Selecting A Flight School

• FAA-Approved Training Centers.
• FAA-Approved Pilot Schools.
• Non-Certificated Flying Schools, and.
• Independent Flight Instructors.

FAA-Approved Training Centers:

• Training centers, also referred to as flight academies, operate under 14 CFR part 142 and are certificated by the FAA.
  • Application for certification is voluntary and the training center must meet stringent requirements for personnel, equipment, maintenance, facilities, and must teach a curriculum approved by the FAA.
  • Training centers typically utilize a number of flight simulation training devices as part of its curricula.
  • Flight training conducted at a training center is primarily done under contract to airlines and other commercial operators in transport or turbine aircraft, however many also provide flight training for the private pilot certificate, commercial pilot certificate, instrument rating, and ATP (Airline Transport Pilot) certificate.

FAA-Approved Pilot Schools:

• Flight schools operating under 14 CFR part 141 are certificated by the FAA. Application for certification is voluntary, and the school must meet applicable requirements for personnel, aircraft, facilities, records, and an FAA-approved training course outline. Some qualifying schools also receive examining authority for approved courses. The FAA Pilot School Search lists certificated schools and their approved courses.
• Part 141 provides an FAA-approved, documented course structure and regulatory oversight, but certification alone does not guarantee that a particular instructor, schedule, fleet, safety culture, or business arrangement will fit every student. Some approved courses permit lower regulatory minimum aeronautical experience than the corresponding part 61 path; actual completion time and total cost still depend on proficiency, continuity, availability, and individual progress.

Non-Certified Flying Schools:

• Many excellent flight schools find it impractical to qualify for the FAA part 141 certificates and are referred to as part 61 schools. 14 CFR part 61 outlines certificate and rating requirements for pilot certification through non-certificated schools and individual flight instructors. It also states what knowledge-based training must be covered and how much flight experience is required for each certificate and rating. Flight schools and flight instructors who train must adhere to the statutory requirements and train pilots to the standards found in 14 CFR part 61.
• One advantage of flight training under 14 CFR part 61 is its flexibility. Flight lessons can be tailored to the individual student, because 14 CFR part 61 dictates the required minimum flight experience and knowledge-based training necessary to gain a specific pilot's license, but it does not stipulate how the training is to be organized. This flexibility can also be a disadvantage because a flight instructor who fails to organize the flight training can cost a student pilot time and expense through repetitious training. One way for a student pilot to avoid this problem is to ensure the flight instructor has a well-documented training syllabus.

Independent Flight Instructors:

• Certificated flight instructors may provide training independently or through a Part 61 flight school
• In either arrangement, the instructor and training must meet the applicable 14 CFR part 61 requirements

• Orient the student to the scenario-based training system.
• Help the student become a confident planner and inflight manager of each flight and a critical evaluator of their own performance.
• Help the student understand the knowledge requirements present in real world applications.
• Diagnose learning difficulties and help the student overcome them.
• Evaluate student progress and maintain appropriate records.
• Provide continuous review of student learning.