Title 14: Aeronautics and Space
?nbsp;61.123 Eligibility requirements: General.
To be eligible for a commercial pilot certificate, a person must:
(a) Be at least 18 years of age;
(b) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the applicant is unable to meet one of these
requirements due to medical reasons, then the Administrator may place such operating limitations on that applicant's pilot
certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the aircraft.
(c) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
(1) Conducted the required ground training or reviewed the person's home study on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed
in ?1.125 of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought; and
(2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required knowledge test that applies to the aircraft category and class
rating sought.
(d) Pass the required knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in ?1.125 of this part;
(e) Receive the required training and a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor who:
(1) Conducted the training on the areas of operation listed in ?1.127(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft category
and class rating sought; and
(2) Certified that the person is prepared for the required practical test.
(f) Meet the aeronautical experience requirements of this subpart that apply to the aircraft category and class rating
sought before applying for the practical test;
(g) Pass the required practical test on the areas of operation listed in ?1.127(b) of this part that apply to the aircraft
category and class rating sought;
(h) Hold at least a private pilot certificate issued under this part or meet the requirements of ?1.73; and
(i) Comply with the sections of this part that apply to the aircraft category and class rating sought.
?nbsp;61.129 Aeronautical experience.
(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies
for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of
flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and
(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in ?1.127(b)(1) of this part that includes at least—
(i) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane;
(ii) 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller,
or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a single-engine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a seaplane that
has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total
straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iv) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a
total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(v) 3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date
of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane on the areas of operation listed in ?1.127(b)(1) of this part,
which includes at least—
(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points,
one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. However, if this
requirement is being met in Hawaii, the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150 nautical miles;
and
(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight in the traffic
pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.
(b) For an airplane multiengine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies
for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and multiengine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight
time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and
(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in ?1.127(b)(2) of this part that includes at least—
(i) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a multiengine airplane;
(ii) 10 hours of training in a multiengine airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable pitch
propellers, or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a multiengine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a multiengine
seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a multiengine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total
straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iv) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a multiengine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total
straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(v) 3 hours in a multiengine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date
of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight time in a multiengine airplane or 10 hours of flight time performing the duties of pilot in
command in a multiengine airplane with an authorized instructor (either of which may be credited towards the flight time requirement
in paragraph (b)(2) of this section), on the areas of operation listed in ?1.127(b)(2) of this part that includes at least—
(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance with landings at a minimum of three points,
one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. However, if this
requirement is being met in Hawaii, the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150 nautical miles;
and
(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight with a traffic
pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.