Need Advice..?

Question

What are the hour requirements for Part 141 & Part 61.

I'm about to start my CPL, & yet confused whether to follow Part 141 or Part 61. I wanna do it the cheaper, yet the better way, (in a school which has both Part 141 & part 61.)

Thanks!!!

Answer 1

I'd get with an instructor you know and trust, who can look at your logbook, and evaluate, since there are specific requirements.  You might even offer to pay him/her for an hours time.  It would certainly be worth it in the long run.

I went part 61 for my private.  I did it that way, to get more one on one, and I am really glad I did.  Probably spent a little more, but I think my training since then was much better because of that foundation.

Answer 2

Do you already have an instrument rating?  How many hours do you have right now?

Part 141 allows for reduced hours, but those hours must be accumulated while you are enrolled in the Part 141 program.  If you are already somewhat close (within 50-100 hours) of the 250 hours required under part 61, you are better off taking that route.

I can't tell you the EXACT hours required because each 141 program syllabus must be approved by the FAA, and each program's hour requirements are different.  Assuming you already have an instrument rating, the MINIMUM requirement for a 141 commercial program is 120 hours IN THE PROGRAM, not total time.  Many schools will build in more hours.  If you don't have your instrument rating, you must be enrolled in a 141 instrument course at the same time and meet additional flight experience requirements for that course.

If all of your flight time to this point has been flight training and you finished your training in an "average" number of hours, the 141 course will probably give you an edge by offering somewhat reduced hours.  A dual enrollment in a 141 commercial/instrument course requires a minimum of 155 hours (again, that's time accumulated in the course, not total time... and that's the minimum for course approval - you're school's course may have more time built in).  If you have less than 100 hours total time right now, this will probably save you time.

As for which is "better", in all reality, your school *probably* uses the same training syllabus for both 61 and 141 training.  By not enrolling you in the 141 training, it gives you and the school more flexibility for crediting your previous experience.  If this is not an issue, stick with the 141.  You can always "unenroll" in the 141 if the experience requirements are holding you back, but you cannot start your training under part 61 and then decide to enroll in the 141 down the road and have anything you have already done count toward that.

Since you are going for your commercial certificate, you should become very familiar with finding things in the regs.  I'll even get you started.

Here's the 61 requirements: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/tex...

and the 141 requirements: http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/tex...

I'd recommend that you read them, know them, and love them.  Good luck!