PART 61 OR PART 141 SCHOOL?

What “kinds” of Flight Schools are there and which one is the right one for me?

When someone asks about the “kinds” of flight school, they are generally asking under which Part of Title 14 they operate, Part 61 or Part 141.  We should discuss Part 141 schools and their pros and cons first.

Flight Schools operating under 14 CFR Part 141 are using an FAA-approved program to conduct flight training leading to a certificate.  They are closely regulated and monitored for compliance in their administration, operation and maintenance.  This monitoring is intended to ensure a high level of performance and safety from the aircraft, students and instructors.  The benefit of this regimentation is a break in the number of minimum required flight hours to apply for some certificates, which in turn saves the student money.  These programs may be eligible for Veteran’s Affairs funds and the GI Bill, which also reduces cost for students eligible for these benefits.  The down side is that the VA/GI Bill don’t fund primary flight instruction, only advanced ratings (like an instrument rating or commercial certificate).  Unfortunately, the regimentation can also be a strait jacket for non-average learners.  The Flight School is obligated to follow the syllabus flow regardless of extraordinarily quick or slow learners.  This can also be frustrating if the student can’t devote the consistent time to accomplish the program, because loss of proficiency due to breaks in training are not written into the syllabus…  Training resources can be more robust at a Part 141 school, but the cost per hour is often higher too.

Flight Schools operating under 14 CFR Part 61 are relatively unsupervised by the FAA, and vary widely in size, structure, program architecture, training aircraft and performance.  The VA and GI Bill will not fund flight training programs at these type schools.  Many of these schools use a nationally recognized curriculum and syllabus, but also have the flexibility to tailor their program to their individual students’ needs.  While they have to adhere strictly to the required minimum flight hours for application for the various pilot certificates, the Part 61 Flight Instructor has leeway within those regulatory boundaries to permit more solo flights if the student’s skill warrants it, or more dual instruction if needed.  The profile and maneuvers for each flight can be more easily tailored to the student’s weak points in preparing them to be a safe and proficient pilot.

Which type of school is best for you will depend upon your individual learning style, time resources, ability to absorb new knowledge and skills, work and home environment, etc.  The cost savings associated with the lower minimum flight hour requirement with Part 141 Flight Schools shouldn’t necessarily be your determining factor, as some students need the extra time to become proficient, and often, per hour aircraft and instructor fees may be lower at a Part 61 school, eliminating the cost advantage for the student paying their own way.  In any case, it’s very important to visit the school and talk with current students and prospective Instructors to get a feel for whether this one is “the right one” for you. 

Got an opinion about the goodness or badness of Part 141/Part 61 schools?  Drop me a line at Fly@AmericanMadeAviation.com.