Commercial Add-On?

5 Answers

1. 
   

   
   

   Sam Dawson on Jan 23, 2013

   FAR 61.63

   (c) Additional aircraft class rating. A person who applies for an additional class rating on a pilot certificate:

   (1) Must have a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor attesting that the person was found competent in the appropriate aeronautical knowledge areas and proficient in the appropriate areas of operation.

   (2) Must pass the practical test.

   (3) Need not meet the specified training time requirements prescribed by this part that apply to the pilot certificate for the aircraft class rating sought; unless, the person only holds a lighter-than-air category rating with a balloon class rating and is seeking an airship class rating, then that person must receive the specified training time requirements and possess the appropriate aeronautical experience.

   (4) Need not take an additional knowledge test, provided the applicant holds an airplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift, weight-shift-control aircraft, powered parachute, or airship rating at that pilot certificate level.

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2. 
   

   
   

   Wes Beard on Jan 23, 2013

   No. It is not an add-on. You already have a airplane category and single engine land (class) on your license. I’m assuming ASEL here.

   Your aeronautical experience is sufficient for a commercial airplane rating. Get the the training time (20 hours) and pass the test.

   Alrady having a commercial helicopter license helps with the practical test. There are areas that you can skip… as you already demonstrated proficiency on your commercial helo test. For a listing of what is skipped see the front of the commercial PTS. This doesn’t mean the examiner cannot test you on such knowledge or skill it just means he doesn’t have to.

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3. 
   

   
   

   Sam Dawson on Jan 23, 2013

   It is an add-on, but I inadvertently copied and pasted the wrong paragraph as you are doing an additional category, not class. This is important as the additional rating task chart on page 21 of the commercial PTS is used for the check ride.
   FAR 61.63
   (a) General. For an additional aircraft rating on a pilot certificate, other than for an airline transport pilot certificate, a person must meet the requirements of this section appropriate to the additional aircraft rating sought.

   (b) Additional aircraft category rating. A person who applies to add a category rating to a pilot certificate:

   (1) Must complete the training and have the applicable aeronautical experience.

   (2) Must have a logbook or training record endorsement from an authorized instructor attesting that the person was found competent in the appropriate aeronautical knowledge areas and proficient in the appropriate areas of operation.

   (3) Must pass the practical test.

   (4) Need not take an additional knowledge test, provided the applicant holds an airplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift, weight-shift-control aircraft, powered parachute, or airship rating at that pilot certificate level.

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4. 
   

   
   

   Ron on Jan 25, 2013

   Thanks for the response, is the 20 hours of traing time required?

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5. 
   

   
   

   Sam Dawson on Jan 25, 2013

   As Wes pointed out, yes.
   61.63 (b)(1)

   Also, this:
   http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2012/Zomnir.pdf

   The reference is someone going the other way- FW to RW and getting his private RW first, but it is the same requirement to meet the aeronautical experience. In this case are looking at 61.129(a)
   ” 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:
   …
   (i) Ten hours of instrument training using a view-limiting device including attitude instrument flying, partial panel skills, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, and intercepting and tracking navigational systems. Five hours of the 10 hours required on instrument training must be in a single engine airplane;

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

   (iii) One 2-hour cross country flight in a single engine airplane in daytime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;

   (iv) One 2-hour cross country flight in a single engine airplane in nighttime conditions that consists of a total straight-line distance of more than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and

   (v) Three hours in a single-engine airplane with an authorized instructor in preparation for the practical test within the preceding 2 calendar months from the month of the test.

   (4) Ten hours of solo flight time in a single engine airplane or 10 hours of flight time performing the duties of pilot in command in a single engine airplane with an authorized instructor on board (either of which may be credited towards the flight time requirement under paragraph (a)(2) of this section), on the areas of operation listed under § 61.127(b)(1) that include—

   (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 in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating control tower.”

   You may ask the question about using previous training to meet these requirements. The answer from the FAA is “No.” Scroll to the last two paragraphs.

   http://www.faa.gov/about/office_org/headquarters_offices/agc/pol_adjudication/agc200/interpretations/data/interps/2010/Theriault.pdf

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