Training Program Transitions From Provisional To Full Approval

Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, announced its Aviation Department officially received full certification as an FAA Part 141 Pilot School, concluding a two-year process to transition from provisional to full Part 141 status.

FAA Part 141 training is conducted through a rigorous and structured framework that enables students to qualify for various pilot ratings with fewer required flight hours than other pilot training options. This leads to lower expenses and faster progress toward a flying career.

Dr. Chris Spicer, Provost said, “This is a tremendous moment for Morningside Aviation and a testament to the dedication of our faculty, staff, and flight training partner, Oracle. Achieving full Part 141 certification means our program now meets the FAA’s highest standards for safety, curriculum quality, and instructional excellence.”

Dr. Thomas H. Paulsen, Dean of the School of Agriculture and Aviation noted, “Our graduates will now enter the workforce with credentials from a program backed by the FAA’s most rigorous standards. This elevates our program and provides our students a critical advantage in a competitive and growing aviation industry.”

Now that the Part 141 is secured, the department is proceeding to prepare an application for the FAA’s R-ATP (Restricted Airline Transport Pilot) program. This is only available to Part 141 flight schools at four-year universities. Upon approval, Morningside grads will be eligible to apply for an ATP certificate with just 1,000 flight hours instead of the usual 1,500 hours.

In addition, Part 141 programs require standardized FAA oversight and accountability for their instructors and Designated Pilot Examiners, or DPEs. This ensures consistent, high-quality instruction and training outcomes, creating safer, more effective pilots on the flight deck.

FMI:  www.morningside.edu/