Flight training in United States

In the United States pilot certification is federal and set by FAA regulations in Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations. Part 61 sets the eligibility, knowledge, experience and testing requirements for each certificate and rating, and training can be given by an authorized instructor outside any approved school. Part 141 is an alternative route: FAA-certificated pilot schools run approved, FAA-reviewed courses under the general operating rules of that part. Part 142 covers training centers, which provide training in simulators and training devices as an alternative means to accomplish training required by several other parts. Which route a school uses affects how its course is structured, so students should ask a school which part it operates under.

Source: ecfr.gov/current/title-14/part-141/subpart-A/sec

• Federal Aviation AdministrationIssues pilot, flight instructor and ground instructor certificates under 14 CFR Part 61, certifies pilot schools under Part 141 and training centers under Part 142, and issues airman medical certificates under Part 67.
• Transportation Security Administration (Flight Training Security Program)Administers the security threat assessment that non-U.S. citizens must pass before certain flight training (49 CFR Part 1552).

Listing here does not imply affiliation. Flight School Atlas is independent of every aviation authority.

• Private pilot

  Part 61 sets the age, English, aeronautical experience and testing requirements for the private pilot certificate with an airplane, helicopter or other category rating.

  Source

• Commercial pilot

  A commercial certificate requires more flight experience than the private certificate and is a prerequisite for the flight instructor certificate.

  Source

• Airline transport pilot

  The ATP certificate is the highest airplane pilot certificate and has its own age and total-time requirements.

  Source

Names and privileges are local to United States. Similar names in other countries are not interchangeable.

A regulatory minimum is a legal floor for the qualification. It is not the number of hours most students need, and not a guarantee of cost or completion time.

Part 61

FAA rules for pilot, flight instructor and ground instructor certification; training under an authorized instructor.

Part 141

FAA rules for certificated pilot schools and their approved courses.

Part 142

FAA rules for training centers, an alternative means of accomplishing training required by other parts.

Authorized instructor

Defined in 14 CFR 61.1; includes holders of a flight instructor certificate when giving training within its privileges.

Airman medical certificates are issued under 14 CFR Part 67, which sets the eligibility standards for first-, second- and third-class certificates. Official medical information

Applicants for the instrument rating and flight instructor certificate must be able to read, speak, write and understand English.

Languages of instruction among researched schools: English.

Non-U.S. citizens who apply for flight training from a U.S. flight training provider are subject to TSA flight training security rules in 49 CFR Part 1552 and should check with the provider and TSA before starting. Visa and immigration requirements are separate and set by the U.S. government; this page makes no promise about eligibility.

• TSA Flight Training Security Program rule (49 CFR Part 1552)
• TSA announcement of the final rule

Training approval does not establish immigration permission or international-student eligibility. Verify current rules with the official sources above.

14 CFR 61.75 describes how the holder of a foreign pilot licence issued by an ICAO contracting State may apply for a U.S. pilot certificate based on it; the certificate can only be used while the holder also has the foreign licence. Details and verification procedures are on the FAA website.

• 14 CFR 61.75