Commercial Pilot Certificate: Flying for Hire
January 8, 2026
A Commercial Pilot certificate is the FAA credential that allows you to be compensated for flying aircraft. It sits between the private pilot certificate and the ATP, and is the foundation for most aviation careers.
What It Allows
With a commercial certificate you can be paid to fly — as a flight instructor (with a CFI certificate), banner tow pilot, aerial survey pilot, charter pilot, or cargo pilot. Flying passengers on scheduled airline routes as captain requires the higher ATP certificate.
Requirements
- 250 total flight hours (Part 61)
- 100 hours in powered aircraft
- 100 hours as pilot in command
- 50 hours of cross-country PIC
- 10 hours of instrument training
- 10 hours in a complex aircraft
- Pass the commercial knowledge test and practical test
Single-Engine vs. Multi-Engine
Commercial certificates are issued with a class rating — single-engine land (ASEL), multi-engine land (AMEL), etc. Most pilots earn ASEL first, then add AMEL to improve job prospects.
Browse Commercial Pilots
AviationDepth lists all FAA-certificated commercial pilots in the Civil Aviation Registry. Search by name or filter by state to find pilots in your area.