Thread: part 61 or 141?
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Old 09-08-2008, 08:20 AM
  #7  
rickair7777
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I have trainined and worked under both 61 and 141.

61 is far more flexible and usually cheaper.

The gotcha with 141 is that although they advertise fewer hours, they almost invariably charge more for those hours. So you end up spending as much or more on 141, and hit the streets with less flight time. Well, guess what...pilot hiring is based on your actual flight experience in a real airplane...nobody cares about 141 vs. 61, some airline folks don't even know what 141 is.

Another problem is that you cannot focus your training efforts on areas where you need emphasis...you will have to repeat tasks which you have already mastered because the syllabuis says that, and then pay for EXTRA training if you have weak areas which you cannot master within the syllabus. Of course you will get charged for extra training...most students do end up buying more training.

With 61 you have to either find the right small school or carefully manage your own training at an FBO/club, but you can save a large amount of money that way.

I would only recommend 141 if you have military VA benefits (that's what 141 was created for) or are enrolled in a university flight program where you have no choice. Most 141 schools will allow you to do a 61 program if that makes more sense.
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