If you are in the process of selecting a flight school, you need to read this article. When choosing a training provider, there are a lot of factors you should consider. We will cover them all here.
Things to Consider When Choosing a Flight School
There are many factors to consider when selecting your flight school, and believe it or not, it is not all about time and money.
First, you should consider the number of aircraft and instructors available at each flight school. This gives you a backup plan if an instructor leaves or an aircraft is grounded for maintenance.
Maintenance and safety are also critical factors. You shouldn’t select an inexpensive option at the expense of safety! I highly recommend visiting prospective flight schools. While you’re there, speak with instructors and students, take an introductory flight, and check out the operation.
Another major consideration is proximity. The further the flight school, the more excuse to procrastinate and push off your training. If possible, choose a flight school that is close to home if you are not training full-time in an accelerated program. If you are looking at accredited or collegiate programs, moving to their location, at least temporarily, is a good idea.
The Pilot Pipeline Flight School Finder is a great tool to help you search for flight schools and make an informed decision. This tool allows you to sort through schools based on rating, location, military needs, and much more.
Different Types of Flight Schools
There are many different types of flight schools out there, and you should understand the differences between them before making a decision. The three main types of schools are Traditional (Part 61 and Part 141), Accelerated, and Universities.
Part 61
What is a Part 61 school? By default, all flight training is conducted under 14 CFR Part 61. Any flight instructor can set up a flight school and start giving flying lessons under this rule.
The flight experience requirements under Part 61 are generally higher than Part 141; however, Part 61 programs can end up costing less overall.
There are a lot of very small Part 61 operations (think Mom and Pop), but there are also some very large schools that have an abundance of aircraft and instructors.
These programs offer the greatest flexibility in scheduling and sequencing of your training. Although that flexibility is nice if you have a job, a family, and an otherwise busy life, it can also lead to a longer training timeline. In order to succeed in a Part 61 program, you need the discipline to study, to schedule yourself for regular flying, and to start training for your next rating as soon as you finish each checkride.
Overall, Part 61 is a great option if you have other important obligations in your life. It provides flexibility and is usually less expensive, but it does require a great amount of self-discipline and application.
Part 141
What is a Part 141 school? Part 141 schools are required to submit and adhere to very strict training programs, which allows students to earn their ratings with fewer total flight hours. The FAA rule governing pilot training is 14 CFR Part 141. Although training under Part 141 can lead to finishing your rating sooner, it also means that you’ll likely pay more when compared to a Part 61 school.
If there is a Part 141 flight school in your area, you should be able to enroll in it as a part-time student. You’ll need to attend a scheduled set of ground school classes. You still have some flexibility on when you schedule yourself to fly, but the sequence of events in your training will follow a set syllabus. During training, you’ll have Stage Checks (mini checkrides) to make sure you’re progressing in the program and prepared for any big steps like your first solo (don’t worry, these aren’t as stress-inducing as FAA checkrides).
One of the big advantages of Part 141 programs is your ability to earn a Commercial Pilot rating sooner, and subsequently get to your first entry-level job sooner. Although these programs tend to cost a little more than their Part 61 equivalents, you have the potential to make up the difference by getting paid for the flight hours that a Part 61 student has to complete while still in training.
Ultimately, Part 141 is a great option if you are looking for a structured program, are able to spend a little more money, and want to get to professional flying quickly.
Accelerated Flight Training
Accelerated training programs can operate under either Part 61 or Part 141. These programs are for aspiring pilots who have the ability to make flight training their full time job. You’ll fly several hours each day, 5-6 days per week, until you complete your rating. While these programs can cost more than slower-paced options, they can get you to the point of flying for pay far sooner than other options.
If you choose one of these options, you must be located nearby. While there are a few instructors who will bring an airplane to you for a week or two at a time, most accelerated programs involve you traveling to them. Many programs offer discounted accommodations for their students. Some have RV hookups, and some even include accommodations in their fee.
The fast pace of these programs is great for training continuity; however, it also puts a lot of pressure on you to get all your studying done. For each rating you earn, you’ll have weeks to internalize a volume of information that some pilots process over months. You’ll help yourself by starting to study in advance, but you also need to have the discipline to study at night, after each long day of flying. It should go without saying that you need to be able to free yourself from family and job distractions for the duration of the course if you want to be successful.
Part 141 Bachelor’s Degree Program
There are also many universities that combine a 4-year Bachelor’s degree program with flight training. If you plan to complete a 4-year college degree anyway, this can be a good way to knock out both at the same time.
Few pilots in other training programs need a full four years to earn their ratings. However, as long as you graduate with at least 60 credit hours of approved curriculum in this program, you should be eligible to earn your R-ATP with just 1,000 total flight hours. This is a nice boost that can get you to the airlines a solid year or more before other pilots who need the default of 1,500 hours for an ATP rating.
Most of these collegiate programs offer to hire their graduates as flight instructors as soon as they complete their training, whether they’ve graduated yet or not.
These 4-year schools tend to price their flight training as a package deal. If you have previous flight experience they should be willing to work with you to only charge you for the flying you need. However, it will take some action and negotiation on your part to ensure that happens. Worst case, you’ll log a few extra hours that you need for your ATP anyway.
By combining the costs of college with those of flight training, these programs tend to be the most expensive. If you want to pursue one, we highly recommend taking advantage of any scholarships and grants you can find. The nice thing is that when you graduate you’ll have a degree that makes you competitive for any flying job in the industry. You won’t have to worry about trying to finish that degree while also working full time, raising a family, etc.
Part 141 Associate’s Degree Program
Many colleges offer a 2-year training program that combines flight training with an Associate’s degree. This can be a great way to knock out some college, especially since these schools tend to award some college credits for your flight training.
Completing one of these programs should make you eligible for a Restricted Airline Transport Pilot (R-ATP) rating with 1,250 total flight hours, instead of the standard 1,500. This is a big bonus that can get you flying at an airline 6-12 months before your peers. Many of these programs are happy to hire recent graduates to stay on as flight instructors, helping you continue to work toward your R-ATP flight hour requirements.
Pricing for these programs is similar to Bachelor’s Degree Programs: package deals. However, try and negotiate the price if you have any previous flying experience!
When compared with 4-year collegiate flying programs, these 2-year programs get you the same pilot ratings twice as fast and for a significantly lower cost. Although many airlines don’t officially require a 4-year degree, it’s very difficult to get hired at a major passenger or cargo airline without one.
As long as you have a solid plan for completing a 4-year degree after you finish your 2-year program, you should be fine. However, if you’re the kind of person who would have trouble getting your last two years of school done in a timely manner on your own, you should probably avoid an Associate’s program.
Cost and Time of Flight Training
Now let’s discuss the cost and time of training at the different types of schools. Costs may vary depending on the school you select, but these estimates should be fairly accurate. Additionally, the timing of training will depend on your discipline and commitment to flying.
Our cost estimates for your flight training include earning the following ratings:
- Private Pilot
- Instrument Rating
- Commercial Pilot – Airplane Single Engine Land (SEL)
- Commercial Pilot – Airplane Multiengine Land (MEL)
If you choose to train under Part 61, you’ll need at least the following to meet the FAA’s flight experience requirements:
- 65 hours of dual SEL flight instruction
- 185 hours of solo SEL flying
- 10 hours of dual MEL flight instruction
If you choose to train under any of the Part 141 options, the FAA’s requirements are slightly lower:
- 110 hours of dual SEL flight training
- 80 hours of solo SEL flying
- 10 hours of dual MEL flight instruction
- 80 more hours of SEL aircraft rental to make accrue Pilot in Command (PIC) time equivalent to the Part 61 path
The estimates for both types of training include aircraft rental rates, instructor rates, ground school costs, and examiner fees.
- Single engine airplane rental: $110 – $175/hour
- Multi engine airplane rental: $250 – $450/hour
- Flight Instruction: $20 – $40/hour
The aircraft rental and instructor rates listed above are based on real world data from flight schools across the country that use common training aircraft (i.e. Piper 140, Cessna 172). The estimates for accelerated and collegiate programs are also based on real data from verified program price quotes. Your exact costs may differ greatly based on your location, aircraft, and school. But, in the aggregate, our estimates represent the average cost to someone in your situation.
Cost & Time Breakdown
| School Type |
Cost Range |
Average Cost |
Time Range |
| Part 61 |
$33,100 – $52,850 |
$42,975 |
7 months – 1 year |
| Part 141 (Non-Collegiate) |
$36,000 – $55,450 |
$45,725 |
5 months – 1 year |
| Accelerated |
$48,000 – $58,000 |
$53,000 |
4 to 8 months |
| Part 141 Associate’s |
$50,000 – $60,000 |
$55,000 |
2 years |
| Part 141 Bachelor’s |
$60,000 – $75,000 |
$67,500 |
4 years |
As you can see, the prices for the different schools can vary a lot. However, cost is not everything. You should consider location, outside obligations, safety, and many other factors when choosing your flight school.
Paying for Flight Training
Although training can be very expensive, it is definitely worth it – just ask any pilot. Thankfully, there are plenty of financing options out there (Scholarships, grants, loans, etc.).
Pilot Pipeline offers a Scholarship Finder to its Premium members. This tool allows you to sort and filter through over $25 million worth of scholarships based on demographics, ratings, organization, and much more. If you are interested in learning more about other financing options, read this article.
Wrapping Up
There is a lot to know about flight schools when deciding where you want to conduct your training. These considerations include types of school, cost, time, etc. Hopefully this article has provided information that will help you make a well-informed decision. Good luck with your flight school search and fly safely!
Career Guidance and Planning
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