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This Subpart prescribes the requirements for the issue of a commercial pilot licence and the privileges, limitations, and currency requirements of the pilot licences.
(a) To be eligible for a commercial pilot licence, a person must—
(1) be at least 18 years of age; and
(2) in the case of an aeroplane and helicopter, hold a current private pilot licence for the appropriate category of aircraft; and
(3) hold a current class 1 medical certificate issued under the Act; and
(4) have the following minimum general flight time experience as a pilot comprising specific flight experience that is acceptable to the Director for the appropriate category of aircraft:
(i) in the case of an aeroplane, 200 hours or, if undertaking a course of approved training, 150 hours;
(ii) in the case of a helicopter, 150 hours or, if undertaking a course of approved training, 125 hours;
(iii) in the case of a glider, 150 hours;
(iv) in the case of a balloon, 50 hours; and
(5) if the person seeks to exercise commercial pilot privileges during the night, have night flight time experience acceptable to the Director; and
(5a) in addition to paragraph (5), have appropriate night flight experience as specified in a notice under rule 91.273 if the person seeks to exercise commercial pilot privileges during the night using NVIS; and
(6) have a valid written examination credit, or approved equivalent, that covers the following commercial pilot licence subject areas:
(i) air law;
(ii) flight navigation general;
(iii) meteorology;
(iv) principles of flight and aircraft performance (Aeroplane), (Helicopter), or (Glider), as appropriate;
(v) general aircraft technical knowledge (Aeroplane), (Helicopter), or (Glider), as appropriate;
(vi) balloon technical knowledge and aerostatics, (Balloon);
(vii) human factors; and
(7) have successfully demonstrated the following to the Director in a flight test:
(i) knowledge in the ground examination subjects specified in paragraph (6), including those detailed in the examination knowledge deficiency reports;
(ii) knowledge of the privileges and limitations of a commercial pilot licence;
(iii) technical and operational knowledge relevant to the aircraft type to be used in the flight test;
(iv) competence to operate the aircraft within its performance capabilities and limitations in accordance with the aircraft flight manual in all normal, abnormal and emergency conditions and procedures while exercising appropriate levels of judgement and command;
(v) competence in radiotelephony (RTF) and phraseology;
(vi) control of the aircraft at all times in a manner that ensures the successful outcome of a procedure or manoeuvre is never in doubt; and
(vii) if applicable, comply with all the requirements of a notice issued under Subpart I.
(b) Qualifications held by a member of the New Zealand Defence Force who is in current flying practice as a first or second pilot may be accepted by the Director as meeting the requirements in—
(1) paragraph (a)(2); and
(2) paragraph (a)(6), if the person has passed the appropriate air law examination in the 5 years prior to applying for the issue of a commercial pilot licence; and
(3) paragraph (a)(7).
(a) Subject to paragraph (b), a current commercial pilot licence authorises the holder to exercise the following privileges in aircraft of the same category for which the pilot licence is granted and for which the pilot holds an aircraft type rating:
(1) any of the appropriate privileges of a private pilot licence:
(2) act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft that is certificated for single pilot operation and engaged on an operation for hire or reward:
(3) act as pilot-in-command of an aircraft that is certificated for multi-pilot operation and engaged on an operation for hire or reward, that is not an air transport operation:
(4) act as co-pilot of an aircraft that is certificated for multi-pilot operation and engaged on an operation for hire or reward.
(b) The holder of a commercial pilot licence must not act as pilot-in-command or as co-pilot of an aircraft at night, unless—
(1) an appropriately qualified flight instructor has certified in the holder's logbook that the holder has satisfactorily completed the required night flight training; and
(2) if applicable, that the person complies with all the requirements of a notice issued under Subpart I.
(c) In addition to paragraph (b), the holder of a commercial pilot licence must not act as pilot-in-command or as co-pilot of an aircraft at night using NVIS, unless—
(1) an appropriately qualified flight instructor has certified in the holder's logbook that the holder has satisfactorily completed the night flight using NVIS training as specified in a notice under rule 91.273; and
(2) that the person complies with all the requirements of a notice issued under Subpart I if applicable.
A holder of a commercial pilot licence is required to comply with the requirements of rules 61.35 (Medical requirements), 61.37 (Recent flight experience) and 61.39 (Biennial flight review) before exercising the privileges of the holder’s commercial pilot licence.
