Becoming a Newly Rated Commercial Single-Engine Pilot

The climb to commercial ensures you are proficient, knowledgeable, and thorough in your flying.

Richard Donaldson

Wednesday, March 01, 2023 at 06:35 PM ET

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The climb to commercial ensures you are proficient, knowledgeable, and thorough in your flying. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

The author achieved their commercial single-engine pilot certificate in under two years, accumulating 266 hours at an estimated cost of $55,000-$60,000, and plans to pursue CFI/MEI ratings to build hours and offset costs for Part 135 operations.
The commercial certificate is highlighted as an "apex" of flying knowledge, demanding deep understanding and placing pilots in an exclusive group capable of earning money, essential for professional flying careers.
A key recommendation is to weigh the pros and cons of Part 61 (cost-effective, flexible) versus Part 141 (structured, but more expensive with an earlier restricted ATP path) training based on individual goals and motivation.

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I just passed my commercial single-engine airplane check ride on January 6. I started flying with the initial intent of just passing my private, but got hooked as I progressed. I always have enjoyed teaching as a way of hyper-learning, so I knew I was interested in going the CFI route (I have been a ski & scuba instructor in the past).

My first actual logged lesson was March 31, 2021. I then received my private pilot certification on October 15, 2021, and then went on to complete my instrument rating on August 22, 2022. This was all through Part 61 schools at Leopard Aviation and Scottsdale Executive Flight Training at Scottsdale Airport (KSDL). Most of my instructors came from Part 141 programs.