Get paid to fly!
Earning a Commercial Pilot Certificate with the Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL) Rating will allow you to charge for your services as a pilot. With this certificate you will be able to start building the experience needed to move forward in your aviation career.
- Online scheduling
- Part 61 and Part 141 programs available
- In-person or virtual ground school available
- Technically Advanced Airplanes
- VA-Approved
- Non-U.S. Citizens welcome!
- Our maintenance team will keep you flying
- Fuel and line service included
Privileges and Limitations
Earning a Commercial Pilot Certificate authorizes you to accept payment for providing services as a pilot. Your certificate will allow you to work for operators who provide the following aviation services:
- Private carriage
- Aerial tours and scenic flights
- Aerial photography
- Aerial surveys
- Aerial advertisement (banner towing)
- Agricultural operations (crop dusting)
- Part 135 On-Demand operations as Second in Command (SIC) \ Co-Pilot
Once you get more experience (500 hours), you can also act as Pilot in Command (PIC) of Part 135 On-Demand operations.
Pre-Requisites
Before starting your commercial pilot flight training at Regal Air you must meet the following requirements:
- Be at least 18 years-old by the end of the course
- FAA issued Private Pilot Certificate, with an Airplane Single-Engine Land rating
- 3rd Class Medical* Certificate or BasicMed*
- Read, Speak, and Understand the English Language
* NOTE: You will need a 2nd Class Medical Certificate to exercise commercial pilot privileges after you earn your certificate. Flight instructors only need to have a 3rd class medical or BasicMed to be able to instruct.
Students enrolling in our Part 141 program are required to have an Instrument-Airplane Rating, or concurrently enroll in our instrument training program and complete it before completing the commercial pilot training program
Students taking the training under Part 61 are not required to have an Instrument-Airplane Rating, but will have some limitations on their certificate such as no night fights for hire nor flying beyond 50nm for hire. Since the commercial pilot certificate requires a pilot to have at least 250 hours of total flight time, most pilots get their instrument rating before starting their commercial pilot flight training.
Students using VA provided funding (such as the GI-Bill) are required to maintain a 2nd Class Medical Certificate throughout the course.
Course Content
Ground Training
“Ground Training” is any training that is not performed in an aircraft, simulator, or training device. The purpose of ground training is to gain an understanding of the aeronautical knowledge areas required by the FAA and to prepare you for the FAA’s Commercial Pilot – Airplane Aeronautical Knowledge Test (AKT). This includes topics such as:
- Commercial Pilot Privileges and Limitations
- Federal Aviation Regulations
- Aerodynamics
- Systems
- Meteorology
- Aviation information
- Airspace
- Charts and VFR flight planning
- VFR Navigation
- Airport operations
- Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM)
- Single-Pilot Resource Management (SRM)
- Human Factors
We understand that everyone has a different schedule and different needs. We offer several options to complete ground training based on your situation:
- Attend our in-person ground school in the classroom at Regal Air
- Take our ground school via Zoom
- Complete guided self-study with one of our instructors
- Complete a ground school provided by a reputable 3rd party (Part 61 students only)
Flight Training
“Flight Training” includes training in an aircraft, simulator, or training device, provided by a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI). The purpose of this flight training is to teach you the skills, knowledge, and judgment required to safely act as Pilot in Command for hire and to prepare you for the FAA’s Commercial Pilot – Airplane Single-Engine Land (ASEL) Practical Test conducted by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).
Course Stages
Our instrument flight training course is organized into three stages. Each stage concludes with a Stage Check conducted by one of our highly experienced Check Instructors:
Stage 4 - Cross-Country Procedures and Night Flight
The goal of the first stage is to meet the cross-country and night time requirements of the commercial pilot certificate. Students taking the course under Part 61 who already meet the cross-country or night requirements may skip portions of this stage.
- Normal and emergency procedures
- Airport operations
- Cross-country flight planning
- Cross-country flight procedures
- Night flight planning and procedures
- VFR and IFR navigation
Stage 5 - Complex or Technically Advanced Airplanes and Maneuvers
You will get introduced to technically advanced aircraft and the maneuvers required to earn your commercial pilot certificate. Part 61 students who already have the required complex airplane or TAA flight training may skip portions of this stage.
- Normal procedures in TAA
- Malfunctions and emergency procedures in TAA
- Automation management
- Information management
- Use of digital flight instruments under VFR and IFR
- Use of GPS navigation for VFR and IFR
- Slow flight and stalls such as power-on, power-off, and accelerated stalls
- Performance maneuvers such as steep turns, chandelles, and lazy-eights
- Ground reference maneuvers such as steep spirals and eights-on-pylons
- Takeoffs and landings such as short-field, soft-field and power-off 180 landings
Stage 6 - Practical Test Preparation
In this final stage you will put together everything you have learned during ground and flight training. You will take an End of Course Check conducted by one of our experienced Check Instructors to help you prepare for the FAA’s Commercial Pilot Airplane Single-Engine Land Practical Test which is conducted by a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE).
Flight Instructors
At Regal Air we understand that one of the most important factors affecting the success of students during flight training is the relationship with their instructor. Although all of our Certificated Flight Instructors (CFI) are fully qualified and capable of teaching you to fly under IFR, everyone has different scheduling and personality needs. We have a diverse team of instructors with varying levels of experience and backgrounds available to help you reach your goal of earning your instrument rating.
Airplanes
The airplane you choose will have an impact on your flight training. We recommend choosing an airplane that that is easy to fly to meet the commercial pilot airman certification standards in a shorter amount of time.
- Cessna 152
The C152 is an easy to fly airplane, which makes acquiring the precision required for the commercial pilot practical test easier. It is also our lowest cost option, making the flight training more affordable. Its small size may make it uncomfortable for some students and the low useful load may preclude its use by others. - Cessna 172 or Piper PA-28 Warrior
This is our most popular airplanes to use for the Commercial Pilot Course. Most students are already familiar with these airplanes and they strike a great balance between capacity and ease of flight. - Cessna 172S G1000 or 172N G3X
To earn a Commercial Pilot Certificate, pilots are required to get at least 10 hours of training in complex airplanes, technically advanced airplanes (TAA), or turbo-jet powered airplanes. You can meet this requirement in our C172S G1000 or C172N G3X. Both of these airplanes include a PFD, MFD, and a Autopilot, making them technically advanced airplanes (TAA). Some students opt to use these airplane for all of their commercial pilot training, others simply to meet the 10 hour TAA flight training requirement. - Your own airplane
Regal Air can provide you with training in your own airplane! Contact us about insurance requirements and if your airplane is a feasible option for training towards your commercial pilot certificate.
Maintenance and Line Support
One of our biggest advantages at Regal Air is the availability of line and maintenance support. Our large team of professional Aviation Maintenance Technicians (AMT) ensures that our airplanes are in top shape and available for use when you need them. Our line crew tops off the airplane’s fuel tanks between flights so you don’t have to.
Course Requirements (Part 61)
Training may be completed under two sets of FAA regulations, Part 61 and Part 141. Before pilots are eligible to take their Commercial Pilot Practical Test they must have at least 250 hours of total time. While our Part 61 course will prepare you for the Commercial Pilot ASEL Practical Test, some pilots may need to build additional experience outside of the flight training environment to get to the required 250 hours of total flight time.
To complete the course you are required to:
- Be at least 18 years-old
- Complete all the required ground and flight training
- 250 Hours of Total Flight Time
- 100 of the 250 hours have to be in powered aircraft and 50 hours in airplanes while acting as PIC
- 50 hours of cross-country time acting as PIC
- 20 hours of flight training towards a commercial pilot certificate
- 10 hours of instrument flight training (may already have been accomplished if you have an instrument rating)
- 10 hours of flight training in a complex, TAA, or turbo-jet powered airplane
- One two-hour day cross-country flight that is at least 100nm long with a flight instructor
- One two-hour night cross-country flight that is at least 100nm long with a flight instructor
- 10 hours of solo flight time
- One solo cross-country flight of 300nm, and landings at 3 different airports, one of which must be 250nm away from your original point of departure
- 5 hours of solo flight under VFR with 10 takeoffs and landings at an airport with a control tower
- Pass the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test for Commercial Pilot Airplane
- Pass the FAA’s Practical Test for Commercial Pilot Airplane Single-Engine Land with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)
Course Requirements (Part 141)
Training may be completed under two sets of FAA regulations, Part 61 and Part 141. To complete the course you are required to:
- Be at least 18 years-old
- Complete our 35 hour Part 141 Ground School
- 120 hours of flight training within the course
- 55 hours of which are with an instructor
- 10 hours of instrument flight training
- 10 hours of complex, TAA, or turbo-jet airplane training
- One two-hour day cross-country flight that is at least 100nm long with a flight instructor
- One two-hour night cross-country flight that is at least 100nm long with a flight instructor
- 10 hours of solo flight time within the course
- One solo cross-country flight with landings at 3 different airports and one leg of at least 250nm in length
- 5 hours of solo flight under VFR with 10 takeoffs and landings at an airport with a control tower in operation
- Pass all of the course’s Stage Checks and Exams
- Pass the course’s End of Course Check and Exam
- Pass the FAA’s Aeronautical Knowledge Test for Commercial Pilot Airplane
- Pass the FAA’s Practical Test for Commercial Pilot Airplane Single-Engine Land with a Designated Pilot Examiner (DPE)
Part 61 or Part 141?
Which program is best for you depends on your situation. The main advantage of the Part 141 course is that you are not required to meet the 250 hour minimum, but the course is 120 hours long, which may negate savings depending on how much flight time you already have. Additionally, you may be required to take the course under Part 141 if you are accepting some form of financial aid, are a foreigner on a student visa, or are planning to use it as college credit.
Part 61
- If you have over 130 hours of total time or meet some of the part 61 requirements
- You do not have an instrument rating
- You do not need the training for college credit
- You are not receiving VA funding or other forms of financial aid
Part 141
- You are close to 100 hours of total time and have an instrument rating
- You are using financial aid, such as the GI Bill
- You are a foreign student on a student visa
- You need it for college credit
At the end of the day, the certificate you will get is the same regardless of what course you pursue. The training you receive will also be of the same quality as we use the same instructors, aircraft, and curriculum regardless of what part you train under.
Course Costs
$9,000-$33,000
Regal Air works on a pay as you go system. There are no up-front costs to start flight training and you can simply pay for each lesson as you take it. We have a Premier Plan which can save you money as well as additional discounts if you make a deposit into an account at Regal Air. Please contact us about these options
Course costs vary greatly depending on the type of airplane flown and how many hours it takes for you to become proficient. The cost of the Commercial Pilot certificate also depends on how much flight time you have to build to meet the FAA requirements. If you are close to the 250 hours required by Part 61 you may only need 20-30 hours of flight training to achieve the level of proficiency in flight maneuvers and procedures required by the Airman Certification Standards. If you are a low time pilot with ~100 hours of flight you may need to build 150 hours of total time to complete the course. While if you are taking the course under Part 141 by FAA regulation you’ll need to take 120 hours of flight to complete the course.
- Prepare for your flights and know what will be performed ahead of time
- Team up with another student to ride along and learn from each other (available only in the C172 and PA28)
- Fly at least 2-3 times a week to ensure constant progress