How to become a commercial pilot?

Cabin Crew 09/04/2025
Match&Fly

Commercial pilots can be an exciting and rewarding career path for people with a passion for aviation. However, to achieve this goal, considerable dedication, training and hard work are required. In this blog post, we will discuss the steps required to become a commercial pilot.

Step 1: Meet the eligibility requirements
Before you can start your journey towards becoming a commercial pilot, you need to meet certain eligibility requirements. These requirements vary depending on the country and the aviation authority governing the industry. However, some of the general requirements include:

  • Age: You need to be at least 18 years old to obtain a commercial pilot’s license.
  • Education: You need to have a high school diploma or an equivalent qualification.
  • Medical fitness: You need to pass a medical examination to ensure that you are physically and mentally fit to fly.
  • Language proficiency: You need to be proficient in the language of the country where you plan to operate.

Step 2: Obtain a private pilot’s license
The next step towards becoming a commercial pilot is to obtain a private pilot’s license. This license allows you to fly single-engine aircraft under visual flight rules (VFR). To obtain a private pilot’s license, you need to:

  • Complete a minimum of 40-50 hours of flight training, including at least 20 hours of solo flight time.
  • Pass a written exam covering aviation theory, regulations, and flight procedures.
  • Pass a practical flight test, commonly known as checkride demonstrating your flying skills.

Step 3: Build flight experience
Once you have obtained your private pilot’s license, you need to build flight experience to meet the requirements for a commercial pilot’s license. You need to:

  • Accumulate a minimum of 250 hours of flight time, including 100 hours as a pilot in command.
  • Obtain an instrument rating that allows you to fly in low-visibility conditions.
  • Obtain a multi-engine rating that allows you to fly aircraft with more than one engine.

Step 4: Obtain a commercial pilot’s license
After meeting the flight experience requirements, you can apply for a commercial pilot’s license. This license allows you to fly for compensation or hire. To obtain a commercial pilot’s license, you need to:

  • Complete a minimum of 250 hours of flight time, including 100 hours as a pilot in command, 50 of which had to have been in an airplane.
  • Pass a written exam covering aviation theory, regulations, and flight procedures.
  • Pass a practical flight test demonstrating your flying skills (also known as a “checkride”)

Step 5: Build your career
Once you have obtained your commercial pilot’s license, you can start building your career as a pilot. You can work as a flight instructor, charter pilot, or airline pilot. However, the aviation industry is highly competitive, and you need to be persistent and dedicated to succeed.

In conclusion, becoming a commercial pilot is a challenging but rewarding career path. It requires a significant amount of dedication, training, and hard work. However, with the right mindset and a passion for aviation, you can achieve your goal of becoming a commercial pilot.