CASA CPL hours: 150 integrated vs 200 non-integrated (61.610)
Checked against the sources below on 29 October 2026. How these guides are written
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A CASA aeroplane CPL needs 150 hours of aeronautical experience if you completed an integrated course (CASR 61.590) or 200 hours if you did not (61.610). The 150 includes 140 hours as pilot of an aeroplane and 70 PIC; the 200 includes 190 hours as a pilot and 100 PIC (less with a helicopter licence). Both need 20 hours cross-country PIC with a 300 nm flight, 10 hours instrument time and 5 in an aeroplane. You must be 18 and pass 7 exams and a flight test.
- Aeronautical experience
- 150 h (integrated course) or 200 h (no integrated course)
- Before the flight test
- 61.590(1), 61.610(1)
- Flight time
- 140 h as pilot of an aeroplane (integrated); 190 h as a pilot, any category (non-integrated)
- The other 10 h may be approved FSTD time
- 61.590(1)(a), (2); 61.610(1)(a), (2)
- PIC in an aeroplane
- 70 h (integrated); 100 h, or 80 h with a PPL(H), or 60 h with a CPL(H) or ATPL(H) (non-integrated)
- Career total
- 61.590(1)(b); 61.610(1)(b)
- Cross-country PIC
- 20 h, including a flight of at least 300 nm with full-stop landings at 2 aerodromes outside the training area
- Both routes
- 61.590(1)(c), (3); 61.610(1)(c), (3)
- Instrument
- 10 h instrument time, including 5 h instrument flight time in an aeroplane
- Both routes
- 61.590(1)(d), (e); 61.610(1)(d), (e)
- Age, exams and test
- Age 18; CPL theory exams; flight training; flight test in an aircraft
- Exams within 2 years of the first pass
- 61.580
150 or 200 hours: which number applies to you
Division 61.I.2 (the 150-hour rule) "applies to an applicant for a commercial pilot licence who has completed an integrated training course for the licence and the associated aircraft category rating" (61.585). Everyone else is under Division 61.I.3 and needs 200 hours (61.605, 61.610).
CASA's CPL page describes integrated courses as intensive courses through Part 142 operators and non-integrated courses through Part 141 operators, with some organisations offering both. Completing an integrated course decides the number, whichever school you train at, so ask your school in writing which course you are enrolled in.
The breakdown line by line
Integrated (61.590): at least 150 hours of aeronautical experience including 140 hours of flight time as pilot of an aeroplane, 70 hours as PIC of an aeroplane, 20 hours of cross-country flight time as PIC of an aeroplane, 10 hours of instrument time and 5 hours of instrument flight time in an aeroplane. The aeroplane time must be in a registered or recognised aeroplane (61.590(4)).
Non-integrated (61.610): at least 200 hours including "at least 190 hours of flight time as a pilot", which is not limited to aeroplanes, and PIC in an aeroplane of 100 hours, or 80 hours if you hold a PPL with the helicopter rating, or 60 hours if you hold a CPL or ATPL with the helicopter rating. The cross-country and instrument figures match the integrated route.
On both routes the cross-country time "must include a flight of at least 300 nautical miles during which a full-stop landing is made at each of 2 aerodromes not within the flight training area for the aerodrome from which the flight began" (61.590(3), 61.610(3)).
Simulator and instrument time toward a CPL
Any experience not completed as flight time as a pilot "must be completed as simulated flight time in an approved flight simulation training device for the purpose" (61.590(2), 61.610(2)). That leaves room for 10 hours of FSTD time on either route, which matches CASA's table: "Up to 10 hours can be in a flight simulation training device."
Instrument time is instrument flight time plus instrument ground time, so up to 5 of the 10 hours can be in a device. Until you hold an instrument rating, only dual instrument flight time counts as instrument flight time (61.105(1)(b)), which is why CASA's table labels these lines dual instrument time and dual instrument flight time.
Exams, flight test, medical and multi-crew
The aeroplane CPL has 7 exams: human factors (CHUF), navigation (CNAV) and meteorology (CMET), common to all categories, plus aerodynamics (CADA), flight rules and air law (CLWA, 80% pass mark), operation, performance and flight planning (CFPA) and aircraft general knowledge (CSYA). The others need 70%. CASA gives you 2 years from your first subject pass to pass all 7.
You must be 18 (61.580(1)) and the flight test "must be conducted in an aircraft" (61.580(3)). CASA's page says you need a Class 1 medical to attempt the CPL flight test; with a Class 2 you may fly commercially only without passengers in an aircraft under 8,618 kg MTOW, under exemption EX32/24.
Once licensed you may be PIC of any operation except a multi-crew aircraft in an air transport operation, and a single-pilot aeroplane over 5,700 kg in air transport until you have 750 hours as pilot of an aeroplane (61.570). Multi-crew work needs an approved MCC course (61.575).
Mistakes pilots make
- Assuming a Part 141 school means 150 hours. The 150-hour minimum applies only after an integrated training course (61.585).
- Flying the 300 nm cross-country dual. It must be cross-country time as PIC, with full-stop landings at 2 aerodromes outside the training area.
- Logging hood time with a safety pilot as instrument flight time before you hold an instrument rating. Only dual instrument flight time counts (61.105(1)(b)), and CASA says a safety pilot is not providing flight training.
- Forgetting helicopter hours on the non-integrated route. They count toward the 190 hours as a pilot and cut the aeroplane PIC minimum to 80 or 60 hours.
- Putting FSTD hours in the flight time column. They count toward the total only, and only 10 hours of them.
What Off Chocks tracks
- Licence progression (Currency page, Licence progression tab) tracks the 200-hour non-integrated route: 200 total, 100 PIC, 20 cross-country PIC, and 10 instrument with at least 5 of them instrument flight time in an aeroplane. It has no 150-hour integrated mode yet.
- The 200 counts up to 10 hours of FFS and FTD sessions, as 61.610(2) allows, and the instrument bar counts FFS and FTD instrument time. A BIT or Other session adds nothing, and the 190 hours of flight time has no bar of its own.
- Simulator sessions are logged as their own entry type with a device type, so FSTD hours stay out of your flight time totals.
Common questions
- How many hours do you need for a CPL in Australia?
- For the aeroplane rating, 150 hours if you completed an integrated course (CASR 61.590) or 200 hours if you did not (61.610).
- Can I get a CPL with 150 hours at a Part 141 school?
- Only if you completed an integrated training course for the licence (61.585). CASA's CPL page links integrated courses to Part 142 operators.
- Does simulator time count toward the CPL hours?
- Up to 10 hours of simulated flight time in an approved FSTD counts toward the total on either route (61.590(2), 61.610(2)).
- What medical do I need for a CASA CPL?
- Class 1 to use the licence (61.415(1)) and, per CASA, to attempt the flight test. A Class 2 allows private flying and, under exemption, commercial flights with no passengers under 8,618 kg.
- How long do I have to pass the CPL exams?
- 2 years from the date of your first CPL subject pass, for all 7 subjects.
- What is the minimum age for a CASA CPL?
- 18 (61.580(1)).
Sources
- Civil Aviation Safety Regulations 1998, Compilation No. 103 (in force from 29 Sep 2026), Parts 61 and 67
- CASA: Getting a commercial pilot licence (CPL)
- CASA: CPL aeroplane exams CADA, CLWA, CFPA and CSYA
- CASA: CPL exams CHUF, CNAV and CMET
- CASA: Keeping records: flight crew logbooks (updated 20 Oct 2026)
This is a plain-words summary to help you keep your own records, not legal advice. The regulation and your operator's procedures always take precedence.