Pilot in command qualifications

In plain English

This is the headline rule for aspiring charter pilots: PIC qualifications. To be PIC of an IFR on-demand flight you generally need a commercial pilot certificate with an instrument rating (an ATP for larger/turbojet aircraft) and at least 1,200 hours total time, including 500 hours cross-country, 100 hours night, and 75 hours of instrument time. VFR-only PIC requirements are lower (about 500 hours).

Key points

• IFR PIC: commercial + instrument (or ATP), and ~1,200 hr TT (500 XC, 100 night, 75 instrument).
• VFR PIC: commercial with appropriate ratings and ~500 hr TT (100 XC, 25 night).
• Some aircraft (large/turbojet) require an ATP and a type rating.

Common pitfalls

• Assuming a fresh commercial certificate qualifies you for IFR charter immediately — the hour minimums gate it.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and your operator’s ops specs.*