and refine familiar ones.