Definition
Two sections of U.S. federal aviation regulations that govern formal pilot training programs. Part 141 covers FAA-approved pilot schools, which must follow an FAA-approved training course outline (syllabus) and meet specific standards for facilities, instructors, and student progress. Part 142 covers FAA-certificated training centers, which typically use flight simulators and structured curricula to train pilots, often for type ratings and airline-style training. Both parts require a formal, approved syllabus, unlike training conducted under Part 61, which is more flexible.
Plain English
These are the rules that govern structured, FAA-approved flight schools and training centers. Schools operating under these rules must teach from an approved lesson-by-lesson plan rather than training students freely.
Context Anchor
Seen when discussing approved training syllabi, course outlines, flight school certification, and training center requirements.
Derivation
CFR stands for Code of Federal Regulations — the official collection of U.S. federal rules. Title 14 is the volume covering aviation. The numbers 141 and 142 are simply the chapter numbers within that volume that deal with pilot schools and training centers.
Why Pilots Care
Training conducted under these parts meets specific regulatory standards that can affect certification timelines, credit for prior training, and acceptance by employers or the FAA.
Intuition Check
“Parts” here does not mean aircraft parts. It means numbered sections of the federal aviation regulations.
Example Sentence 1
The flight school operates under 14 CFR part 141, so every lesson follows an FAA-approved syllabus.
Example Sentence 2
The airline training center operates under Part 142 to provide simulator sessions for type ratings.