Some people feel that passing the FAA knowledge test is all the ground school you need. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Let me define the three types of pilot grounds schools and discuss why ground school is important.
“Ground School” has evolved over the years to be “studying to pass the FAA knowledge test”. But understanding the important things that keep you safe and in one piece are the first and most important things you should learn. Unfortunately, this most important knowledge is not taught for the classical “test prep” ground school.
“Ground School ” is actually three specific areas of knowledge:
- Learning the flight and aircraft operation procedures before getting in the cockpit, the most fun part of ground school.
- Learning the aeronautical knowledge (weather, sectionals, cross country, etc.).
This is also an interesting part of ground school that is used be be a safe pilot. - Learning the answers to the FAA Questions to pass the knowledge test.
This is the least interesting and can be the scariest. It requires unnecessary time spent and additional brain volume required that does us the least good.
Note that the test prep ground school is required, but not at the beginning of flight training or important ground school. Some people feel that passing the FAA knowledge test is all the ground school you need. This couldn’t be further from the truth. The FAA Knowledge test is simply some measure of the applicents ability to remember some of the concepts plus the regulations.
If you can learn the fun and most important stuff first on the ground in “Ground School”, it is more efficient than using the cockpit as the classroom which costs you 3 to 5 times as much to learn the knowledge. Do not worry, all the fun ground school builds towards the final phase of “ground school” to take the FAA Knowledge Test and the Checkride. It is easier to learn the information and than be able to answer the FAA questions, when memorize the questions and answers.
See the DVD’s to learn the fun flying stuff first:
Check out the DVD trailers and see. youtube.com
Weather For Sport Pilots – the most important concept minus METARS.
The “Hamilton Pilot Training System” (HPTS) www.sport-pilot-training.com is designed to accomplish learning the fun stuff first and then the rest comes easier. You watch the DVD’s before you crack a book. You “learn to fly” in a way that makes learning fun.
The three “ground schools” are included with lesson plans in the “Sport Pilot Training Syllabus and Workbook” at:
Fixed Wing Airplane
http://www.ap-stores.com/p-47-sport-private-pilot-training-syllabus-airplane-book.aspx
Weight-Shift Control Trike
http://www.ap-stores.com/p-48-sport-pilot-training-syllabus-weight-shift-control-trike-book.aspx
Powered Parachute
http://www.ap-stores.com/p-49-sport-pilot-training-syllabus-powered-parachute-book.aspx
