What is the minimum number of flight hours required to become a commercial pilot?

To become a commercial pilot, the minimum flight hour requirement is based on regulations established by aviation authorities, such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in the United States. These regulations stipulate that an aspiring commercial pilot must accumulate at least 250 hours of flight time, which includes specific types of flight experience, such as cross-country and night flying.

The requirement for 500 hours noted in the chosen answer does not align with the standard minimum hours needed for a commercial pilot license. While it is true that some airlines might require more flight hours for employment, the base requirement to earn the license itself starts at 250 hours, which encompasses both solo flight time and time flown with an instructor.

The 1,500 hour threshold mentioned in one of the options is typically associated with obtaining an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) certificate, which is a higher level of certification needed for pilots who wish to be in command of an aircraft for commercial airline operations.

Therefore, the selected answer accurately reflects the established regulatory limit for obtaining a commercial pilot license.