What some peolpe do is enrolling under part 141, and then go part 61 for their commerial (after completing the private and instrument).The main reason for this is that it makes more economical sense if their total time is expected to reach/pass the 250 hours required under part 61 - meaning that they haven`t been able to stay on track with their 141 syllabus.
141 vs 61... yes it is tricky, and yes they both have you ending up with the same certificates and ratings, equal in value.I guess some employers prefer candidates who have gone through the 141 program due to its structure - thereby showing that they can survive (for lack of better words) in such an environment.But I also think that the employers respect the fact that not everybody has the time/money to get their ratings all at once, and that`s where part 61 comes in.It`s all a matter of preference and I`m certain that not all employers think the same way.
If you goal is to get in with the majors then a degree is your best bet, albeit a ton of flying experience (multi,turbine etc) is a good counterweight to this.I don`t know about you guys, but if I were an employer I would prefer the guy with the experience rather than the guy coming straight out of college with maybe 1200 hours.It all boils down to; would you like to have a person who knows a lot of theory about the real-world or one that has experience from the real world.
Really getting out of thread here, but if you`re thinking about starting a career in aviation and want to "get it on" then part 141 is the way to go - quicker and cheaper
And llesson, you`re from the UK?Then one of the requirements for the J-1 visa is that you enroll in a 141 program.