FAA CPL – Commercial Pilot Licence

The Commercial Pilot Certificate is a qualification that permits the holder to act as a pilot of an aircraft for remuneration.

Course entry requirements:
-Minimum age of 18 years
-Second class medical certificate
-At least PPL(A) (Private Pilot License) holder with 250 hours total flight time out of which 100 as Pilot in Command.
-English language skills

Privileges:
-Exercise all the privileges of the holder of a PPL(A);
-Act as co-pilot (First Officer) in commercial air transportation
-Act as pilot-in-command or co-pilot of any airplane (CPL(A)) engaged in operations other than commercial air transportation.
-Act as pilot-in-command in commercial air transportation of any single-pilot airplane

Ground training:
The trainee will cover during the ground training the following courses:

-Air law and ATC procedures
-Airframes & systems, electrics, power plant, emergency equipment
-Instrumentation
-Mass and balance
-Performance
-Flight planning & monitoring
-Human performance & limitations
-Meteorology
-General navigation
-Radio navigation
-Operational procedures
-Principles of flight
-Communications

Flight training:
At the end of the training, the trainee must have a minimum of 250 total flight hours (including PPL(A) and IR time) if acquiring an FAA CPL Part 61 certification or must have minimum of 190 total flight hours (including PPL(A) and IR time if acquiring an FAA CPL Part 141 certification:

FAA Part 141
-100 hours as pilot-in-command
-50 hours of VFR cross-country flight time as pilot-in-command, including a cross-country flight totalling at least 350 NM in the course of with full-stop landings at two airports different from the airport of departure
-10 hours of instrument training
-5 hours of night flying – 5 solo take-offs and 5 landings
-10 hours on a complex airplane

Examination – Written Test
The applicant has to demonstrate the theoretical knowledge at an FAA approved testing centre in the form of a written test. The test consists of nine subjects (Meteorology, Navigation, Instrumentation, Communications, Aircraft General Knowledge, Principles of flight, Air Law, Flight performance and planning, Human Performance and limitations, Operational procedures, etc).

The applicant must pass the written exam with a minimum of 70% which is still a passing score. One must complete and successfully pass the written exam prior to the taking the theoretical/practical examination.

Examination – Theoretical
An applicant must demonstrate a level of knowledge appropriate to the privileges of the holder of a CPL(A) in accordance with the requirements under the FARs.

Examination – Practical
The practical skill exam in the airplane with the examiner can be taken after successful completion of the written tests.

The applicant must demonstrate the ability to:

-Operate the airplane within its limitations
-Complete all manoeuvres as smooth and as accurate as requested by FAA
-Exercise good judgment and airmanship
-Apply aeronautical knowledge
-Maintain control of the airplane at all times.