Part 61 vs Part 141, and choosing your instructor

Two ways to train

Flight schools train under one of two sets of rules. Both lead to the exact same private pilot certificate.

The lower minimum at 141 schools rarely saves much money in practice, because most students need more than the minimum either way. What matters more is how often you can fly and how good your instructor is.

What to look for

• Airplane availability. Ask how far ahead you have to book and how often airplanes are down for maintenance.
• Instructor stability. Many CFIs leave for airline jobs. Ask how long instructors usually stay, and what happens if yours leaves.
• Clear pricing. Ask for the hourly rate of the airplane and instructor, and whether fuel is included.
• A plan. A good CFI can show you the syllabus and tell you what each lesson covers.

Fly often

The single biggest factor in how long training takes is frequency. Flying two or three times a week keeps skills fresh, so each lesson builds on the last. Flying once every two weeks means spending part of every lesson relearning. If you can, save up so you can fly consistently instead of starting and stopping.