The commercial pilot certificate allows you to get paid to fly. The privileges, limitations and training requirements are extensive and can be found in 14 CFR Subpart F but the minimum number of flight hours to qualify is 250. The most common way that most commercial pilots to earn the 1,500 flight hours required for most airline pilot jobs is by working as a flight instructor. However, teaching isn’t for everyone and depending on market conditions and the area where you live, it may be difficult to find a job as a flight instructor. There are other ways to earn a living as a commercial pilot including aerial tours, crop dusting and banner towing, but these jobs may require additional training and pilot ratings to qualify.
The CFI course should be considered the “master’s degree” for a professional pilot, however, unfortunately, it is rarely treated as such in the aviation industry today. At Holladay Aviation we believe that a flight instructor should possess the knowledge and skill necessary to mold a person into a confident, safe Pilot In Command. It is impossible to estimate how many hours of ground and flight instruction will be required to complete this course, as it depends entirely on the CFI applicant’s baseline knowledge and skill as a pilot. Please contact us for a logbook audit and evaluation.