Ask the Flight Instructor

Q: What is the difference between Part 61 and Part 141 flight schools? Is Part 141 just for people who plan careers in aviation?
(Submitted by Don Woods, Herndon, VA.)

A: Part 141 and Part 61 schools do cater to two different types of students, however, the difference between them does not lie in if you want to become a professional pilot or just obtain your license for pleasure. Part 141 schools are aimed at people who like more structure in their training process. In order for a school to become a Part 141 school they must develop a training course outline (TCO) of their own, meet certain requirements for their aircraft, facilities, and student pass rates. For this the school is allowed to finish private students in as little as 35 hours instead of 40 hours as prescibed for Part 61 schools. There is no minimum flight time requirement for Instument, Commercial, or CFI ratings with Part 141 schools either, as long as the training course outline is followed. It is a lot easier, and cheaper for a school to become a Part 61 school. However, this is not to say that Part 61 schools do not have perks. Many great instructors teach at Part 61 schools, and you can expect to pay a lot less at a Part 61 school, because the additional costs of operating a Part 141 school are passed down to... you guessed it...the student. So, if you want to train in a structured environment, Part 141 is for you, but if you want to do a home study course, Part 61 is for you.
(Answer by Robert Carter, CFI, CFII, AGI, IGI.)

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