Flight Hour Requirements for a CPL. The number of flight hours required to obtain a CPL can vary by country and region. The FAA, for example, mandates a minimum of 250 flight hours in the United States. These hours are divided into specific categories: ‍ Hours as PIC of other categories of aircraft may count towards the 200 hours total flight time, in the following cases: 30 hours in helicopter, if the applicant holds a PPL(H); or; 100 hours in helicopters, if the applicant holds a CPL(H); or; 30 hours in TMGs or sailplanes; or; 30 hours in airships, if the applicant holds a PPL(As); or FAR 61.129 states that "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. To obtain a commercial certificate in an airplane under FAR Part 61 rules a pilot must have: 250 hours of flight time, 100 hours of which must be in powered aircraft, and 50 must be in airplanes. 100 hours of pilot-in-command time, 50 of which must be in airplanes. 150 hours flight time to commence your CPL pilot training (further minimum hours applies to eligibility for CPL Skills Test; Passes in all ATPL Theoretical Knowledge exams; Multi-Engine Piston Class Rating and Basic Instrument Flying Module; Age and height. 17+ to submit an application. 18+ to commence CPL pilot training Aside from the above-mentioned requirements, the total flying hours required to get a commercial pilot license usually ranges around 200 flight hours, but it varies from country to country. Best to check with your country's Civil Aviation Authority. You must log at least 250 flight hours at a Part 61 school to obtain your commercial pilot license. In contrast, you only need a minimum of 190 flight hours in a Part 141 school. The flight time in either type of school must include minimum hours of the following: To qualify for your commercial pilot license, you must have logged 250 hours of flight time with 100 of those hours in powered aircraft and 50 in airplanes. Also, 100 hours must be pilot-in-command, 50 of which had to have been in an airplane. As such, to become eligible for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate in the US a pilot must accumulate at least 1,500 total flight hours, including the specified flight hour categories: • A minimum of 500 hours of cross-country flight time • A minimum of 100 hours of night flight time 500 hours as Pilot in command under supervision (PICUS) or 250 hours as Pilot in Command (PIC) or 250 hours to include a minimum of 70 hours as PIC and the remainder as PICUS. 200 hours of cross-country flight time, of which at least 100 hours should be as PIC or as PIC under supervision LIMM.