Commercial ASEL Add On

[bobbysamd]

Airplane add-on ratings

This is kind of the same question. I have a PPL ASEL and Comm/Inst Helo.
I want a Comm AMEL. Do I have to get a PPL AMEL first? When I do get my Comm/Multi, does my SEL automatically upgrade to a Commercial, or do I have to do a checkride to get that rating, too?

I don't think you have to get Private MEL first. As long as you meet all the hour and experience requirements, you can go right to Commercial Airplane MEL. In effect, your Airplane MEL is an add-on to your Commercial certificate.

What I have heard of is some examiners will write a Private MEL temporary and make you turn it in to them and they will then write a Commercial MEL temporary.

You would continue to have Private privileges for airplane SEL. You would have to take the Commercial SEL practical to have those privileges.

I know it sounds odd, but it's really very common. Many flight schools train their students for initial Commercial-Instrument certification in multis. So, they have Commercial privileges in the multis but Private privileges in singles, and instrument privileges for both.