Flight School: Part 61 vs. Part 141
As you’ve been researching flight schools, you’ve likely come across the terminology of “Part 61” and “Part 141”. Some schools are certified as Part 61, some are certified as Part 141, and some schools can do both. This article will help you learn the difference between Part 61 and Part 141, and which one is best for you.
Part 61
A Part 61 school is the most common type of flight school. Part 61 schools do not require any special certification—they simply follow the default requirements as listed in Part 61 of the FAA Regulations.
Part 61 schools are not required to have a standardized curriculum, and flight instructors are not required to follow a formal syllabus. Each individual flight instructor may use any lesson plans they choose, create their own, or even not use lesson plans at all. There is no requirement to keep written records of your training.
Part 61 training requires a minimum of 40 hours for the Private Pilot License and a total of 250 hours for the Commercial license.
Part 141
Part 141 schools are held to a far more rigorous standard. They offer a standardized curriculum and training regulations approved by the FAA specifically for that school, and are monitored by a FAA representative from the local FAA Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
This standardized curriculum offers a few advantages. Private Pilot training requires only a minimum of 35 hours, as opposed to the 40 hour minimum in Part 61. Part 141 students can obtain their Commercial licenses in just 190 hours, significantly less than the 250 required by Part 61.
With the standardized curriculum, you will know in advance the number and order of lessons, exactly what each lesson will entail, and the required criteria to successfully complete each lesson. You will also know after each lesson whether you have advanced to the next lesson.
Another advantage of standardization is that all the instructors at the school follow the same curriculum, so if your regular instructor is not available, it’s far easier for another instructor to step in and continue the training. A detailed training folder is created for each student and kept on file at the flight school, so a substitute flight instructor can simply look up the student’s record, see where they are in the training process, and continue where the previous instructor left off.
Which Should I Choose?
You should consider Part 61 if:
You’re flying for fun, or are not sure yet about your goals. When you enroll in a 141 training program, you are committing to the entire course. If all you want to do is fly for fun, or if you want to try a few lessons first to see if flying is for you, Part 61 is the way to go.
You train irregularly or on a part-time basis. Part 141 requires completion of each course in a certain amount of time, so if you need a slower pace (for example, you work Monday to Friday and only train on weekends), Part 61 might be a better fit.
You prefer to pay one lesson at a time. Part 141 schools typically charge a lump sum, paid up front, for the entire course. With Part 61 schools, you can generally pay after each lesson.
You should consider Part 141 if:
You are using certain types of financial aid. If you are financing a loan for your flight training or using government benefits such as the GI Bill, they may require training to be via Part 141.
You want a more structured training environment. Part 141 schools are intended for career-oriented students, and thus have a more structured setting. Many Part 141 schools require uniforms for students, and all will have their own set of standard operating procedures and added safety regulations. Part 141 training incorporates formal ground school training for the topics you’ll need to know, as well as Flight Training Device (FTD) training to help you get acclimated to the airplane. If you have professional flying aspirations, Part 141 is a good way to get a sample of professional flying, at least in the training environment.
You want the most information possible about your training plan. When you sign up for Part 141 training, you will get a syllabus that details every lesson, the exact order of the lessons, and the expectations and standards of each lesson. In Part 61, not all instructors will use a formal syllabus. With Part 141, you will also have a training record and be able to see a written record of how you are progressing.
Summary
Part 61 is best if you want a lower level of commitment or prefer an informal style of learning. Part 141 offers standardization, structure, and a formal syllabus backed up by mandatory record keeping. Although Part 141 allows training to be completed in fewer hours, that advantage is balanced out by the higher level of FAA certification required and record keeping, so Part 141 is not significantly cheaper than Part 61.
No matter which method you choose, you’ll get the exact same license once you complete your training.
