ADVISORY U.S. Department ot Transportation CIRCULAR 'Federal Aviat on Administration AC NO: 141-1A
UNITED STATEI OF AMERICA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
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PILOT SCHOOL CERTIFICATION Initiated by: AFS-840
U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Aviation Administration Advisory Circular Subject: PILOT SCHOOL CERTIFICATION Date: 2/l 8193 AC No: 14%1A Initiated by: AFS-840 Change:
1. PURPOSE. This advisory circular (AC) sets forth guidelines to assist persons in obtaining a pilot school certificate and associated ratings under Federal Aviation Regulation (FAR) Part 141.
2. CANCELLATION. AC 141-1, Pilot School Certijkation, dated August 29, 1974, is cancelled.
3. RELATED READING MATERIAL.
Order 8700.1, General Aviation Operations Inspector’s Handbook. This document may be purchased from the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, DC, 20402. The stock number is 050-007-00921-6.
4. BACKGROUND. In 1974, a total operational training concept, the acquisition of equivalent levels of aeronautical experience in less time than required by FAR Part 61, was introduced under the auspices of a certificated pilot school. This concept was established in FAR Part 141 which prescribes rules governing the operation of pilot schools. FAR Part 141 increased the flexibility of prescribed curricula for training and adopted procedures to ensure that a training course used by a school is adequate, appropriate, and administered by qualified persons. The reduction in flight time requirements, without a reduction in flight experience, is allowed under FAR Part 141 because the training is more controlled through supervision and is conducted by experienced instructors.
AC 141-1 was issued on August 29, 1974, to help persons obtain certificates and ratings under FAR Part 141. Since 1974, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has made several amendments to FAR Part 141. This AC, 14LlA, updates the information provided in the 1974 AC.
5. DEFINITIONS. The following terms are defined for use in this AC.
a. Administrator means the FAA Administrator or any individual to whom the Administrator has delegated authority.
b. Agricultural aim@ operation means the operation of an aircraft for the purpose of
(1) dispensing any economic poison;
(2) dispensing any other substance intended for plant nourishment, soil treatment, propagation of plant life, or pest control; or (3) engaging in dispensing activities directly affecting agriculture, horticulture, or forest preservation, but not including the dispensing of live insects.
c. Airphe means an engine-driven, heavier-than-air fixed-wing aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its wings.
d. Airport means an area of land or water, including its buildings and facilities, that is used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of aircraft. .
e. Airship means an engine-driven, lighter-than-air aircraft that can be steered.
jL Approved, unless used with reference to another person, means approved by the Administrator.
g. Balloon means a lighter-than-air aircraft that is not engine-driven. A hot air balloon is a balloon that derives its lift from heated air. A captive gas balloon is a balloon that derives its lift from a captive lighter-than-air gas.
h. Category.
(1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a broad classification of aircraft. Examples include: airplane, rotorcraft, glider, lighter-than-air, and
(2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means a grouping of aircraft based upon intended use or operating limitations. Examples include the following:
transport, normal, utility, acrobatic, limited, restricted, and provisional.
i. Citizen of the United States (as defined in the Federal Aviation Act of 1958, as amended) means (1) an individual who is a citizen of the United States or one of its possessions, or (2) a partnership of which each member is such an individual, or (3) a corporation or association created or organized under the laws of the United States or any State, Territory, or possession of the United States, of which the president and two-thirds or more of the board of directors and other managing officers thereof are such individuals and in which at least 75 percent of the voting interest is owned or controlled by persons who are citizens of the United States or one of its possessions.
j. Ckzss. As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations of airmen, means a classification of aircraft within a category having similar operating characteristics. Examples include: single-engine land, multiengine land, single-engine sea, multiengine sea, gyroplane, helicopter, airship, and free balloon.
k. Curriculum. The counes offered by a flight school. A set of courses depicting total flight or ground instruction offered by a flight or ground school. In addition, a curriculum also refers to the overall general content of a course of instruction that is to be taught.
1. &?wI& load means a load that is carried or extends outside of the aircraft fuselage.
m. Flight crewmember means a pilot, flight engineer, or flight navigator assigned to duty in an aircraft during flight time.
n. Flight time means the time from the moment the aircraft first moves under its own power for the purpose of flight until the moment it comes to rest at the next point of landing (block-to-block time).
o. Glider means a heavier-than-air aircraft that is supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against its lifting surfaces and whose free flight does not depend principally on an engine. Some gliders have engines and are referred to as powered gliders. The term powered glider includes self-launching sailplanes, powered sailplanes, motorized sailplanes, and motorgliders.
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p.
Gyroplane means a rotorcraft whose rotors are not engine-driven except for initial starting, but are made to rotate by action of the air when the rotorcraft is moving; and whose means of propulsion, consisting usually of conventional propellers, is independent of the rotor system.
x. Rotorcraft means a heavier-than-air aircraft that depends principally for its support in flight on the lift generated by one or more rotors.
y. Second in command means a pilot who is designated to be second-in-command of an aircraft during flight time.
q. Helicopter means a rotorcraft that z Show, unless the context otherwise depends principally on its engine-driven rotors requires, means to show to the satisfaction of the for its horizontal motion. Administrator.
r. Heliport means an area of land, water, or structure used or intended to be used for the landing and takeoff of helicopters.
s. Lesson Plan. An organized outline for a single instructional period. It is a necessary guide for the instructor in that it tells what to do, in what order to do it, and what procedure to use in teaching the material of a lesson.
aa. A test course in an FAR Part 141 school is a course of training for students who have accomplished a significant portion of training requirements outside of air agency courses. Completion of the test course is accomplished under the training course outline (TCO) with credit given for the time gained under FAR Part 61.
t. Lighter-than-air aircraft means aircraft that can rise and remain suspended by using contained gas weighing less than the air that is displaced by the gas.
bb. Training course outline, within a curriculum, describes the content of a particular course by statement of objectives, description of teaching aids, definition of evaluative criteria, and indication of desired outcomes.
u. Operate, with respect to aircraft, means use, cause, or authorization to use aircraft for the purpose of air navigation, including the piloting of aircraft, with or without the right of legal control (as owner, lessee, or otherwise).
V. Person means an individual, firm, partnership, corporation, company, association, joint-stock association, or governmental entity.
It includes a trustee, receiver, assignee, or similar representative of any of the above.
cc. Training Syllabus. A step-by-step (building block) progression of learning with provision for regular review and evaluation at prescribed stages of learning. The syllabus defines the unit of training, states by objective what the student is expected to accomplish during the unit of training, shows an organized plan for instruction (building block-from the simple to the complex), and dictates evaluation process for either the unit or stages of learning.
dd. Type.
w. Pilot in command (PIC) means the pilot responsible for the operation and safety of an aircraft during flight time.
(1) As used with respect to the certification, ratings, privileges, and limitations Par 5 . . .ill
AC 14blA 2ml93 .
of airmen, means a specific make and basic model of aircraft, including modifications thereto that do not change its handling or flight characteristics. Examples include: B-767, MD-11, and L-1011.
(2) As used with respect to the certification of aircraft, means those aircmft that a~ similar in design. Examples include: A-300 and A-300B; and BAE-146 and BAE-M-10.
ee. United States, in a geographical sense, means (1) the contiguous States, Alaska, Hawaii, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the possessions, including the territorial watm, and (2) the airspace of those areas.
~Thomas C. Accanii Director, Flight Standards Service
6. COMMENTS INVITED. comments regarding this publication should be directed to:
Federal Aviation Administration Flight Standards National Field Office Advisory Circular St&f, AFS-554 Washington Dulles International Airport RO. Box 20034, Gateway Building washingtor& DC 20041-2034 Every comment will not necessarily generate a direct acknowledgement to the commenter.
Comments received will be considered in the development of upcoming revisions to AC’s or other related technical material.
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CONTENTS Page No.
TESTING OF STUDENTS TRAINED UNDER FAR Part 1411
PILOT SCHOOL QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION1
LETTER OF INTENT1
APPLICATION FOR PILOT SCHOOL CERTIFICATE,
FAA FORM 8420-8 (OMB 04-R0204)2
PILOT SCHOOL RATINGS2
DURATION OF THE CERTIFICATE3
RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES AND RATINGS3
INSPECTION3
ADVERTISING4
REMOVAL OF ADVERTISING4
BUSINESS OFFICE AND OPERATING BASE4
PILOT BRIEFING AREAS4
GROUND TRAINING FACILITIES5
CONTINUOUS USE OF FACILITIES5
AIRCRAFT5
CHECKLISTS6
OPERATOR’S HANDBOOK6
CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR6
ASSISTANT CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR6
INSTRUCTORS7
V
AC 141-1A 2118193 _ CONTENTS (Cont’d.)
Page No.
21. OTHER EMPLOYEES7
22. CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF GROUND INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS7
23. CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR QUALIFICATIONS7
24. CHIEF INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES9
25. CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF INSTRUCTOR AVAILABILITY - DIRECT
SUPERVISION9
26. CHANGE OF CHIEF INSTRUCTOR10
27. CHIEF FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR REFRESHER COURSE10
28. FLIGHT INSTRUCTOR RESPONSIBILITIES10
29. CREDIT FOR PREVIOUS TRAINING . . . . . . . . . . . ,11
30. ENROLLMENT11
31. AIRPORTS12
32. SATELLITEBASES13
33. APPLICATION FOR EXAMINING AUTHORITY13
34. EXAMINING AUTHORITY PRIVILEGES13
35. WRITTENTESTS13
36. AMENDMENTS OR CHANGES TO AN APPROVED TEST14
37. USE OF FINAL WRITTEN TESTS14
38. SPECIAL CURRICULA14
39. GRADUATION CERTIFICATE14
40. TRAINING COURSE OUTLINES - GENERAL15
vi
2118193 AC 14191A CONTENTS (Cont’d.)
Page No.
41. COMPLIANCE WITH THE APPROVED TRAINING COURSE OUTLINE15
42. TRAINING COURSE OUTLINES - CONTENT15
43. TRAINING SYLLABUS CONTENT16
44. TRAINING AIDS (FAR § 141.41(b))16
45. AIRCRAFT DESCRIPTION17
46. AIRCRAFT USED FOR INSTRUMENT TRAINING17
47. COMPLEX AIRPLANE REQUIREMENTS17
48. GROUND TRAINERS17
49. STAGE AND FINAL TESTS18
APPENDIX 1 APPLICATION INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (7 Pages) APPENDIX 2 SAMPLE PILOT TRAINING COURSE OUTLINE (TCO) . . . . . . . . (37 Pages) APPENDIX 3 SAMPLE TRAINING RECORD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4 Pages) APPENDIX 4 INTERNAL EVALUATION GUIDANCE FOR FAR PART 141 PILOT SCHOOLS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (36 Pages) vii (and viii)
2118193 AC 141~1A
1. TESTING OF STUDENTS TRAINED UNDER FAR PART 141. FAR Part 141 is a means by which a student may, through approved training, meet the flight experience requirements of FAR Part 61 with a lesser amount of flight experience than that prescribed in FAR Part 61. The student must meet all other certification requirements of FAR Part 6 1.
2. PILOT SCHOOL QUANTITY AND QUALITY OF INSTRUCTION.
a. To be eligible for a pilot school certificate (see appendix 1, figure l), the school will be required to meet the pertinent requirements of Subpart A through C of FAR Part 141.
The school must have trained at least ten applicants for pilot certificates and ratings within the past 24 months. In addition, eight out of the ten of the most recent applicants tested by an FAA inspector or FAA designated pilot examiner must have passed their practical tests the first time (reference FAR 6 141.5).
b. An applicant for a school certificate that cannot meet the required recent training experience, but meets the other requirements of FAR Part 141, Subparts A through C, will be issued a provisional pilot school certificate.
c. A certiicated pilot school that, after 24 months, does not meet the recent training experience requirements of FAR 3 141.5(b) but meets all other requirements may apply for a provisional pilot school certificate.
d. The holder of a provisional pilot school certificate that does not meet the recent training experience requirement (24 months) prior to the expiration of its certificate may not apply for a new certificate for a period of 180 days from the expiration date of the expired certificate.
3. LETTER OF INTENT.
a. A Letter of Intent will be requested by the FAA. The FAA will then review the Letter of Intent to determine if the applicant appears to meet the basic eligibility requirements and to determine that sufficient information exists for the certification process to continue (see appendix 1, figure 2).
b. The Letter of Intent should contain:
(1) A statement of intent to become an approved pilot school under FAR Part 141.
(2) Company legal name and any d/b/a’s, principal operations base address, primary airport address, mailing address (if applicable), and telephone numbers.
(3) Makes and models of aircraft, how many of each, and N-numbers, if available.
(4) Estimated date when operations will begin.
(5) Training courses to be offered.
(6) Name and qualifications of proposed chief flight instructor and any assistant chief flight instructors, if applicable.
(7) Intent to use training aids, flight training devices, or flight simulators.
(8) Intent to use personal computers for written testing (for examining authority only).
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AC 141-1A 2118193 . -’
4. APPLICATION FOR PILOT SCHOOL CERTIFICATE, FAA FORM 8420-S (OMB 04-R0204).
a. Application for a pilot school certificate or a provisional pilot school certificate is made in duplicate on FAA Form 8420-8 (OMB 04-R0204) and completed in accordance with instructions on the back of the form (see appendix 1, figure 3).
b. This form may be obtained from the nearest Flight Standards District Office (FSDO).
The following describes examples of acceptable signatures on a completed application form.
(1) An application from an individual should be signed by that individual.
(2) An application from a partnership should be signed by all partners.
(3) An application from a corporation should be signed by ‘tie president or such other officers as authorized by the corporation bylaws and certified by the corporate secretary attesting to the individual’s authority to sign such a document.
(4) An application from a company, club, or association should be signed by the president or such other officer or director as authorized by the organization’s bylaws and attested to by the secretary-treasurer.
c. Each requested pilot school rating should be listed on the application. The application, when presented to the FSDO, should be accompanied by two complete copies of each proposed TCO. If examining authority is being requested, the appropriate box should be checked on the application. When a person applies for a pilot school certificate, it is a certification that the person is familiar with FAR Part 141 and believes that the school meets the appropriate requirements for certification. Figure 5 of appendix 1 traces the certification process from initial inquiry to the issuance of the certificate.
5. PILOT SCHOOL RATINGS.
a. Ratings that are placed on a pilot school or provisional pilot school certificate are listed under FAR 5 141.1 l(a)(b)(c). When the FSDO has approved the TCO’s, a letter of approved courses (see appendix 1, figure 4) will be issued and the appropriate rating(s) placed on the school certificate. For example, if a pilot school has received approval of two private pilot certification courses, one for airplanes and one for helicopters, a private pilot rating is placed on the school certificate. A school with a private pilot rating on its school certificate may conduct one or several private pilot certification courses, provided a TCO is submitted and approved under Subpart C of FAR Part 141 for each course of private pilot training given.
b. The approval of one or more pilot test course(s) that result in the issuance of a private and/or commercial pilot certificate entitles the school to have a private and/or commercial test course raling, as appropriate, placed on the school certificate. Some examples of test courses are:
(1) Private Test Course, airplane single-engine land (Appendix B of FAR Part 141).
(2) Private Test Course, rotorcraft - helicopter.
(3) Commercial Test Course, glider.
c. Added pilot school ratings are issued by the FAA in the same form and manner as for an original Air Agency certification. This is 2 Par 4 a
2/M/93 AC 14blA accomplished by completing the five phases of the cetiijkation process: (1) Preapplication,
(2) Formal Application, (3) Document Compliance, (4) Demonstration and Inspection, and (5) Certification. These steps include, in part, a letter of intent, FAA Form 8420-8, Application for Pilot School Certificate, training course outlines, and recordkeeping methods. The school must also show that it is properly equipped and meets all personnel qualification requirements.
6. DURATION OF THE CERTIFICATE.
a. A pilot school certificate or a provisional pilot school certificate expires at the end of the twenty-fourth month after it was issued.
6. A pilot school certificate normally expires on the date that any change in school or facilities ownership occurs. However, if the school applies for an amended certificate within 30 days after a change in ownership and there is no change in facilities, instructor personnel, or training courses, the school certificate remains in effect and does not expire.
7. RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES AND RATINGS.
a. A pilot school should apply for the renewal of its certificate at least 30 days before it expires. This is to ensure a timely response from the FSDO to effect a renewal of the school certificate without an interruption in training.
b. Pilot schools that wish to renew each course and/or rating should be prepared to show that they continue to meet the requirements for the issuance of the school certificate and rating(s).
8. INSPECTION.
a. In order to cany out its responsibilities under the FA Act of 1958, as amended, the FSDO will make certain inspections as provided for in FAR 8 141.21. Inspections may occur at the following times:
(1) Initial certification;
(2) Certificate renewal;
(3) Transfer of ownership;
(4) Change of main base;
(5) Upon application of the school for an additional rating(s); and
(6) When the FSDO deems an inspection is necessary to ensure compliance with the TCO and other requirements of the FAR.
b. Inspections for the purpose of certiication, renewal, transfer of ownership or change of base are made at a time agreeable to the school and the FAA. However, inspections made by the FAA to determine compliance with the TCO or the FAR are made when considered necessary.
c. An FAA inspection may include the folio wing:
(1) Administer practical tests to the chief flight instructors and any assistant chief flight instructors.
(2) Inspect the applicant’s recordkeeping system for compliance with the FAR. The importance of complete and accurate recordkeeping cannot be over emphasized.
(3) Conduct an aircraft conformity inspection.
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AC 141-1A 2118193
(4) Conduct a base inspection.
(5) Inspect satellite bases.
(6) Inspect ground trainers, training aids, and other equipment.
9. ADVERTISING.
a. As required by FAR $ 141.23, when advertising in any manner relating to its approved pilot school, an operator may not list a course of training for which it does not have FAA approval.
b. Each training course that has been approved should be clearly stated, along with a clarification that only those courses have been approved. In addition, under FAR 8 141.23, the school may not make any statement relating to its certification and ratings that is false or designed to mislead any person contemplating enrollment in that school.
10. REMOVAL OF ADVERTISING.
a. When a school certificate has expired, or has been surrendered, suspended, or revoked, it is required under FAR 8 141.23 to remove all indications that the school was certificated by the FAA. This includes all advertising mediums.
b. If an FAA-approved school moves from one location to another, it is required to promptly remove all signs from its old premises indicating that the school was certificated by the FAA at that location.
11. BUSINESS OFFICE AND OPERATING BASE.
a. Each pilot school or provisional pilot school is required to maintain a principal business office with a mailing address the same as on the school certificate. The purpose of a principal business office is to provide a specific location for maintaining required school files and records, and a location from which the operation of school business is conducted. This requirement should not be construed to mean that all school functions, such as scheduling flights, training functions, etc., must be conducted at the principal business office.
b. Zf the pilot school should choose to change the location of its business office or base of operation, the school is required to notify the FAA, in writing, of the planned move at least 30 days in advance. Such written notice should be accompanied by new application, FAA Form 8420-8 (OMB 04-R0204), showing the change of address or the change in the base of operations, as appropriate (see appendix 1, figure 3). In any case, the notice of a change of operating base must be accompanied by necessary amendments to approved TCO’s.
c. While FAR Part 141 does not require that a “business office” be a room with four walls and a door, the regulation does prohibit the sharing with or use by another pilot school of that business office. Therefore, the business office should be conspicuously isolated by walls or partitions to ensure separation from another pilot school’s activity. The business office should be located so that required school files and student training records can be kept up to date and available to students and instructors alike for the purpose of providing on-the-spot information about training progress and other business interests.
12. PILOT BRIEFING AREAS. An FAA-approved pilot school is required to have continuous use of a briefing area at each airport at which training flights originate. This requirement does not include airports of destination used for cross-country flight training. The 4 Par 8