Becoming a pilot is a dream for many people, but it takes dedication, hard work, and an understanding of the requirements needed to achieve this goal. One of the most critical aspects of becoming a pilot is meeting the hourly requirements set by regulatory agencies. In this guide, we will explore the hourly requirements needed to become a pilot as set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).
Hourly Requirements for Private Pilots
Private Pilot is the first level of certification for aspiring pilots, and the FAA and EASA have specific hourly requirements for obtaining this certification.
For FAA certification, a candidate must complete at least 40 hours of flight time, including a minimum of 20 hours of flight with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight time. This includes at least 3 hours of cross-country flight training, 3 hours at night, 3 hours of instrument time, and other requirements specific to the category and class rating sought.
The EASA requirements are slightly different. A candidate must complete at least 45 hours of flight time, including a minimum of 25 hours of flight with an instructor and 10 hours of solo flight time. This includes at least 10 hours of cross-country flight training and 5 hours of night flight training.
Hourly Requirements for Commercial Pilots
Commercial Pilot is the next level of certification for pilots who want to fly for compensation or hire.
For FAA certification, a candidate must complete at least 250 hours of flight time, including at least 100 hours of pilot-in-command (PIC) time and 50 hours of cross-country flight time. Additionally, a candidate must have completed 20 hours of training in an aircraft that has retractable landing gear, flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller.
The EASA requirements are slightly different. A candidate must complete at least 200 hours of flight time, including at least 100 hours of PIC time and 20 hours of cross-country flight time. Additionally, a candidate must have completed 10 hours of instrument flight time, including at least five hours of instrument flight rules (IFR) cross-country flight time.
Hourly Requirements for Airline Transport Pilots
Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) is the highest level of certification for pilots and is required to fly for a scheduled airline.
For FAA certification, a candidate must complete at least 1,500 hours of flight time, including at least 1,000 hours of PIC time and 250 hours of cross-country flight time. Additionally, a candidate must have completed a minimum of 50 hours of multi-engine flight time and 75 hours of instrument flight time.
For EASA requirements, a candidate must complete at least 1,500 hours of flight time, including at least 1,000 hours of PIC time and 500 hours of cross-country flight time. Additionally, a candidate must have completed 75 hours of instrument flight time, including at least 20 hours of IFR cross-country flight time.
Organizing Your Flight Records
Throughout your certification program, you'll need to keep track of your flight hours and record your progress. This can be a challenging task, but it's essential to your success.
Fortunately, the Wader Free Logbook app can help you keep your flight records organized and easily accessible: with it you can log your flight hours, track your progress, and share your flight information with others.
The app is user-friendly and easy to use, so you can focus on your training and leave the record-keeping to the app. And, best of all, 100% FREE, with no limitation of logged hours or flights.
Give It a Try
Download the Wader Free Logbook app now to take the first step towards your dream career as a pilot and start tracking your flight hours and progress all in one convenient location.