Flight times:
Every now and then the question comes up here about the minimum times for different things. One I noticed that has not come up much and some folks have made incorrect conclusions from the limited information already provided..
Specifically.. The flight time required for flying part FAR part 135.
The exact wording is:
Sec. 135.243 - Pilot in command qualifications.
No certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command in passenger-carrying operations unless the pic “Has had at least 1,200 hours of flight time as a pilot, including 500 hours of cross country flight time, 100 hours of night flight time, and 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours of which were in actual flight”
The SIC regs state…
Sec. 135.245 - Second in command qualifications.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), no certificate holder may use any person, nor may any person serve, as second in command of an aircraft unless that person holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and an instrument rating. For flight under IFR, that person must meet the recent instrument experience requirements of part 61 of this chapter.
So in theory you could fly under part 135, with the minimum flight time to be a commercial instrument pilot. (200 hours?)
Granted there are not many operations that will hire a pilot with under 1000hrs. BUT it does happen. Like everything to do with aviation, some of the prime ingredients to get that position include but are not limited to:
1. Type of flying done.
2. Personality of the applicant
3. Professionalism
4. Appearance
5. References
6. Demeanor
Every now and then the question comes up here about the minimum times for different things. One I noticed that has not come up much and some folks have made incorrect conclusions from the limited information already provided..
Specifically.. The flight time required for flying part FAR part 135.
The exact wording is:
Sec. 135.243 - Pilot in command qualifications.
No certificate holder may use a person, nor may any person serve, as pilot in command in passenger-carrying operations unless the pic “Has had at least 1,200 hours of flight time as a pilot, including 500 hours of cross country flight time, 100 hours of night flight time, and 75 hours of actual or simulated instrument time at least 50 hours of which were in actual flight”
The SIC regs state…
Sec. 135.245 - Second in command qualifications.
(a) Except as provided in paragraph (b), no certificate holder may use any person, nor may any person serve, as second in command of an aircraft unless that person holds at least a commercial pilot certificate with appropriate category and class ratings and an instrument rating. For flight under IFR, that person must meet the recent instrument experience requirements of part 61 of this chapter.
So in theory you could fly under part 135, with the minimum flight time to be a commercial instrument pilot. (200 hours?)
Granted there are not many operations that will hire a pilot with under 1000hrs. BUT it does happen. Like everything to do with aviation, some of the prime ingredients to get that position include but are not limited to:
1. Type of flying done.
2. Personality of the applicant
3. Professionalism
4. Appearance
5. References
6. Demeanor