Log hours for commercial?

Question

You need 50 log hours for your commercial pilot certificate. Do these 50 hours need to be in a multi-engine, or can it be in any aircraft type?

Answer 1

Dude, you need to study!!!

Answer 2

I know you guys are trying to help, but enough already.  If he's going for his commercial license, he ought to be smart enough to be familiar with part 61 by now, don't you think?  Best advice?  Ask your instructor.

Answer 3

Well, honestly, if you are only 13, and havn't flown yet, don't worry about this stuff.  You don't need your ATP, or a commercial right now, you need to learn about how to fly the aircraft.  As you get time and experience, these questions will seem elementary to you.  I'm sure that all the regulations seem very complex to you right now, but as you fly more, they will be easier for you to interpret.  Just take care of the next step, not how you are going to get your ATP.  That comes much later.  Even if you get good answers here, they won't make must sense to you.  Just save up your money and read the private pilot manual.  Good luck.

Answer 4

61.129   Aeronautical experience.

(a) For an airplane single-engine rating.

Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:

(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.

(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—

(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and

(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.

(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part that includes at least—

<snip>

(b) For an airplane multiengine rating.

Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial pilot certificate with an airplane category and multiengine class rating must log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:

(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.

(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—

(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and

(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes.

(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(2) of this part that includes at least—

(i) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least 5 hours must be in a multiengine airplane;

(ii) 10 hours of training in a multiengine airplane that has a retractable landing gear, flaps, and controllable pitch propellers, or is turbine-powered, or for an applicant seeking a multiengine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a multiengine seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;

(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a multiengine airplane in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;

(iv) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a multiengine airplane in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

(v) 3 hours in a multiengine airplane in preparation for the practical test within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.

(4) 10 hours of solo flight time in a multiengine airplane or 10 hours of flight time performing the duties of pilot in command in a multiengine airplane with an authorized instructor (either of which may be credited towards the flight time requirement in paragraph (b)(2) of this section), on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(2) of this part that includes at least—

(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300 nautical miles total distance with landings at a minimum of three points, one of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the original departure point. However, if this requirement is being met in Hawaii, the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150 nautical miles; and

(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each landing involving a flight with a traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.

Answer 5

The regulation is posted above.  Here's a glossary to help you interpret that regulation.

Total pilot time: any time logged as pilot of anything that leaves the ground (airplane, helicopter, glider, balloon, airship, gyroplane, UFO).

PIC time: Pilot time logged after earning a private pilot certificate plus solo flight time as a student pilot.

Cross country time: The flight time in which a landing was made at least 50nm away from the point of departure (straight line distance).

Instrument training: Instruction received while wearing a view limiting device - no peeky outside!  Almost everybody gets an instrument rating before a commercial certificate, so this won't be an issue.

With these terms and the above regulation, you should be able to figure out the rest.