Commercial Pilot Written Exam Prep Coming Soon
AviaSkill is building AI-powered preparation for the FAA Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test. 100 questions, 9 ACS knowledge areas, and the same study tools that help PPL and IFR students pass their exams.
Already studying with AviaSkill? We'll add CPL to your account automatically when it launches.
What is the FAA Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test?
The Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test is the written exam required to earn your Commercial Pilot Certificate — the license that allows you to get paid to fly. Whether you're pursuing a career at an airline, charter service, or flight school, the CPL is a required step.
The exam covers 9 knowledge areas defined by the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS), building on what you learned for PPL and IFR. You'll have 150 minutes to answer 100 multiple-choice questions, and you need a score of 70% or higher to pass.
The CPL written exam goes deeper into performance calculations, commercial regulations, advanced aerodynamics, and high-altitude operations. With 100 questions (vs. 60 for PPL and IFR), it's a more comprehensive exam — but if you've passed PPL and IFR, you already have a strong foundation.
9 ACS Knowledge Areas
Preflight Preparation
Pilot qualifications for commercial operations, weather services, cross-country flight planning, performance and limitations
Preflight Procedures
Instrument cockpit check, flight deck management, engine starting, taxiing for commercial operations
Airport and Seaplane Base Operations
Airport communications, traffic patterns, runway incursion avoidance in commercial contexts
Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
Normal, crosswind, short/soft field operations, power-off 180° accuracy approach
Performance Maneuvers
Steep turns, chandelles, lazy eights — precision flying that demonstrates commercial-level skill
Navigation
Pilotage, dead reckoning, VOR/GPS navigation, diversion and lost procedures
Slow Flight and Stalls
Maneuvering during slow flight, power-on/power-off stalls, accelerated stalls
Emergency Operations
Emergency approaches, equipment malfunctions, emergency procedures in commercial settings
High Altitude Operations
Supplemental oxygen requirements, pressurization systems, high-altitude aerodynamics
Exam Details
| Official Name | Commercial Pilot — Airplane (CAX) Knowledge Test |
| Test Code | CAX |
| Questions | 100 multiple-choice (select one from three options) |
| Time Limit | 150 minutes (2.5 hours) |
| Passing Score | 70% (70 correct out of 100) |
| Prerequisites | Private Pilot Certificate |
| Minimum Age | 18 years old (14 CFR 61.123) |
| Test Validity | 24 calendar months (2 years) |
| CFR Reference | 14 CFR 61.123–61.133 |
Your Path to the Commercial Pilot Certificate
Prerequisites
- A Private Pilot Certificate
- At least 250 hours total flight time (14 CFR 61.129)
- 100 hours PIC time (50 hours cross-country)
- 20 hours of training in specific maneuvers
- Minimum age: 18 years old
- An Instrument Rating is required to exercise full commercial privileges, though not required for the written exam itself
Start Studying Today
While we build CPL prep, get ahead with PPL and IFR — the foundation for your Commercial Pilot Certificate.
Private Pilot (PPL)
12 ACS areas, AI explanations, exam simulation — everything you need to pass the PPL written exam.
Study PPL NowInstrument Rating (IFR)
7 ACS areas, instrument procedures, navigation systems, weather theory — full IFR prep.
Study IFR NowBe the First to Know When CPL Launches
We're building the same AI-powered study tools for the Commercial Pilot Knowledge Test. Sign up now to study PPL or IFR — and we'll notify you when CPL is ready.