FAR 141.61 — Examining Authority Applicability

FAR 141.61 is the opening section of Subpart D and simply tells you what the subpart is about. It explains that the rules that follow cover two things:

• The requirements for issuance of examining authority to a holder of a pilot school certificate.
• The privileges and limitations that come with that examining authority once it's granted.

In plain terms, this section is a roadmap. It doesn't impose specific duties on pilots — instead, it tells Part 141 pilot schools that if they want the FAA to grant them examining authority (the ability to test their own graduates without sending them to an outside FAA examiner), the rest of the subpart explains how to qualify and how that authority must be used. Operationally, this matters because examining authority is a major benefit for an established 141 school: it streamlines training, retains students in-house, and signals a high-quality program. Knowing where the rules live helps a pilot or school administrator find the right reference quickly.