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Questions & Answers

Setting the record straight…

It is easy to be confused about flight training and the claims that certain flight schools make in “slick” advertisements directed at entry-level aspiring pilots to promote their business.  

Many schools advertise: “ We are FAA approved” or “our syllabus is FAA approved.” 

Some even advertise that because they are a 141 school you do not have to fly as many hours to get your certificate or rating, when they know statistically you will never finish in the minimum time. While all of these quotes are technically true they are placed in a context to mislead a consumer unfamiliar with the burdens placed upon 141 schools by the FAA or the numerous instances of grounding and license revocation actions the FAA has initiated against them. We could go on and on about the “bait and switch” scams some schools use to get you in the door, sign you up and take your money…

The Federal Aviation Administration [ FAA ] is the governmental agency that oversees flight training, flight instructors, flight schools, knowledge and practical testing standards (PTS) . Regardless of your choice to go to a 141 school or use an individual Certified Flight Instructor training you under Federal Aviation Regulation Part  61, the  areas of knowledge that must be learned and the testing standards are the same.

The reason for this is simple…if flight-training standards were not standardized there would be absolute chaos in the skies .

Federal Aviation Regulation 141.67[c]  is the controlling statute [ law ]  that ensures flight-testing  & knowledge testing performed by 141 Flight schools is “… at least equal in scope, depth, and difficulty to the comparable knowledge and practical tests prescribed by the Federal Aviation Administrator under Federal Aviation Regulation part 61.” FAR 141.67 [c]. 

All Certified Flight instructors are certificated to teach in both the FAR Part 61 and 141 environments. Most of the flight instructors for 141 schools are paid only a fraction of what the school charges their students. Low pay historically attracts inferior or inexperienced, entry-level flight instructors. This inexperience is passed on to the student who attends the school by way of ineffective training. Some schools actually rewarded their instructors for the amount of “billable hours” they generate regardless of the need for the students to incur the training and additional expense. The flight school charges the student the same high rate regardless of the instructor’s experience. However the most glaring difference between training under FAR Part 141 is that you must follow the lesson, sequence and training requirements contained within the schools FAA mandated syllabus.

By way of example: A typical 141 Flight School > FAR Part 141.19 Appendix C Flight School instrument syllabus is as follows;

ð     Mandatory ground school 30 hours @ $30.00 per hour.

ð     Minimum 10 Hours “Dual” flight instruction in “basic attitudes.” @ $55.00 per hour + inflated cost of aircraft.

ð     Minimum15 Hours “Dual” simulator instruction. @ $75.00 per hour.

ð     Minimum 20 Hours “Dual” flight instruction shooting approaches, holds, intercepting & tracking radials.  @ $55.00 per hour + inflated cost of aircraft

ð     Pre flight briefings @ $55.00 per hour  

ð     Post flight debriefings @$55.00 per hour

As you can see, the minimums listed above do not include the amount of additional ground training costs you will incur during pre & post-flight debriefings or additional flight training costs if you do not complete the training within the “minimums” prescribed by FAR Part 141.19 Appendix C. Your chances of finishing within the “minimums” are minimal. What is worse, is that you are forced by way of FAR Part 141 mandate to participate and pay for flight training, ground training  & ground school despite the fact that you may not need to because you have already demonstrated proficiency in the subject area. Imagine already completing the knowledge test prior to enrollment and then having to pay and sit through another 30 hours of ground school. How about having to sit in a simulator for 15 hours and pay for it when you have the instrument approach concepts in 5 hours.

In our expert opinion, training under FAR Part 141 does not have the inherent flexibility to address the unique learning experience that each individual has. Also, Part 141 schools may not credit you for prior flight experience. Here in San Diego, one school charges $99.00 per hour for their Cessna 172’s, you can walk a block and rent the same aircraft for $58.00per hour. The $41.00 difference multiplied by 60 hours of use equals an inflation of $2460.00 Add on thirty hours of mandated formal 141 ground school @ $30.00 per hour, another unnecessary expense of $900.00 and the total is $3360.00.   

When you start “doing the math” it gets interesting and very, very, expensive training with a 141 school.  

 Now lets talk about FAR Part 61 Training.

Training under FAR Part 61 allows your instructor to create a training program tailored to your needs.

Unlike 141 schools, the FAA does not “micro-manage” Individual Flight Instructors training their students under part 61. Remember, all “areas of instruction” are essentially the same. Except, under Part 61 you can move forward at your own pace. You can fly once a week or every day if you like.  In addition, the sequence in which you learn is not dictated as it is in Part 141. If you want to study at home for your knowledge test you can do so and skip approximately 30 hours of a formal ground school. If you do not want to train in a simulator you can do your training in the aircraft. If, for instance, you learn the “basic attitudes” segment in 5 hours you are finished with that segment of your instruction. Unlike Part 141, under Part 61 your abilities are rewarded and recognized. If you need or want to spend more time in a segment of your training you can do so without the entanglements involved in Part 141 training dogma. Training under part 61 allows you to use the aircraft of your choice at a much lower rate. This saving alone, can be huge because most schools considerably mark up the cost of their aircraft.

Once you give your money to a Part 141 school…you are along for the ride.

If, after reading this, you still want to attend a Part 141 school because you need a school with foreign student visa authority or want to use your VA Loan, Guaranteed Flight Training has a Consulting Service to help you make the best choice in your particular area.