Commercial Pilot

A Commercial Pilot Certificate is what opens the doors to receive compensation as a pilot. Commercial piloting allows you to pursue a career in a wide variety of aviation areas. Airline pilot, private charter, cargo transport, flight instructor, pipeline survey, and air-ambulance are some of the many job fields that you are opened to with a Commercial Pilot Certificate.

Prerequisites and how to get started?

1. Private Pilot Certificate
2. Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language per federal regulation requirements
3. FAA Medical Certificate (2nd Class preferred) (3rd Class can be used during training and testing but a pilot must have a 2nd Class to exercise commercial privileges)
4. Proof of U.S. citizenship (passport or birth certificate are most common, copies are not allowed)

Before your FAA practical flight exam, you will need to meet all applicable requirements of FAA Federal Regulations 14 CFR part 61 (included but not limited to):

1. Be 18 years old
2. Have a minimum of 250 total hours of flight time (all previous training for Private Pilot Certificate and Instrument Rating will be credited in this total time)
3. Pass the FAA Instrument Rating aeronautical written exam
4. Learn aeronautical decision-making, safety of flight considerations, aviation weather, aerodynamics, airport operations, commercial procedures and requirements according to 14 CFR part 61.

Call us at 307-472-4359 for any questions you may have on how to get started.

What will you do in Commercial Pilot Certificate Flight Training?

Just like Private Pilot flight training and Instrument flight training, the Commercial Pilot Flight Training is comprised of two main areas:

1. Commercial Ground School
   Ground school is a combination of a certified home study course and classroom face to face training with one of our Certified Flight Instructors. Ground school covers the technical areas that a pilot must know outside of the flight training. Areas of focus in ground school are not limited to but include many of the following: Aircraft systems, aerodynamics, aircraft performance, navigation, federal regulations, weather, airspace, and aircraft radio communications.
2. Commercial Flight Training
   Flight training consists of a preferred block lesson time of 3 hours. During this time expect to see about 1-2 hours of aircraft flight time. The rest of the time block is used for ground training pre and post flight briefs where you will review at home study materials as well as discuss the daily flight lesson and goals. Our training program is meant to prepare you for both the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) written and practical flight test. A Commercial Certificate is awarded after successful completion of the written and flight test.

How often should you fly?

Commercial flight training will take a steady commitment of time and studying. Although this time does not have to be excessive and overwhelming we do recommend consistency which will prove to be beneficial in material retention and certification. Our recommendation is at least 2 lessons per week. We have many students that book upwards of 5 lessons per week which is very easy to accommodate with our staffing of Certified Flight Instructors. We are open year-round Monday through Saturday. We are closed Sundays and most major holidays. Sundays can be booked by appointment only with direct approval of your desired Certified Flight Instructor.

What aircraft will you fly?

Rising Wings Aviation Inc. currently has a fleet (insert hyperlink to fleet) of Cessna 172s and a Cirrus SR20 Perspective Glass Panel Aircraft in which you can learn to fly.

Cirrus Aircraft is a state-of-the-art modern aircraft that comes standard with an airframe parachute (insert hyperlink to cirrusaircraft.com). The Cirrus Aircraft has been called by many “an IFR masterpiece” due to its advanced cockpit technology and ease of flight controls and systems. Many of our students have stated that it feels as simple as stepping into a modern vehicle.

The Cessna 172 has a long history as a smooth and effective flight training aircraft. Our fleet consists of aircraft equipped with everything from the basic analog gauges nicknamed the “six pack” (for its arrangement of the 6 standard flight gauges) as well as the most advanced Garmin G1000 glass panel cockpit.

How long does it take to complete your training?

This is very dependent upon how often you are able to fly as well as spend time studying outside of flight your scheduled lessons. Your overall training time can be significantly reduced by utilizing our Certified Flight Instructors for ground lessons as well as routinely spending time on your Sporty’s home study training material. Flying a minimum of 2 lesson blocks per week you can expect to have your certificate in approximately 8-12 months.

How much will it cost?

Flight training costs dependent on the student as well as the amount of flight training hours you have before starting the Commercial Certificate training. The more hours you have after post-private training the less hours you will typically spend on commercial to achieve the minimum 250 total hours. If you fly regularly, and are able to complete the course syllabus in the minimum times specified by the FAA, your total costs will be less. Below is a breakdown based on the FAA minimum requirements. Our average estimate assumes that a pilot starts the Commercial Certificate training with previous hours from private and/or instrument training of roughly 120 hours (every student is different based on how many total flight hours they currently hold prior to Commercial training):

	Cessna 172 FAA Minimum Hours		Typical Average
	Hours	Cost	Hours	Cost
Cessna + Cirrus Aircraft Rental with flight instructor 10 hours in Cirrus (avg. $220/hour for Cessna) (avg. $325/hour for Cirrus)	85	$19,805	40	$9,880
Cessna Aircraft Solo Rental without flight instructor (avg. $145/hour)	85	$12,325	100	$14,500
King Flight Training Materials		$364		$364
Sheppard Air Knowledge Exam Prep		$45		$45
Aircraft Rental Insurance/year		$260		$260
Ground Instruction		$1,500		$1,500
FAA Knowledge Exam Fee		$160		$160
FAA Examiner Fee Practical Test		$550		$550
Aircraft Rental Fee for Practical		$230		$230
Estimated State Sales Tax Non-Instruction Aircraft Rental		$725		$725
Total Commercial Certificate		$35,964		$28,214
Total Realistic Program cost zero time through Commercial Certificate				$59,237.25

* These prices are an estimate. Actual costs vary per student depending on the proficiency and preparation of the student.

	Cirrus SR20 FAA Minimum Hours		Typical Average
	Hours	Cost	Hours	Cost
Cirrus Aircraft Rental with flight instructor (avg. $325/hour)	85	$27,625	40	$13,000
Cirrus Aircraft Solo Rental without flight instructor (avg. $250/hour)	85	$21,250	100	$25,000
King Flight Training Materials		$364		$364
Sheppard Air Knowledge Exam Prep		$45		$45
Aircraft Rental Insurance/year		$260		$260
Ground Instruction		$1,500		$1,500
FAA Knowledge Exam Fee		$160		$160
FAA Examiner Fee Practical Test		$550		$550
Aircraft Rental Fee for Practical		$375		$375
Estimated State Sales Tax Non-Instruction Aircraft Rental		$1,250		$1,250
Total Commercial Certificate		$53,l379		$42,504
Total Realistic Program cost zero time through Commercial Certificate				$86,731.50

* These prices are an estimate. Actual costs vary per student depending on the proficiency and preparation of the student.