A commercial pilot licence (CPL) is a pilot licence that allows you to fly for pay. A CPL includes all the privileges of a private pilot licence (PPL) and more. A CPL holder may act as pilot in command in commercial air transport on a single-pilot aircraft and as co-pilot in commercial air transport. With a CPL without an Instrument Rating (IR) you can do work such as sightseeing flights in good weather, advertising flights and dropping parachutists. The EASA CPL(A) requires separate training on a complex aeroplane and manoeuvres flown to tighter standards than for the PPL. A CPL can also be held with only a Single Engine Piston (SEP) class rating and without an IR or night rating, as these are additional ratings. According to an applicant in 2011, overviews list the CPL alongside the PPL as the European private licence and the ATPL as the airline pilot licence. There are separate licences for aeroplanes and helicopters, such as ATPL(A) and ATPL(H), and CPL(A) and CPL(H). Most helicopter training providers offer a PPL(H), CPL(H) and possibly an IR(H). CPL AMEL is the FAA designation for Airplane Multi Engine Land. Unlike in Europe with Multi Engine Piston (MEP), a US PPL or CPL is not limited to piston engines, allowing you to fly turbine aircraft under 12,500 lb.12345678

A commercial licence with a frozen airline transport pilot licence is the goal for almost everyone who wants to fly professionally, while a private licence is enough for recreational flying. The end result of both a modular and an integrated course is the same commercial licence. If a commercial medical certificate is not achievable, recreational flying with a private medical certificate is often still possible, because the standards for those are less strict. Converting a light aircraft licence to a private licence is possible, but it takes considerably more training time. When choosing a private flight school, the airfield is an important consideration. Schools use different pricing models, such as a block rate including instruction, or separate payment for the aircraft and for the instructor including briefing. For a complete multi-engine route, training abroad is sometimes considered more attractive. Modular courses suit those who want to keep working or spread the costs, while integrated courses are full-time. If you have a good income you can consider a modular course, for example starting with a private licence abroad, then an instrument rating, a foreign commercial licence and a local conversion. This way it can be done without a large loan, but you should bear in mind that work will mainly have to be found abroad.

Basic flight training at KLM Flight Academy takes about 6 months and focuses on VFR flying in a light aircraft. This is followed by an advanced phase of about 6 months covering instrument flight rules (IFR), multi-engine and the CPL. CAE's integrated ATPL programme starts with ground school, followed by the CPL in Phoenix, the multi-engine rating in Oxford and finally multi-crew cooperation (MCC) back at the ground school location. One integrated course in 2024 includes a six-month CPL phase, following basic theory, further theory and single-engine flying. On the modular route, time building starts straight after the PPL because the follow-on courses contain no solo hours. For IR training, 50 hours of cross-country as pilot in command is an entry requirement. After ATPL theory, modular students can choose between the IR plus CPL first, or the full frozen ATPL package straight away. Alternatively, you can choose between the IR first or the CPL first, and most students choose the IR first. The night rating, the single-engine instrument rating (IR-SE), the multi-engine rating (ME) with the multi-engine instrument rating (IR-ME) and the multi-engine CPL (CPL-ME) can be obtained in almost any order, with mutual credits. A logical order is Night, IR-SE, ME plus IR-ME, CPL-ME and finally MCC. According to a pilot in 2012, from CPL-ME-IR onwards the Oxford Waypoint programme (OAA), a modular route from Oxford, used the same syllabus and instructors as the integrated course. In early 2019, Bartolini Air offered a complete CPL ME IR package, which could also be taken without ME; the waiting time for the full package was long at the time, but possibly shorter without ME.3791011

A minimum age of 18 is required for the CPL to be issued. To start CPL training you need at least 150 flying hours, of which 50 hours must be as Pilot in Command. A total of 200 flying hours is required for the CPL to be issued. Practical CPL training usually comprises 25 flying hours, which can be reduced to 15 hours if the student already holds an Instrument Rating (IR). After the PPL, from 45 hours, about 60 to 90 hours of hour building are needed as an indication, with the IR and CPL covering about 65 to 75 hours. For fast learners, the CPL is initially expensive because with minimum dual and solo hours they do not reach the required total time.31213

As an indication, a modular pilot route, including PPL, hour building, ATPL theory, CPL, IR and MCC, takes about 2 to 4 years, combines well with a job, and costs roughly between EUR 65,000 and EUR 100,000 in 2026 prices. Converting an FAA CPL/ME/IR to EASA cost about EUR 11,000 at a Swedish training provider in 2025, excluding the theoretical knowledge exams. Time building costs at least about EUR 150 per hour, more realistically EUR 175 or more in 2023. A pilot reported in 2025 that cheap hour building costs about EUR 150 per hour in Poland and about EUR 170 per hour in Spain on modern aircraft. Owning your own aircraft for time building quickly costs EUR 30 to EUR 50 per hour in fuel, plus maintenance, depreciation and insurance.39

Preparation for the CPL involves building varied experience, as cross-country, night and IFR hours determine how well you respond to new situations. Newly licensed pilots too often repeat the same short flight when filling the required hours for the CPL. Instead, fill the required hours with as much variety as possible, preferably including flights abroad, keeping a good mix with plenty of landings and some longer trips. Frequently recommended locations for time building are Eastern Europe, South Africa and the US or Canada. In the southern US, this is possible from November to May. A return trip from Florida to California for time building is about 50 hours and can be done in 14 days including licence conversion and check-outs, or in 20 to 21 days with rest and bad-weather days. For modular students, time building can serve as motivation during ATPL theory by splitting it into two blocks: a flying holiday after the first seven subjects and a second trip after the last subject, followed directly by the CPL training. Because of waiting lists at schools, it is wise to schedule the practical training well in advance.3

An alternative route involves a part-time PPL in Europe, followed by an FAA instrument rating in the US, later EASA ATPL theory, a CPL in the US and a CPL conversion in Europe, as advised by a pilot in 2024. ICAO CPL holders get a shortened course, but still have to take all the theoretical knowledge exams. According to an applicant in 2010, European Flight Training (EFT) offered two routes: the Airline Pilot Program, including an instructor rating, and Fast Track to CPL. European Flight Training did not offer MCC that year. A modular pilot combined training up to the OAA phase with work in 2011, but had to take leave for the CPL-ME, IR and MCC because these could no longer be combined. According to a pilot in 2011, the CPL-ME was done in Arizona, and the IR and MCC in Oxford. One pilot completed a modular route alongside a full-time job from 2014 to 2017, obtaining the CPL with ME/IR in 7 weeks in Poland. For a UK JAA CPL in 2008, a CPL check ride was conducted with a JAA examiner. According to an applicant in 2006, US schools with JAA approval all had UK approval, with ATPL theory completed and training and the exam conducted under UK rules for a JAA CPL issued by the UK CAA. According to an applicant in 2019, at Global Aviation SA you take a Greek CPL exam and obtain a Greek CPL IR/ME licence.3451011151617

After an integrated course you hold a CPL with a frozen ATPL, meaning you have passed the ATPL theory, and once you reach 1500 hours the licence is converted into an ATPL. On an integrated course to a frozen ATPL, which includes a CPL, ATPL theory and MCC, you do not obtain a PPL along the way. Integrated courses that you can join with a PPL are almost always full-time. On the modular route, you start with a PPL, followed by hours, theory, CPL practical training and MCC. Anyone continuing modularly after a PPL(A) towards multi-crew commercial flying needs CPL-ME, IR-ME, Night VFR, MCC and ATPL theory to obtain a frozen ATPL, possibly supplemented with a type rating. An MPL course only exists in partnership with an airline, featuring more simulator training in a large airliner. The licence is basically tied to that employer, making moving later possible but less straightforward than with a CPL with a frozen ATPL.1491819