Originally Posted by
Rustee
Specifically regarding the Part 61 vs. 141 question...
I've found that doing your Private under 61 is better than than 141. This means you don't necessarily have to go to a larger flight school and pay their premium prices, and rather find something more affordable per hour. If I'm not mistaken, the 141 minimums for a Private certificate are 35, as compared to 61 minimums of only 40. With the average closer to 70 (or more, depending on where you train), there is little 141 advantage.
Now for your Instrument rating, a 141 course is valuable because it eliminates the 50 hours cross country that would be required if you do it under 61. Also, generally Instrument training with a 141 syllabus is very effective (more so than with a Private certificate, where the instructor has more flexibility), which can be a plus. Doing your Commercial 141 brings the total time requirement down to 190 (as opposed to 250 under 61), however, up to 50 hours of Flight Training Device time can be used towards the 250 total time requirement under 61. So, all things considered, if you can get cheaper per-hour rates flying somewhere 61, for your Commercial that may be your best bet.
As far as VA benefits, well, factor that into your decision making. If it's true that they only apply after your Private, than starting 61 and then doing your Instrument and Commercial 141 would make the most sense.
The VA will never pay for a PPL. They will not pay for an instrument rating either unless it is conducted while concurrently enrolled in a 141 CPL course. They don't want to pay for PPL and IR for hobby fliers.
I have trained and instructed under 61 and 141, and have used and administered VA bennies under 141.
Generally 141 schools charge more, so even if you finish with reduced hours you still end up paying close to the same amount. Unfortunately your job prospects as a pilot depend not on the amount of money you saved in school, but on your flying experience as measured by total flight time in airplanes (not simulators). If I was going to pay the same amount or close to it, I would take 61 and get more flight time.
VA bennies will reduce the amount you pay for 141 but at some pricey schools you can still pay as much out of pocket as you would have for 61 training. You really want to compare the price of:
1) All your ratings part 61 (PPL/IR/CPL/CFI/CFII/MEI) vs.
2) The cost of a 61 PPL folllowed by IR/CPL/CFI/CFII/MEI under 141 with VA.
But there is another critical consideration ...
Do you have a four-year college degree? Your aviation career will doomed without one, so do not even consider blowing your VA on flight training until you get that degree. There are very few aviation jobs and no career progression right now, so this would be a good time to hunker down and spend a few years in academia...