De La Ghetto

Hello gentlemen,

I seek advice from those that have come before me. I'm currently a student pilot finishing up my private at a part 141 flight school. I've been flying for one year and have accrued 70 hours of flight time and I still don't have my license. I do not have my license mainly because of scheduling...# of planes vs. volume of students in the program and weather (I live in NJ), etc. I don't have much money, but I pay $130wet/h for a Cessna 152 and $145wet/h for a 172M. Anyways, there is another flight school even closer to my home that has a fantastic fleet of newer aircraft with cheaper rates (for example, $80wet/h for a Cessna 152) however, it is a part 61 school.

I'm currently studying aviation, and if I finish the part 141 program I can get hired with the restricted ATP at 1250 oppose to 1500hours(if I were to pursue the part 61 route.) I feel that I would save more money by going part 61... but then again I would get my commercial at 250 hours oppose to 190. From my knowledge however, I know most student in the part 141 program I attend finish at 200-230 hours. Do you guys think its worth going part 61? I'm thinking of the possibility of finishing up my private and starting instrument training as part 61 right afterwards. I am not sure if this is the wisest decision.

Any suggestions or advice will be greatly appreciated!

BeardedFlyer

61 61 61! If you find a way to get to 1250 then 250 hrs more will only be a few extra months.

MALB

61 is definitely a better bet. 141 is much more costly and that cost spread out over the additional 250 hours for part 61 isn't too bad. Also, with part 61, you usually can move faster and get a job as a CFI building flight time faster. Overall, you'll get to 1500 with part 61 before you get to even 1000 under 141

De La Ghetto

Thanks for the replies BeardedFlyer and MALB!

kimber1911

Being a 141 grad, I am obviously a bit biased toward that route. That being said, there is nothing wrong with 61. I have many friends and colleagues that did all or part of their training part 61 and are just as well off. Most places that are looking for a college degree don't really care what the degree is. Either way it's going to be costly, unless you already have that money on hand. At a 61 school, you will most likely pay out of pocket. Conversely, at a 141 school, you can apply for student loans to cover the costs. Just keep in mind that you will have to pay those loans back, and trust me...it isn't fun.

In any case, good luck, enjoy it, and fly safe!

web500sjc

You didn't say weather you are in a university flight program so I just want toad this incase you aren't, the reduced hour Restricted ATPs are only available to those students that graduate from an FAA approved university program with an associated 141 curriculum.

rickair7777

I have trained and instructed at both 141 and 61.

141 training is too structured in many cases, and people get stuck repeating things they've already mastered. Or if they don't they master on schedule they have to keep repeating it at additional cost...in 61 I'd often move on to something the student was better at to allow him to build more experience and confidence before re-attacking the problem area.

Also in 141 you can finish with less hours, so naturally the 141 schools charge more for the privilege...so you pay more and graduate with less flight time! Is it just me or does anyone else see the problem with that?

IMO 141 is only good for military VA benefits. Even if you're attending an aviation university you can do your training part 61, save money, and get more flight time. The 1000/1250 hour restricted ATP might justify doing a 141 program, but you'd have to do some math on that (your time vs. your money).

emmanuel

what about:

I am from Mexico and I am about to get my PPL, but I would like to go to the USA and get my other ratings: [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]I[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]nstruments[/FONT] and [/FONT][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Commercial[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT](Airplane Single-Engine and Multi-Engine Land)[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] but I have a co[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]uple of questions and perhaps you can help me:

[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

• [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]what do I [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]need to do to convert my Mexican PPL to[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]a US FAA [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]PPL[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]?[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
• [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]being [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]not a U.S. resident, [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]should I go to part 61 or part 141?[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
• [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]any chance you can [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]recommend a good school (costs, process, good instructors, times, etc.) near to San Pablo, C[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]A. 94806; I have [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]family there and at lea[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]st I wonŽt have to pay for [FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]accommodations.[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Pleas[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]e let me know.

[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]thanks a lot in advance.

[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]Emmanuel from Mexico[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT] [/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]
[FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][FONT='Trebuchet MS', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]
[/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT][/FONT]

emmanuel

what about:

I am from Mexico and I am about to get my PPL, but I would like to go to the USA and get my other ratings: Instruments Commercial(Airplane Single-Engine and Multi-Engine Land) but I have a couple of questions and perhaps you can help me:

• what do I need to do to convert my Mexican PPL to a US FAA PPL.
• I am not a U.S. resident, should I go to part 61 or part 141? I mean do I need to get my student visa or with just a tourist visa is enough?
• Can anyone recommend a good school (costs, process, good instructors, times, etc.) near to San Pablo, 94806;I have family there and at lea st I wonŽt have to pay for [accommodations.

Please let me know IŽll really appreciate your help.

Thanks in advance.

Emmanuel from Mexico

Flightcap

"What do I need to do to convert my Mexican PPL to a US FAA PPL?"

Contact the FAA - probably the Certification branch in Oklahoma City but you could also ask any regional Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).

"Part 61 or 141?"

The same information as given above also applies to you with selecting a school. If you select a part 141 school, however, you will need to complete an approval process through the Transportation Security Agency for permission to get flight training in the U.S.

"Student visa or tourist visa?"

I'm not an expert on this topic; maybe others can shed more light.