Hour building, in short: a DGCA Commercial Pilot Licence (Aeroplanes) needs at least 200 hours of flight time. Hour building is the flying you do, mostly as pilot-in-command, to reach that total with the right mix of solo, cross-country, instrument and night hours. This guide explains what has to be in your logbook, what must be recent, and how to plan it without wasting money.
What DGCA needs in your logbook for a CPL
Schedule II of the Aircraft Rules, 1937 sets the experience for a CPL (Aeroplanes). You need not less than 200 hours of flight time as pilot of an aeroplane, and that total must include:
| Part of the 200 hours | Minimum | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Pilot-in-command (PIC) | 100 hours | At least 15 of them in the six months before you apply |
| Cross-country as PIC | 20 hours | Including one flight of at least 300 nautical miles with full-stop landings at two different aerodromes |
| Instrument time | 10 hours | Not more than 5 on an approved simulator |
| Night flying | 5 hours | Including 10 take-offs and 10 landings as PIC, in the six months before you apply |
The parts are counted inside the 200 hours. Add them up and you get far less than 200; the rest is general flying, dual instruction and circuits. You do not fly 200 hours and then add another 135.
What hour building actually means
Most of the dual (with an instructor) hours come early in training. Hour building is the later stage, when you fly as pilot-in-command to fill the PIC and cross-country requirements. Some flying schools build these hours into one continuous CPL course. Others train you to PPL level and then let you rent aircraft to build time. Ask which model a school uses, because it changes both the cost and how much planning falls on you.
How to plan your hours so none are wasted
- Map the requirement first. Write down the four minimums above and tick them off from your logbook every month, rather than counting only the total.
- Fly real cross-country routes. Plan the 300-nautical-mile qualifying flight early, with full-stop landings at two different aerodromes, so weather or aircraft availability does not hold up your application.
- Use the simulator only where it counts. No more than 5 instrument hours can come from an approved simulator, so extra simulator time will not reduce your aircraft hours for the CPL.
- Time the end of your flying. The 15 recent PIC hours and the night requirement must fall in the six months before you apply. A long gap between hour building and your application can mean flying again.
- Keep the logbook clean. Every entry should match the school's records and be certified as required. Mistakes are much harder to fix later.
Building hours abroad
Many Indian students fly part or all of their hours in another country, often because of better weather or aircraft availability. Those hours can count towards an Indian licence, but DGCA decides each case. Before you go:
- Get your logbooks authenticated by the issuing authority.
- Pass DGCA's Air Regulations and Composite papers; the passes must be within 60 months of your application.
- Hold a valid Indian Class 1 medical on the date you apply.
- Pass a skill test in India on an India-registered aircraft type, plus an instrument rating test if your licence has no IR.
Our DGCA CPL conversion guide explains the full process, and our pilot training cost comparison sets out the planning figures by country.
What hour building costs
There is no single price. Per-hour rates depend on the aircraft, fuel, the country and what the school includes, such as instructor time, landing fees and insurance. Ask every school for a written per-hour rate and a written list of what it covers. On our planning figures, complete CPL training costs about ₹75 lakh in India and from ₹60 lakh abroad, before living costs. Many families use pilot training loans up to ₹1 crore, subject to lender approval.
After the 200 hours
The CPL is only part of the picture. You also need the DGCA theory papers, a Class 1 medical and the skill tests. See our DGCA CPL exam guide and DGCA medical guide. Once you hold the CPL, ratings such as an instrument rating, multi-engine class rating or type rating add to what you can fly; our guide to pilot ratings explained covers each one.
FAQ: hour building for pilots
Q: How many flying hours do I need for a DGCA CPL?
A: At least 200 hours of flight time as pilot of an aeroplane. That total includes 100 hours as pilot-in-command, 20 hours of cross-country as pilot-in-command, 10 hours of instrument time (up to 5 on an approved simulator) and 5 hours at night. The named parts sit inside the 200, not on top of it.
Q: What is hour building?
A: Hour building is flying you do, usually as pilot-in-command, to reach the minimum hours a licence or rating needs. For a CPL it mostly means filling the pilot-in-command and cross-country requirements after your PPL-level training.
Q: Do simulator hours count towards the 200 hours?
A: Only up to the limit DGCA sets for instrument time: not more than 5 of the 10 instrument hours may be on an approved simulator. Check with your flying school how its simulator time is logged before you pay for it.
Q: Can I build hours abroad and use them for an Indian licence?
A: Hours flown abroad can be counted, but DGCA decides each case. Your logbook must be authenticated by the authority that oversaw the flying, and the recent-experience rules still apply. Read our DGCA CPL conversion guide before you book hours abroad.
Q: Do any hours have to be recent?
A: Yes. At least 15 of your pilot-in-command hours, and your night flying with 10 take-offs and 10 landings, must fall within the six months before you apply for the licence. Plan the end of your hour building so it lines up with your application.
Q: How much does hour building cost?
A: It depends on the aircraft, the country and the school, so ask for a written per-hour rate that says what is included, such as fuel, instructor and landing fees. Our planning figures for complete CPL training are about ₹75 lakh in India and from ₹60 lakh abroad, and many families use pilot training loans up to ₹1 crore, subject to lender approval.
Want help planning your hours?
Every student's budget, licence route and timeline is different. Book a free 20-minute call and we'll go through your logbook plan and the written fees you have been quoted. We do not promise licences, airline jobs or completion dates; we help you plan with checked information.