Time Building for Commercial Pilot Students

Commercial Pilot students are commonly required to fly additional hours as Pilot-in-command (PIC) in order to meet the minimum time required by Transport Canada to qualify for the Commercial Pilot Licence—this would typically apply, for example, to student who have not flown other than the solo requirements for the Private Pilot and the Commercial Pilot. 

If 20 hours PIC is completed during Private Pilot training, and the 30 hours PIC is completed during Commercial Pilot training, an additional 50 hours PIC would be required to meet the minimum 100-hour PIC experience requirements for the Commercial Pilot Licence established by the Transport Canada.  Importantly, then, students with low PIC time should make allowance for an additional cost of $7100 (50 hours at $142 per hour—the Cessna 152 aircraft rate—effective  Jan 12,2016).

As well, to meet the 200 hour total time requirements for the Commercial Pilot Licence, students on average will have to also fly an additional 31 hours, but this time can be acquired through training for the Multi-engine Class Rating and Instrument Rating, thereby reducing the overall training costs.  However, for students with low PIC time who do not pursue these ratings, an additional allowance for $4402 (31 hours at $142 per hour—the Cessna 152 aircraft rate—effective  Jan 12,2016) must be made.  (Keep in mind that airline pilots require the Multi-engine Class and Instrument Rating.)