14 CFR Part 141 · Subpart B · Personnel, Aircraft, and Facilities Requirements

14 CFR 141.33: Personnel a Part 141 school must have

A Part 141 school needs enough qualified instructors and a chief instructor for each approved course. It may also name assistant chief instructors and, once it has 10 students enrolled, check instructors for stage checks and end-of-course tests.

Section last amended January 1, 2017 · Text current as of October 15, 2026 · Also cited as FAR 141.33 · Read it on eCFR

14 CFR 141.33 in plain English

  • Have adequate certificated flight and ground instructors, and a qualified chief instructor for each approved course. (a)(1)
  • Train any dispatchers, aircraft handlers and line staff in their duties. (a)(2)
  • Every instructor holds the instructor certificate and ratings for the course and the aircraft. (a)(3)
  • Designate a chief instructor for each course, qualified under 141.35. (b)
  • Optionally designate assistant chief instructors under 141.36. (c)
  • Designate check instructors under 141.37 once at least 10 students are enrolled. (d)
  • One person may hold several positions if qualified for each. (e)

Common questions

Can the owner be the chief instructor?
Yes, if they meet the 141.35 qualifications. Paragraph (e) allows one person to fill more than one position.

Official text of 14 CFR 141.33

§ 141.33 Personnel. Verbatim from the eCFR, current as of October 15, 2026.

(a)An applicant for a pilot school certificate or for a provisional pilot school certificate must meet the following personnel requirements:

(1)Each applicant must have adequate personnel, including certificated flight instructors, certificated ground instructors, or holders of a commercial pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air rating, and a chief instructor for each approved course of training who is qualified and competent to perform the duties to which that instructor is assigned.

(2)If the school employs dispatchers, aircraft handlers, and line and service personnel, then it must instruct those persons in the procedures and responsibilities of their employment.

(3)Each instructor to be used for ground or flight training must hold a flight instructor certificate, ground instructor certificate, or commercial pilot certificate with a lighter-than-air rating, as appropriate, with ratings for the approved course of training and any aircraft used in that course.

(4)In addition to meeting the requirements of paragraph (a)(3) of this section, each instructor used for the airline transport pilot certification training program in § 61.156 of this chapter must:

(i)Hold an airline transport pilot certificate with an airplane category multiengine class rating;

(ii)Have at least 2 years of experience as a pilot in command in operations conducted under § 91.1053(a)(2)(i) or § 135.243(a)(1) of this chapter, or as a pilot in command or second in command in any operation conducted under part 121 of this chapter; and

(iii)If providing training in a flight simulation training device, have received training and evaluation within the preceding 12 months from the certificate holder on:

(A)Proper operation of flight simulator and flight training device controls and systems;

(B)Proper operation of environmental and fault panels,

(C)Data and motion limitations of simulation;

(D)Minimum equipment requirements for each curriculum; and

(E)The maneuvers that will be demonstrated in the flight simulation training device.

(b)An applicant for a pilot school certificate or for a provisional pilot school certificate must designate a chief instructor for each of the school's approved training courses, who must meet the requirements of § 141.35 of this part.

(c)When necessary, an applicant for a pilot school certificate or for a provisional pilot school certificate may designate a person to be an assistant chief instructor for an approved training course, provided that person meets the requirements of § 141.36 of this part.

(d)A pilot school and a provisional pilot school may designate a person to be a check instructor for conducting student stage checks, end-of-course tests, and instructor proficiency checks, provided:

(1)That person meets the requirements of § 141.37 of this part; and

(2)The school has an enrollment of at least 10 students at the time designation is sought.

(e)A person, as listed in this section, may serve in more than one position for a school, provided that person is qualified for each position.

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