Originally Posted by
tallpilot
Part 61 might be faster for private and instrument but a good 141 should have a waiver to get the commercial with far less than 250 hours, they should also have examining authority for some ratings which will reduce DPE costs and delays. It's kinda stupid to buy hours instead of getting paid as a CFI.
In my experience (a bit dated these days) 141 *always* charged enough of a premium that the cost to CPL was a wash at best. The scam was people knew to aviation (or their parents) just compared the total program cost... 141 could deliver the ratings for a comparable cost but with less logged flight time, and of course the school would just pocket the 50-60 hours saved on airplane time.
Also... getting all rating plus CPL wrapped up right at the 141 190 hour minimum can be sporting, more likely you'll need more anyway.
And in 61 you have the option, once CPL tasks are mastered, of training for CFI in the right seat as you work towards 250 hours. Yes you can even take the CPL checkride in the right seat, most examiners are fine with that. I recall a guy who took the CFI ride a couple days after CPL. That's a better use of that last 50 hours than hamburger runs.