Finding the Right Flight Instructor – Training Options (Part 1 of 2)

Navigating my journey from student to Private Pilot took nearly two years.  The process that began with a discovery flight one cold December day in Ohio in 2018 didn’t conclude until September of 2020 and 350 miles away in Illinois.  That might seem unnecessarily time-consuming – particular to any former Part 141 students who might read this.  But for someone with no inclination toward the airlines, the slower tempo of Part 61 flight training appealed to my work schedule and household commitments at the time. 

A work-related move to Illinois and initial disappointments in finding a trust-worthy training option slowed the process even further.  A touch-and-go during a “diagnostic” flight at a new Part 61 school resulting in an aborted takeoff after a radio dislodged from the dash on account of a missing retaining bolt.  An instructor who never took notes – much less invested the time to pen organized training plans – kept prompting me to “remind” him of what materiel and maneuvers we covered during previous lessons.  A flight school owner growing frustrated with my bringing aircraft maintenance issues to his attention was the last straw, “no Josh, the primer handle coming loose from its lock during flight will not cause engine failure.”  As both a CFI and now student pursuing his Airframe and Powerplant Mechanic (A&P) certificate at a local Part 147 program, I find this last example both ignorant and disturbing.  An “open primer handle” can cause the engine to run rough (i.e. too rich a mixture) and even stop the engine if the handle is forced back in during flight if the cylinders flood with too much fuel.[1] 

Five training flights and only 30 days into my new training program in Illinois and I was ready to try something new.  I longed for my former training school in Ohio, but moving back simply for my training’s sake wasn’t an option.  And so began the frustrating four-month process of finding a new instructor and airworthy aircraft to fly.  Those of you who have reentered the market for flight training after a poor experience know my frustration.  The time and effort invested into the search can prove just as irritating as the reasons for leaving your ex-instructor in the first place.  But looking back, I lacked a firm grasp of the training options and their differences – a bit of wisdom that might have saved me a great deal of time by better informing my search.  Those considering initial training for Sport or Private Pilot Certificates could also benefit from this knowledge as well.

My previous mention of Part 141 versus Part 61 is a great place to start.  Part 141 refers to a chapter of the Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) that lists the requirements for flight schools to certify with the FAA.  Schools wishing to certify and operate under Part 141 must design a curriculum and lesson plans and hire instructors that meet a long list of legal prerequisites.[2]  Pinging your search engine of choice with terms akin to “flight training” will likely produce more than one Part 141 school in your area and so they’re easy to shop and research.  But like the other two options we’ll discuss later on, Part 141 schools come with both advantages and disadvantages:

• Full-time instruction (i.e. 40 hours a week) that requires forgoing full-time employment.  Part-time Part 141 options do exist, but are not the norm.

  
  

• A culture that emphasizes a commercial career after flight training – 141 schools actively encourage their students well beyond a Private Pilot Certification, even if that is not their intended goal.

  
  

• “Accelerated” training programs designed to be as intense and as fast-paced as college-level courses that prove challenging to anyone recently graduated from High School.

  
  

• A hefty price-tag that might require “financing” (i.e., taking on debt).

  
  

If you have the monetary means, seek a career with the airlines, enjoy a fast-paced learning environment, or have completed at least a year or two of college, a Part 141 flight training program just might be for you. 

On the other hand, if your goal is a Private Pilot Certificate or Instrument Rating, you prefer a slower pace, or you’re spend-thrift, a Part 61 School or independent instructor may be more appropriate options.  Part 61 schools’ syllabi and lesson plans are not approved by the FAA, but that doesn’t automatically translate into lower quality.  Like all CFIs, Part 61 instructors must individual certify with the FAA and the training they provide can be just as effective compared to what you might find at a Part 141.  The primary difference between these two school types is in their respective levels of intensity – which is noticeably less in a Part 61 environment.  Online search results for these schools often appear alongside the 141s and so you’ll have to visit each site to determine their status.  Part 61s have their own upsides and one significant downside to consider:

• Part-time instruction permits learning in your free time (i.e., evenings, weekends, and even your weekdays off).

  
  

• There is less pressure to pursue a commercial career, but these schools still offer the necessary training toward commercial certification if you decide to later on.

  
  

• The slower training tempo facilitates long-term learning, but slows the certification process considerably (i.e., many months or more).  But students can exercise a fair degree of control over that timeline because they control the training schedule and frequency.

  
  

• The cost is significantly less than Part 141s in the same area!

  
  

The single, biggest downside to a Part 61 is the increased time required to earn your wings when compared to a Part 141.  Patience is a must within the more temperate culture that best lends itself to general aviation enthusiasts.  While these schools still serve as a potential onramp to a commercial career, it may not be something the staff actively advocates.

While I made great progress at my first Part 61 flight school, I chose to complete my training with an independent CFI.  These instructors individually certify with the FAA, but train within the context of their own small business.  Because independent CFIs are not beholden to a school curriculum, they are responsible for writing their own teaching materials and managing their own training schedules.  And with that flexibility comes great responsibility to hold oneself accountable to teaching standards.  The additional effort required can make it is easier to distinguish between great and poor-performing, independent CFIs, however.  For non-affiliated instructors, effort can be reliable sign of quality.  Students choosing this path can expect:

• Great independent CFIs to generate valuable learning materials (slides, videos, syllabi, etc.), assign homework, and provide constructive feedback.  Poor instructors may do only some of this or none at all – failing to provide the necessary “help and adequacy” for the student to perform well.[3]

  
  

• The time independent CFIs possess compared to their Part 141 colleagues to permit uniquely-tailored training plans, flexible scheduling, and time to “interview” these instructors before training begins. 

  
  

• The cost to be consistently less than Part 141 schools and possibly less than Part 61 schools.  “Pay-as-you-go” is the norm – if things don’t work out, you won’t forfeit any pre-paid monies.  

  
  

• That while some independent instructors rent their own aircraft to students, many do not.  Finding an aircraft may take time.

  
  

• That many independent CFIs maintain an online presence, but Search Engine Optimization (SEO) can bury their websites beneath a tranche of flight school advertising in the short-term.  Word of mouth remains the best way to find one.

  
  

With independent instructors, both flexibility and responsibility increase.  Training is personalized, scheduling is much easier, and arrangements are non-binding.  But the CFI must manage the complexities of their own business, while the student must invest the time to shop around and interview prospective instructors to ensure good compatibility. 

Choosing the right training avenue for you comes down to resources available (i.e., time and money), academic experience, and individual goals.  No one route is necessarily better than the others despite what some might say.  Don’t rush this decision!  Once you’ve decided on a flight school or independent CFI, invest the time to research and shop your alternatives within that category.  Talent can vary greatly between schools and instructors.  Ask questions – of both CFIs and their students.  Great CFIs will not hesitate to refer you to former students if they agree to be contacted.  Be willing to say “no” and move on if someone gives you good reason to doubt their caliber.  The time you spend deciding could save you time, trouble, and motivation in the long run.

Fly on Folks,

Josh Meyer 

[1] “Primer out, Airplane Down,” General Aviation News, 2012:  https://generalaviationnews.com/2012/11/04/primer-out-airplane-down/

[2] Federal Aviation Regulations, FAA, 2025:  https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-14/chapter-I/subchapter-H/part-141?toc=1

[3] Aviation Instructor’s Handbook, FAA, 2022, page 2-10:  https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/aviation_instructors_handbook