flight training for the private pilot certificate, commercial  pilot certificate, instrument rating, and ATP certificate.  Flight schools operating under 14 CFR part 141 are  certificated by the FAA. Application for certification is  voluntary and the school must meet stringent requirements  for personnel, equipment, maintenance, facilities, and must  teach an established curriculum, which includes a training  course outline (TCO) approved by the FAA. The certificated  schools may qualify for a ground school rating and a flight  school rating. In addition, the school may be authorized  to give its graduates practical (flight) tests and knowledge  (computer administered written) tests. The FAA Pilot School  Search database located at http://av-info.faa.gov/PilotSchool.  asp, lists certificated ground and flight schools and the pilot  training courses each school offers.  Enrollment in a 14 CFR part 141 flight school ensures  quality, continuity, and offers a structured approach to flight  training because these facilities must document the training  curriculum and have their flight courses approved by the  FAA. These strictures allow 14 CFR part 141 schools to  complete certificates and ratings in fewer flight hours, which  can mean a savings on the cost of flight training for the  student pilot. For example, the minimum requirement for a  Private Pilot Certificate is 35 hours in a part 141-certificated  school and 40 hours in a part 61-certificated school. (This  difference may be insignificant for a Private Pilot Certificate  because the national average indicates most pilots require 60  to 75 hours of flight training.)  Many excellent flight schools find it impractical to qualify  for the FAA part 141 certificates and are referred to as part  61 schools. 14 CFR part 61 outlines certificate and rating  requirements for pilot certification through noncertificated  schools and individual flight instructors. It also states what  knowledge-based training must be covered and how much  flight experience is required for each certificate and rating.  Flight schools and flight instructors who train must adhere  to the statutory requirements and train pilots to the standards  found in 14 CFR part 61.  One advantage of flight training under 14 CFR part 61 is its  flexibility. Flight lessons can be tailored to the individual  student, because 14 CFR part 61 dictates the required  minimum flight experience and knowledge-based training  necessary to gain a specific pilot’s license, but it does not  stipulate how the training is to be organized. This flexibility  can also be a disadvantage because a flight instructor who  fails to organize the flight training can cost a student pilot  time and expense through repetitious training. One way for  a student pilot to avoid this problem is to ensure the flight  instructor has a well-documented training syllabus.  Whether an individual chooses to train under 14 CFR part  141 or part 61, the key to an effective flight program is the  quality of the ground and flight training received from the  CFI. The flight instructor assumes total responsibility for  training an individual to meet the standards required for  certification within an ever-changing operating environment.  A CFI should possess an understanding of the learning  process, knowledge of the fundamentals of teaching, and  Examine the facility before committing to any flight training.  Evaluate the answers on the checklist, and then take time to  think things over before making a decision. This proactive  approach to choosing a flight school will ensure a student  pilot contracts with a flight school or flight instructor best  suited to their individual needs.  Questions for the training facility should be aimed at  determining if the instruction fits available personal time.  What are the school’s operating hours? Does the facility have  dedicated classrooms available for ground training required  by the FAA? Is there an area available for preflight briefings,  postflight debriefings, and critiques? Are these rooms private  in nature in order to provide a nonthreatening environment  in which the instructor can explain the content and outcome  of the flight without making the student feel self-conscious?  Be inquisitive and proactive when searching for a flight  school, do some homework, and develop a checklist of  questions by talking to pilots and reading articles in flight  magazines. The checklist should include questions about  aircraft reliability and maintenance practices, and questions  for current students such as whether or not there is a safe,  clean aircraft available when they are scheduled to fly.  Do not make the determination based on financial concerns  alone, because the quality of training is very important.  Prior to making a final decision, visit the schools under  consideration and talk with management, instructors, and  students. Request a personal tour of the flight school facility.  To obtain information about pilot training, contact the local  FSDO, which maintains a current file on all schools within its  district. The choice of a flight school depends on what type of  certificate is sought, and whether an individual wishes to fly  as a sport pilot or wishes to pursue a career as a professional  pilot. Another consideration is the amount of time that can  be devoted to training. Ground and flight training should  be obtained as regularly and frequently as possible because  this assures maximum retention of instruction and the  achievement of requisite proficiency.  How To Find a Reputable Flight Program  How To Choose a Certificated Flight Instructor (CFI)  1-19 