Definition
A section of the federal aviation regulations that governs FAA-approved pilot schools. Schools certificated under part 141 must follow a structured, FAA-approved training course outline (TCO), meet specific facility, equipment, and instructor standards, and operate under FAA oversight. Because of this structured curriculum, part 141 schools are permitted to qualify students for certain pilot certificates and ratings with fewer minimum flight hours than schools operating under part 61.
Plain English
The set of FAA rules for formally approved flight schools. These schools follow a tightly structured training program checked by the FAA, and in return their students can earn certain pilot certificates with slightly fewer hours of flying than at a less-structured school.
Context Anchor
Seen when comparing ways to get flight training, especially training with an independent instructor versus training at an FAA-approved pilot school.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations, the official collection of rules issued by U.S. federal agencies. Title 14 covers Aeronautics and Space, and 'part 141' is the specific chapter within that title dealing with pilot schools. So '14 CFR part 141' is just a precise address pointing to one set of rules inside the larger federal rulebook.
Why Pilots Care
Part 141 schools can reduce the minimum flight hours required for certificates compared to Part 61, provided the school follows an FAA-approved syllabus.
Intuition Check
Do not read “part” as a casual piece of something. In this term, “part 141” means a specific numbered section of federal aviation regulations.
Example Sentence 1
She chose a 14 CFR part 141 school because the structured syllabus let her finish her private pilot certificate in fewer flight hours.
Example Sentence 2
Our training records must be kept in accordance with 14 CFR Part 141 to maintain the school’s FAA approval.