Federal Aviation Regulation,
Considering that the national average for earning a private pilot certificate is 60-75 hours (how long you'll take will depend on your ability and flying frequency), this difference isn't important for initial pilot training. It does make a difference to commercial pilot applicants: Part 61 requires 250 hours, and Part 141 requires 190.
What differentiates the two is structure and accountability. Part 141 schools are audited by the FAA and must have detailed, FAA-approved course outlines and meet student pilot performance rates. Training under Part 61 rules doesn’t have the same structure and paperwork requirements. Learning under Part 61 rules can often give students the flexibility to rearrange flying lesson content and sequence to meet their needs, which can be of benefit to part-time students or pilots adding a rating to an existing pilot license.
When it comes to the FAA checkride, which is the same for all, it doesn't matter if you trained under part 141 or 61, only how well you fly and your knowledge and understanding of aviation academic material.
PART 61 COURSES
Below are the most common Certificates and
Ratings sought. If you are interested in
advanced ratings or endorsements such as high performance, complex, multi-engine,
Please give us a call as we can accommodate your needs.
PRIVATE PILOT LICENSE
INSTRUMENT PILOT RATING
COMMERCIAL PILOT LICENSE
CERTIFIED FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR
Private Pilot License
(a) General. A person who is applying for a private
pilot certificate must receive and log ground training from an authorized
instructor or complete a home-study course on the aeronautical knowledge areas
of paragraph (b) of this section that apply to the aircraft category and class
rating sought.
(b) Aeronautical
knowledge areas.
(1) Applicable Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that relate to
private pilot privileges, limitations, and flight operations;
(2) Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety
Board;
(3) Use of the applicable portions of the “Aeronautical Information Manual” and
FAA advisory circulars;
(4) Use of aeronautical charts for VFR navigation using pilotage,
dead reckoning, and navigation systems;
(5) Radio communication procedures;
(6) Recognition of critical weather situations from the ground and in flight, windshear avoidance, and the procurement and use of
aeronautical weather reports and forecasts;
(7) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft, including collision avoidance,
and recognition and avoidance of wake turbulence;
(8) Effects of density altitude on takeoff and climb performance;
(9) Weight and balance computations;
(10) Principles of aerodynamics, powerplants, and
aircraft systems;
(11) Stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery techniques for the
airplane and glider category ratings;
(12) Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and
(13) Preflight action that includes—
(i) How to obtain information on runway lengths at
airports of intended use, data on takeoff and landing distances, weather
reports and forecasts, and fuel requirements; and
(ii) How to plan for alternatives if the planned flight cannot be completed or
delays are encountered.
Aeronautical
experience
(a) For an airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in
paragraph (k) of this section, a person who applies for a private pilot
certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must log
at least 40 hours of flight time that includes at least 20 hours of flight
training from an authorized instructor and 10 hours of solo flight training in
the areas of operation listed in §61.107(b)(1) of this part, and the training
must include at least—
(1) 3 hours of cross-country flight training in a single-engine airplane;
(2) Except as provided in §61.110 of this part, 3 hours of night flight
training in a single-engine airplane that includes—
(i) One cross-country flight of over 100 nautical
miles total distance; and
(ii) 10 takeoffs and 10 landings to a full stop (with each landing involving a
flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport.
(3) 3 hours of flight training in a single-engine airplane on the control and
maneuvering of an airplane solely by reference to instruments, including
straight and level flight, constant airspeed climbs and descents, turns to a
heading, recovery from unusual flight attitudes, radio communications, and the
use of navigation systems/facilities and radar services appropriate to
instrument flight;
(4) 3 hours of flight training in preparation for the practical test in a
single-engine airplane, which must have been performed within 60 days preceding
the date of the test; and
(5) 10 hours of solo flight time in a single-engine airplane, consisting of at
least—
(i) 5 hours of solo cross-country time;
(ii) One solo cross-country flight of at least 150 nautical miles total
distance, with full-stop landings at a minimum of three points, and one segment
of the flight consisting of a straight-line distance of at least 50 nautical
miles between the takeoff and landing locations; and
(iii) Three takeoffs and three landings to a full stop (with each landing
involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an operating
control tower.
Instrument Pilot Rating
(a) General. A person who applies for an instrument
rating must:
(1) Hold at least a current private pilot certificate with an airplane,
helicopter, or powered-lift rating appropriate to the instrument rating sought;
(2) Be able to read, speak, write, and understand the English language. If the
applicant is unable to meet any of these requirements due to a medical
condition, the Administrator may place such operating limitations on the
applicant's pilot certificate as are necessary for the safe operation of the
aircraft;
(3) Receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor or accomplish
a home-study course of training on the aeronautical knowledge areas of
paragraph (b) of this section that apply to the instrument rating sought;
Aeronautical knowledge.
A person who applies for an instrument rating must have
received and logged ground training from an authorized instructor or
accomplished a home-study course on the following aeronautical knowledge areas
that apply to the instrument rating sought:
(1) Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that apply to flight
operations under IFR;
(2) Appropriate information that applies to flight operations under IFR in the
“Aeronautical Information Manual;”
(3) Air traffic control system and procedures for instrument flight operations;
(4) IFR navigation and approaches by use of navigation systems;
(5) Use of IFR en route and instrument approach procedure charts;
(6) Procurement and use of aviation weather reports and forecasts and the elements
of forecasting weather trends based on that information and personal
observation of weather conditions;
(7) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft under instrument flight rules and
conditions;
(8) Recognition of critical weather situations and windshear
avoidance;
(9) Aeronautical decision making and judgment; and
(10) Crew resource management, including crew communication and coordination.
Aeronautical experience.
A person who applies for an instrument rating must have
logged the following:
(1) At least 50 hours of cross-country flight time as pilot in command, of
which at least 10 hours must be in airplanes for an instrument—airplane rating;
and
(2) A total of 40 hours of actual or simulated instrument time on the areas of
operation of this section, to include—
(i) At least 15 hours of instrument flight training
from an authorized instructor in the aircraft category for which the instrument
rating is sought;
(ii) At least 3 hours of instrument training that is appropriate to the
instrument rating sought from an authorized instructor in preparation for the
practical test within the 60 days preceding the date of the test;
(iii) For an instrument—airplane rating, instrument training on cross- country
flight procedures specific to airplanes that includes at least one
cross-country flight in an airplane that is performed under IFR, and consists
of—
(A) A distance of at least 250 nautical miles along airways or ATC-directed
routing;
(B) An instrument approach at each airport; and
(C) Three different kinds of approaches with the use of navigation systems;
Commercial Pilot License
a) General. A person who applies for a commercial pilot
certificate must receive and log ground training from an authorized instructor,
or complete a home-study course, on the aeronautical knowledge areas of
paragraph (b) of this section that apply to the aircraft category and class
rating sought.
Aeronautical knowledge areas.
(1) Applicable
Federal Aviation Regulations of this chapter that relate to commercial pilot
privileges, limitations, and flight operations;
(2) Accident reporting requirements of the National Transportation Safety
Board;
(3) Basic aerodynamics and the principles of flight;
(4) Meteorology to include recognition of critical weather situations, windshear recognition and avoidance, and the use of
aeronautical weather reports and forecasts;
(5) Safe and efficient operation of aircraft;
(6) Weight and balance computations;
(7) Use of performance charts;
(8) Significance and effects of exceeding aircraft performance limitations;
(9) Use of aeronautical charts and a magnetic compass for pilotage
and dead reckoning;
(10) Use of air navigation facilities;
(11) Aeronautical decision making and judgment;
(12) Principles and functions of aircraft systems;
(13) Maneuvers, procedures, and emergency operations appropriate to the
aircraft;
(14) Night and high-altitude operations;
(15) Procedures for operating within the National Airspace System; and
(16) Procedures for flight and ground training for lighter-than-air ratings.
Aeronautical experience.
(a) For an
airplane single-engine rating. Except as provided in paragraph (i) of this section, a person who applies for a commercial
pilot certificate with an airplane category and single-engine class rating must
log at least 250 hours of flight time as a pilot that consists of at least:
(1) 100 hours in powered aircraft, of which 50 hours must be in airplanes.
(2) 100 hours of pilot-in-command flight time, which includes at least—
(i) 50 hours in airplanes; and
(ii) 50 hours in cross-country flight of which at least 10 hours must be in
airplanes.
(3) 20 hours of training on the areas of operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of
this part that includes at least—
(i) 10 hours of instrument training of which at least
5 hours must be in a single-engine airplane;
(ii) 10 hours of training in an airplane that has a retractable landing gear,
flaps, and a controllable pitch propeller, or is turbine-powered, or for an
applicant seeking a single-engine seaplane rating, 10 hours of training in a
seaplane that has flaps and a controllable pitch propeller;
(iii) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane
in day VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more than
100 nautical miles from the original point of departure;
(iv) One cross-country flight of at least 2 hours in a single-engine airplane
in night VFR conditions, consisting of a total straight-line distance of more
than 100 nautical miles from the original point of departure; and
(v) 3 hours in a single-engine airplane in preparation for the practical test
within the 60-day period preceding the date of the test.
(4) 10 hours of solo flight in a single-engine airplane on the areas of
operation listed in §61.127(b)(1) of this part, which
includes at least—
(i) One cross-country flight of not less than 300
nautical miles total distance, with landings at a minimum of three points, one
of which is a straight-line distance of at least 250 nautical miles from the
original departure point. However, if this requirement is being met in Hawaii,
the longest segment need only have a straight-line distance of at least 150
nautical miles; and
(ii) 5 hours in night VFR conditions with 10 takeoffs and 10 landings (with each
landing involving a flight in the traffic pattern) at an airport with an
operating control tower.
Certified Flight Instructor
General c) Hold either a commercial pilot
certificate or airline transport pilot certificate with:
(1) An aircraft category and class rating that is appropriate to the flight
instructor rating sought; and
(2) An instrument rating, or privileges on that person's pilot certificate that
are appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought, if applying for—
(i) A flight instructor certificate with an airplane
category and single-engine class rating;
(ii) A flight instructor certificate with an airplane category and multiengine
class rating;
(iii) A flight instructor certificate with a powered-lift rating; or
(iv) A flight instructor certificate with an instrument rating.
(d) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the
fundamentals of instructing listed in §61.185 of this part appropriate to the
required knowledge test;
(e) Pass a knowledge test on the areas listed in §61.185(a)(1) of this part,
unless the applicant:
(1) Holds a flight instructor certificate or ground instructor certificate
issued under this part;
(2) Holds a current teacher's certificate issued by a State, county, city, or
municipality that authorizes the person to teach at an educational level of the
7th grade or higher; or
(3) Is employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
(f) Pass a knowledge test on the aeronautical knowledge areas listed in §61.185(a)(2)
and (a)(3) of this part that are appropriate to the flight instructor rating
sought;
(g) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor on the areas of
operation listed in §61.187(b) of this part, appropriate to the flight
instructor rating sought;
(h) Pass the required practical test that is appropriate to the flight
instructor rating sought in an:
(1) Aircraft that is representative of the category and class of aircraft for
the aircraft rating sought; or
(2) Flight simulator or approved flight training device that is representative
of the category and class of aircraft for the rating sought, and used in
accordance with a course at a training center certificated under part 142 of
this chapter.
(i) Accomplish the following for a flight instructor
certificate with an airplane or a glider rating:
(1) Receive a logbook endorsement from an authorized instructor indicating that
the applicant is competent and possesses instructional proficiency in stall
awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin recovery procedures after providing the
applicant with flight training in those training areas in an airplane or
glider, as appropriate, that is certificated for spins; and
(2) Demonstrate instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry,
spins, and spin recovery procedures. However, upon presentation of the
endorsement specified in paragraph (i)(1) of this
section an examiner may accept that endorsement as satisfactory evidence of
instructional proficiency in stall awareness, spin entry, spins, and spin
recovery procedures for the practical test, provided that the practical test is
not a retest as a result of the applicant failing the previous test for
deficiencies in the knowledge or skill of stall awareness, spin entry, spins,
or spin recovery instructional procedures. If the retest is a result of
deficiencies in the ability of an applicant to demonstrate knowledge or skill
of stall awareness, spin entry, spins, or spin recovery instructional
procedures, the examiner must test the person on stall awareness, spin entry,
spins, and spin recovery instructional procedures in an airplane or glider, as
appropriate, that is certificated for spins;
(j) Log at least 15 hours as pilot in command in the category and class of
aircraft that is appropriate to the flight instructor rating sought; and
(k) Comply with the appropriate sections of this part that apply to the flight
instructor rating sought.
Aeronautical knowledge (a) A person who is applying for a flight
instructor certificate must receive and log ground training from an authorized
instructor on:
(1) Except as provided in paragraph (b) of this section, the fundamentals of
instructing, including:
(i) The learning process;
(ii) Elements of effective teaching;
(iii) Student evaluation and testing;
(iv) Course development;
(v) Lesson planning; and
(vi) Classroom training techniques.
(2) The aeronautical knowledge areas for a recreational, private, and
commercial pilot certificate applicable to the aircraft category for which
flight instructor privileges are sought; and
(3) The aeronautical knowledge areas for the instrument rating applicable to
the category for which instrument flight instructor privileges are sought.
(b) The following applicants do not need to comply with paragraph (a)(1) of this section:
(1) The holder of a flight instructor certificate or ground instructor
certificate issued under this part;
(2) The holder of a current teacher's certificate issued by a State, county,
city, or municipality that authorizes the person to teach at an educational
level of the 7th grade or higher; or
(3) A person employed as a teacher at an accredited college or university.
Note: This is a summary of the