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Flying
Handbook Menu > Introduction
to Flight Training > Sources of Flight Training
The major sources of flight training in the
United States include FAA-approved pilot schools and training
centers, non-certificated (14 CFR part 61) flying schools, and
independent flight instructors. FAA “approved” schools
are those flight schools certificated by the FAA as pilot schools
under 14 CFR part 141. [figure1-2] Application for certification
is voluntary, and the school must meet stringent requirements
for personnel, equipment, maintenance, and facilities. The school
must operate in accordance with an established curriculum, which
includes a training course outline (TCO)
figure1-2. FAA-approved pilot school
certificate.
approved by the FAA. The TCO must contain student
enrollment prerequisites, detailed description of each lesson
including standards and objectives, expected accomplishments
and standards for each stage of training, and a description
of the checks and tests used to measure a student’s accomplishments.
FAA-approved pilot school certificates must be renewed every
2 years. Renewal is contingent upon proof of continued high
quality instruction and a minimum level of instructional activity.
Training at an FAA certificated pilot school is structured.
Because of this structured environment, the CFRs allow graduates
of these pilot schools to meet the certification experience
requirements of 14 CFR part 61 with less flight time. Many FAA
certificated pilot schools have designated pilot examiners (DPEs)
on their staff to administer FAA practical tests. Some schools
have been granted examining authority by the FAA. A school with
examining authority for a particular course or courses has the
authority to recommend its graduates for pilot certificates
or ratings without further testing by the FAA. A list of FAA
certificated pilot schools and their training courses can be
found in Advisory Circular (AC) 140-2, FAA Certificated Pilot
School Directory.
FAA-approved training centers are certificated
under 14 CFR part 142. Training centers, like certificated pilot
schools, operate in a structured environment with approved courses
and curricula, and stringent standards for personnel, equipment,
facilities, operating procedures and record keeping. Training
centers certificated under 14 CFR part 142, however, specialize
in the use of flight simulation (flight simulators and flight
training devices) in their training courses.
The overwhelming majority of flying schools
in the United States are not certificated by the FAA. These
schools operate under the provisions of 14 CFR part 61. Many
of these non-certificated flying schools offer excellent training,
and meet or exceed the standards required of FAA-approved pilot
schools. Flight instructors employed by non-certificated flying
schools, as well as independent flight instructors, must meet
the same basic 14 CFR part 61 flight instructor requirements
for certification and renewal as those flight instructors employed
by FAA certificated pilot schools. In the end, any training
program is dependent upon the quality of the ground and flight
instruction a student pilot receives.
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