Originally Posted by C152driver
Dont Part 141 programs have much more rigid rules that they have to follow? Dont you spend less actual time flying (Commercial at 200 hours in 141 vs. 250 in 61)? You might want to take a look at the "big picture" costs.
I think it may be a bit dangerous to assume that all CFI's will give ground instruction at no charge. Some do and some dont. If you are committed to your school's program, then you may just have to pay up and do the work. Or, find some other solution that fits your needs and wallet better
I have trained and worked at both 141 and 61 operations...
The theory is that by adhering to a more organized curriculum, a 141 school can get the job done in less flight time, but often there is an associated requirement for a set number of ground school hours. 61 does not require a fixed number of ground hours...you can a take a class if you like, or just read the textbook and do the workbook youself (home study course). Your CFI will check your knowledge prior to sign-off anyway. Many 61 schools run organized groun school classes anyway, they just avoid the 141 status because it is a HUGE paperwork hassle for the school and requires more FAA supervision (real pilots don't like paperwork or the FAA).
The reality is that flight schools (many of which are thinly disguised con-games) leverage their "FAA Approved 141" status into a marketing gimmick to justify higher costs (often WAY higher!).
The end result is usually that you pay the same or even MORE for the same rating under 141...but you did it in less flight hours. The problem here is that total flight time is the primary measure of your career progression at the entry level...you may gotten your commercial with 50 fewer hours than a 61 student, but guess who's going to meet airline hiring mins first? Hint: Not the guy with less flight time.
I would only recommend a 141 program to someone who has a specific need for it: Military veterans need 141 to use their benefits, and if you have a scholarship to a university that runs a 141 program obviously you should do that. There is one other 141 benefit: Some, not all, 141 schools can conduct their own checkride in-house without a DPE. This is a little more comfortable for the student, and due to regulatory technicalities you cannot get a pink slip (check ride failure) on an in-house 141 checkride. If yoy "fail", it counts as incomplete, you get more training, and redo the part you screwed up.