Part 141 to part 61 school?

[AirBadger]

I'm thinking about leaving the part 141 college program I'm in now and going to a local FBO. Are there any problems that I'll face transferring my hours from 141 to 61? I know there is going 61 to 141 but not sure about the vice-versa.

 

[Goose Egg]

Nope, none whatsoever going from 141 to 61. I currently work at a 141 school. I did almost all my training under part 61. Whatever works out best for you. There's definitely several ways to skin the proverbial cat.

Edit: What worked out best for me was a Part 61 collegiate program. Had the structure and opportunities for learning and associating with peers, but had the flexibility of 61. Best of both worlds.

-Goose

 

[AirBadger]

Another question on 141 vs. 61... for the instrument rating, is there a pre-req to have 40 hours of cross country hours before you can start instrument training in pt 61? EDIT: nevermind looked it up in the FAR. Sigh...I really can't afford to fly 50 cross country hours just to be able to start the instrument training. I can avoid that at the 141 I'm at now, but it's impossible to reserve an airplane without scheduling it weeks in advance, and even then you don't get to fly much at all. What a dilemma.

 

[nosehair]

EDIT: nevermind looked it up in the FAR. Sigh...I really can't afford to fly 50 cross country hours just to be able to start the instrument training.

You don't have to have any kind of time to start the training. You only need 50 hours PIC x/c (which includes you student solo x/c) before you apply for the checkride. Some of your instrument training will be PIC x/c. Actually, you should get some training in doing instrument approaches (after Basic instruments) so that you can request instrument approaches at airports when you go solo x/c. Of course, I am talking about flying the procedure without the hood on. You will gain much more insight into how it goes when you do them visually and solo.

 

[Andrew_VT]

you could easily make every single one of your instrument training hours PIC XC. After you get your private every hour you fly (dual or not) should be PIC and just make every lesson includes a touch and go at an airport 50nm away. Each lesson might have to be a little longer than what you are used to now but its worth it.

 

[AirBadger]

Thanks for clearing that up guys. Makes more sense now.