Ground School
What is Ground School?
Ground school, or ground instruction, is the more theoretical or academic side of getting your license -- as opposed to flight school, or flight training, which is the practical, hands-on portion. Ground school gives you a solid foundation onto which you can then build your skills and coordination via flight training, and there is no minimum hourly requirement that must be met for any license. Classes cover these primary categories:
The first major checkpoint in ground school is in the FAA Airman Knowledge Test, which requires an endorsement from your ground instructor to take. A passing grade on the Knowledge Test is necessary for check ride eligibility, and is valid for two years. Your Ground Instructor can also assist you with scheduling your test if you would like help navigating the process.
But you're not done yet! Once you pass your Knowledge Test with flying colors, you'll work through three more phases of ground school: Initial Solo Prep, Cross-Country Prep, and Checkride Prep.
Ground school, or ground instruction, is the more theoretical or academic side of getting your license -- as opposed to flight school, or flight training, which is the practical, hands-on portion. Ground school gives you a solid foundation onto which you can then build your skills and coordination via flight training, and there is no minimum hourly requirement that must be met for any license. Classes cover these primary categories:
- Aeromedical Factors
- Aeronautical Decision Making
- Airplanes, Airplane Performance, and Aerodynamics
- Airplane Instruments, Engines, and Systems
- Airports and Airspaces
- Aviation Weather and Weather Services
- Federal Aviation Regulations
- Navigation and Sectional Charts
- Weight and Balance
The first major checkpoint in ground school is in the FAA Airman Knowledge Test, which requires an endorsement from your ground instructor to take. A passing grade on the Knowledge Test is necessary for check ride eligibility, and is valid for two years. Your Ground Instructor can also assist you with scheduling your test if you would like help navigating the process.
But you're not done yet! Once you pass your Knowledge Test with flying colors, you'll work through three more phases of ground school: Initial Solo Prep, Cross-Country Prep, and Checkride Prep.
Get Inspired Ground, LLC
Get Inspired Ground is our recommended resource for all your ground school needs. Madison coordinates her ground school with our flight training. We feel so strongly about the importance of ground school that we offer incentives to be in her program, and she will help you stay on track with your aviation goals. Check out Madison's website getinspiredground.com.
Get Inspired Ground is our recommended resource for all your ground school needs. Madison coordinates her ground school with our flight training. We feel so strongly about the importance of ground school that we offer incentives to be in her program, and she will help you stay on track with your aviation goals. Check out Madison's website getinspiredground.com.
Gleim: Exam Prep and Home Study Program
While we don't recommend it as your single source for ground school, we have studied for many tests in our time and we very much like the Gleim materials. In addition, our ground instructor has even structured her material to work well with the Gleim system.
Gleim started as an accounting test-prep service, but has since developed some great material in the aviation realm to help you prep for the Knowledge Test in tandem with your regular ground school lessons. Here are some of them:
Gleim will also bundle everything you need: https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/spkitcd/. We will pass on our 20% Gleim discount to you if you pay by cash, Zelle, or check; expect a small fee if you pay with a credit card.
While we don't recommend it as your single source for ground school, we have studied for many tests in our time and we very much like the Gleim materials. In addition, our ground instructor has even structured her material to work well with the Gleim system.
Gleim started as an accounting test-prep service, but has since developed some great material in the aviation realm to help you prep for the Knowledge Test in tandem with your regular ground school lessons. Here are some of them:
- Gleim test prep https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/faatpsp/
- Gleim regulations book and information manual https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/fa/
- You need a hard copy that you can mark & tab
- Be very wary of the pre-tabbed versions you can buy. Talk to your instructor first.
- Gleim tools
- https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/computer/ # get this for now and make a final choice later
- https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/plotter/
- Though not strictly exam prep, we've also come to like this Gleim logbook; YMMV https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/logbook/
Gleim will also bundle everything you need: https://www.gleimaviation.com/shop/spkitcd/. We will pass on our 20% Gleim discount to you if you pay by cash, Zelle, or check; expect a small fee if you pay with a credit card.
Other Good Resources
The FAA has quite a few good handbooks, advisory circulars, and testing references. Have a look at our Google Drive here for some of our favorites. We have also included direct links for free downloads or reading electronically:
Here are a few more good books we recommend. You certainly might find them for less elsewhere, but check them out on Amazon:
The FAA has quite a few good handbooks, advisory circulars, and testing references. Have a look at our Google Drive here for some of our favorites. We have also included direct links for free downloads or reading electronically:
- https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/ # lots of great material
- https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_standards/ # more great material
- https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak/
- https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook/
- https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/media/FAA-H-8083-1.pdf # additional but worth it
- http://fsims.faa.gov/wdocs/orders/8900_2.htm ==> Section 6 / #55 # for your check ride
- https://www.faa.gov/training_testing/testing/test_standards/media/faa-s-8081-29.pdf # for your check ride
Here are a few more good books we recommend. You certainly might find them for less elsewhere, but check them out on Amazon: