| In selecting a flight school, you will or have already | | | | For example, if you desire to become a crop dusting |
| learned that there are two types of instruction offered | | | | pilot, you are in a much better position to gain a crop |
| at flight schools. To become a pilot in the United | | | | dusting job if you build hours in conventional gear (tail |
| States, you learn under either FAR Part 141 or FAR | | | | wheel) airplanes. Also, if you want to become a |
| Part 61 flight regulations. FAR, which stands for Federal | | | | professional pilot, you want to have a diversity of flying |
| Aviation Regulations, are a very large set of rules and | | | | experiences in different types of aircraft. So for the |
| regulations provided by the FAA (Federal Aviation | | | | crop duster, he or she should have a diversity of flying |
| Administration). | | | | experiences which includes both conventional gear and |
| Over time, as you become a pilot, you will become | | | | tri-gear, but with most of the flight hours in conventional |
| very familiar with many of the rules which are laid out | | | | gear aircraft. |
| in the FARs. But in terms of our discussion, FAR Part | | | | To take this a step further, if most of your flying hours |
| 141 means the flight school provides a more formal | | | | are in conventional gear aircraft, you also want to |
| way of learning for the student. Learning is more | | | | have diversity of flying in terms of conventional gear |
| structured under FAR Part 141. FAR Part 61 means | | | | aircraft as well. Again, assuming you want to fly as a |
| flight schools provide a less structured form of learning. | | | | crop duster. This means fly just about every type of |
| What this means is that the hours required for the | | | | tail wheel airplane you can get your hands on, after |
| various certifications are less for those who learn at | | | | appropriate check out with an instructor off course. |
| FAR Part 141 schools. For example, a Private Pilot | | | | The point is, the greater the number of different flying |
| Certificate may be achieved in 35 hours of flight time | | | | experiences you have, the better. Even if you do not |
| under Part 141, rather than 40 hours under Part 61. But | | | | desire to become a professional pilot, and you decide |
| in reality, this really doesn't mean much, because the | | | | to fly for recreation only, you still want to develop a |
| national average for number of hours needed to obtain | | | | diversity of flying experiences. This will increase your |
| the Private Pilot License is 60 to 75 hours. Also, a | | | | level of safety. So what does this mean in terms of |
| Commercial Pilot Certificate may be achieved in 190 | | | | flight school selection. This means you should select a |
| hours of flight time under Part 141, rather than 250 | | | | flight school which provides a large selection of |
| hours under Part 61. | | | | different types of airplanes that you can later get |
| So does this mean you should select a FAR Part 141 | | | | checked out in. Select a flight school that provides both |
| flight school in order to gain the necessary | | | | tri gear and conventional gear aircraft. |
| certifications. No, not necessarily. You should select a | | | | Also, select a flight school that provides an aerobatic |
| flight school based on the type of learning you prefer. | | | | course. And take that course after you become a |
| Many students do much better in a less formal type of | | | | certified Private Pilot. You need to be able to |
| learning environment. After your training, regardless of | | | | instinctively recover from unusual flight attitudes, in |
| what type of flight school you attended, your | | | | case the situation ever arises during your flying in the |
| certifications are the same. A Private Pilot License, | | | | future. This is true for all pilots, regardless of whether |
| Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot License, CFI, and | | | | you want to become a professional pilot or a pilot who |
| other certifications, can all be obtained from either a | | | | flies solely for recreation. If they do not have a |
| FAR Part 141 or a FAR Part 61 flight school. | | | | aerobatic course, at least as a bare minimum, learn |
| As a matter of fact, your FAA flight examiner does | | | | actual spin recovery from an instructor who is |
| not care what type of school you attended. His or her | | | | proficient in the technique. |
| concern is solely about whether or not you can fly an | | | | Finally, when selecting a flight school, choose one |
| airplane. The examiner also wants to make sure you | | | | where they have an instructor you feel comfortable |
| have the necessary knowledge to back up your flying | | | | with. This means choose an instructor which you feel |
| skill. So, select either a FAR Part 141 or FAR 61 flight | | | | is compatible with your style of learning. And since you |
| school based on the style of learning you prefer. | | | | will be shoulder to shoulder with your instructor while |
| After you have decided on the type of flight school, | | | | flying, it also helps to make sure your personality is |
| the next step is to ask yourself the question, why do I | | | | compatible with the personality of the instructor. Finding |
| want to become a pilot? Your answer to this question | | | | the right instructor is probably the most important |
| will also help you decide on the type of flight school | | | | component in terms of learning how to fly. |
| you choose. Here we are not talking about FAR Part | | | | So to conclude, when selecting a flight school, choose |
| 141, or FAR Part 61. If you decide that you want to | | | | either a FAR Part 141 or FAR Part 61 flight school |
| become a professional pilot, then you want to find a | | | | based on the style of learning you prefer. Determine |
| flight school which can help you achieve this goal. | | | | why you want to become a pilot. If you desire to |
| The reason for this is because almost all pilots who | | | | become a professional pilot, select a school which can |
| want to fly as a professional, need to build flight time, | | | | help you obtain a CFI position. Also, select a flight |
| and the only real economical way to build hours is to | | | | school which has a diverse fleet of aircraft. Finally, in |
| fly as an instructor. This means you should find a flight | | | | order to increase your level of safety, make sure the |
| school which will allow you to gain your Certified Flight | | | | flight school offers an aerobatic course. If you follow |
| Instructor rating, and preferably that same flight school | | | | these steps, you will find that learning to fly an airplane |
| also takes on their own graduates as flight instructors | | | | can be one of the most enjoyable learning |
| to work at their flight school. But it is not just building | | | | experiences that you can have in your life time. And |
| hours that are important. It is building the right type of | | | | yes, you can fulfill that archetypical dream. |
| hours. | | | | |