What’s the difference between flight training programs?
Three types of civilian pilot training in the United States
Three types of civilian pilot training in the United States -- which is right for you? The Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) determine the requirements for pilot certification, and these are spelled out in Part 61, Part 141, and Advisory Circular AC 61-139. These different training programs are outlined here in order of INCREASING structure and curriculum requirements and DECREASING total flight time requirements.
IMPORTANT NOTES
- No matter how someone receives ground school and flight instruction, every applicant must pass the same written and practical tests (checkrides) to the same standards set by the FAA.
- Once attained, pilot certificates and ratings are valid, no matter what kind of training led to their attainment or kind of training being pursued next.
- FAQs about the R-ATP, Airline Transport Pilot certificate with restrictions for reduced flight hours.
- All college degree and flight training programs authorized for the R-ATP operate under Part 141, but not all Part 141 flight schools or colleges are approved for the R-ATP. Check the FAA’s published list of Institutions Authorized to Certify its Graduates for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with Reduced Aeronautical Experience.
- Cheap or quick: Pick one.
FLIGHT TRAINING UNDER PART 61 (cheaper)
Flight School: Does not have to be a “school” at all! Can be a mom-and-pop business at the little airport down the road, or with your literal Mom and Pop who are flight instructors in your own family’s airplane, or any combination.
Curriculum: No set curriculum required.
Ground Training: Can be from your flight instructor, classroom, books, YouTube, online course, or any combination.
Flight Training: The How and Where and From Whom you get flight training is not spelled out in the regulations, as long as all requirements under Part 61 are met.
Transfers: You can transfer between flight schools under Part 61, or INTO a Part 61 program, anytime. When transferring from Part 61 into a Part 141 training program, you may need to repeat some training to meet curriculum requirements.
Flight Hours: No reduction in flight hours. Minimum total flight time for Private Pilot is 40 hours; Commercial Pilot, 250 hours; and Airline Transport Pilot, 1500 hours.
Credit for Prior Training: All legally logged flight instruction hours “count” toward eligibility for the next pilot certificate under Part 61, and toward total flight time.
Documentation: Pilot logbook.
FLIGHT TRAINING AT PART 141 FLIGHT SCHOOL (quicker)
Flight School: A flight school may receive Part 141 certification from its supervisory Flight Standards District Office (FSDO). Typically, a Part 141 flight school has multiple instructors and aircraft.
Curriculum: FAA-approved curriculum for ground and flight training for each pilot certificate and rating training course.
Ground Training: By flight school’s instructors, sometimes in classroom format, according to the FAA-approved curriculum. Learners often supplement this with books, YouTube, or online course.
Flight Training: By flight school’s instructors, following the FAA-approved curriculum. May include stage checks by more senior instructors.
Transfers: You can transfer from Part 141 to Part 61 training, anytime. When transferring between two Part 141 programs, you may need to repeat some training to meet curriculum requirements.
Flight Hours: Eligible to attain some pilot certificates with reduced total flight time. Minimum total flight time for Private Pilot is 35 hours; and Commercial Pilot, 190 hours. No reduction in total flight time for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate (unless training is part of an FAA-approved college degree program with FAA authorization for the R-ATP – see below).
Credit for Prior Training: When entering a Part 141 training program, prior flight instruction hours logged under Part 61 might not “count” and some training may need to be repeated, to meet curriculum requirements. All legally logged flight instruction hours “count” toward total flight time.
Documentation: Pilot logbook and flight school records.
COLLEGE DEGREE with R-ATP-ELIGIBLE FLIGHT TRAINING PROGRAM
Flight School: A college may receive authorization individually from the FAA national institutional authority. Check the FAA’s published list of Institutions Authorized to Certify its Graduates for an Airline Transport Pilot (ATP) Certificate with Reduced Aeronautical Experience. Flight training may be at the college’s own Part 141 flight school or an associated Part 141 flight school. Note that not all Part 141 flight schools offer eligibility for the R-ATP.
Curriculum: FAA-approved curriculum for ground and flight training for each pilot certificate and rating training course, and also for aviation-related college coursework toward an associate or bachelor’s degree, usually in an aviation field.
Ground Training: By college’s or associated flight school’s instructors, following their FAA-approved curriculum.
Flight Training: By college’s or associated flight school’s instructors, following their FAA-approved curriculum.
Flight Hours: Eligible to complete some ratings with reduced total flight time. Minimum total flight time for Private Pilot is 35 hours; and Commercial Pilot, 190 hours. Graduates are eligible for the Airline Transport Pilot certificate with restrictions (R-ATP) with a minimum total flight time of 1000 hours (with a bachelor’s degree) or 1250 hours (with an associate degree). NOTE: Students graduating from an R-ATP college degree program will have attained the Commercial Pilot certificate, Instrument rating, and Multi-engine rating, and possibly the Flight Instructor certificate, with total flight time typically in the 200- to 300-hour range. They are ELIGIBLE for the R-ATP, but most do not graduate with it in hand. They must work as a flight instructor or other entry-level flying job to reach the minimum required 1000 or 1250 flight hours.
Credit for Prior Training: Prior flight instruction hours logged under Part 61 might not “count” and some training may need to be repeated when entering an R-ATP college flight training program, to meet curriculum requirements. NOTE: All flight training beginning with the Instrument Rating onward must be within the R-ATP college program to be eligible for the R-ATP. All legally logged flight instruction hours “count” toward total flight time.
Documentation: Pilot logbook, flight school records, and college transcripts.
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Photo credit: Ceri Breeze
