Applicability

This regulation introduces the requirements for personnel, aircraft, and facilities that pilot schools must meet to obtain and maintain their certification. It applies to both fully certificated pilot schools and provisional pilot schools operating under Part 141.

The key practical requirement defines what "continuous use" of a facility means. A pilot school can't simply borrow or temporarily access training facilities—it must demonstrate stability through either:

• Owning the facility or airport, or
• Having a written lease agreement

In either case, the ownership or lease must extend at least 6 calendar months beyond when the school applies for initial certification or renews its certificate. This ensures the school has secure, long-term access to the airports and facilities needed for training. The FAA wants to verify that students enrolling in a Part 141 program won't suddenly lose access to essential training locations mid-course due to expired leases or facility access issues.

*This is a plain-English summary for study only. The official 14 CFR text on this page is controlling — always read the current regulation and consult a CFI.*