So, I'm reading the 2008 FAR/AIM tonight...

Okay, how geeky is that? Don't answer that. How silly is it that the new requirements for charity flights require 500 hours, but a commercial certificate only 250 hours? So, I started looking at the aeronautical experience requirements for a commercial ticket (airplane), beyond the total 250 hours (I currently have 185.4, so I need 64.6 more).

• 100 hours in powered aircraft - okay, I have 165.1 in ASEL as of today, so I've got that covered
• 100 hours PIC time
  
• 50 in airplanes - I have 129.3
• 50 cross country - I have 86.2
• 20 hours training in commercial areas of operation - okay, I need to do some of that
• 10 hours of instrument training - I already have an instrument rating (total of 32.1 hours sim & actual)
• 10 hours complex time - I have 0.0
• 2 hour/100 mile straight-line day VFR cross-country - VTA-CKB-VTA qualifies, so I have one, but does it count if I wasn't officially a commercial student at the time and it wasn't dual, probably not. I'm not sure if any of my dual cross-countries were 100 mile straight-line, I have plenty of solo VFR cross-countries that would qualify
  
• 2 hour/100 mile straight-line night VFR cross-country - either the VFR or the 100 mile straight-line would be an issue here, so I need one of these
• 3 hours in practical test prep in 60 days preceeding checkride - obviously this will come later
• 10 hours solo in commercial areas of operation
• 300 mile cross-country/250 mile straight-line - nope, don't have this one yet
• 5 hours night/10 take-offs & landings at controlled airfield - I have 25.3 hours of night and I'll have to see if I have 10 t/o and landings at controlled fields at night, I think I do, but I could easily get those if I don't have them or if they need to be done while "officially" a commercial student.

So what does that prove? I dunno. I obviously need to get instruction in the commercial maneuvers, etc. I also don't need to do all that much "hour building". If I assume that the 20 hours dual and the 10 hours solo need to happen after I've "officially declared myself" as a commercial student, it is probably time for me to talk to Harold (or Clint or some other instructor) soon. BTW, they have a 182RG at LHQ now, so even if I didn't go for the commercial yet, I could look into getting the complex and high-performance endorsements.

Peace.