Opinions on home ground courses

[Pugh]

Has anyone had any experience with self study private pilot ground courses? Is a pilot just as safe using that instead of classroom teaching? Worse? Which ones are better than others? I took ground school in 2001, but with 9/11, and not enough money, I didn't acutally fly. So I'm looking to get a little refresher.

 

[midlifeflyer]

Ground school courses tend to fulfill one or both of two functions:

One is to prepare for the knowledge test - to drill information in to you so that you can pass it, even if you forget the information right after you leave the testing room.

The second function is to provide an efficient and economical way to learn material that will be put into practice during flight training. For example, doing VFR flight planning exercises in a classroom with 10 or more other students and an instructor is far more cost-effective than doing it alone with a single CFI. Think of what the cost would be if =all= of the subjects required ground sessions at your CFI's hourly rate!

Neither function is really tied to safety. There are multiple ways to learn the material. The Video and CD/DVD courses out there can do both functions really well. And, especially for those that do the second function (like Sporty's and the Cleared For Takeoff series), you can go back over them as needed, say in preparation for the next flight lesson.

Neither function is particularly tied to safety.

 

[Lead Sled]

I'll pretty much second what Midlifeflyer wrote. There is really no best way to prepare for the knowledge test - it's purely a matter of personal preference. I would recommend that you ask your flight instructor for his or her opinion, check with other students and recently licensed pilots, and sit in on a ground school class. It won’t take too much effort to find several people who have used each method. When you make your own decision, just remember that, like choosing you flight instructor, this is no place to skimp on quality.

Some people find a formal ground school to be preferable. They like the way the instructor is able to spend one-on-one time with each student. However, the quality of the course is dependent upon the instructor’s “classroom abilities”. Simply put, some ground school instructors are good and some aren’t. Ground school courses are readily available from several sources. They are commonly offered as adult education courses at local high schools and community colleges; your flight instructor and/or flight school may offer them; and they are frequently offered as “weekend courses” in most major cities. (I don’t usually recommend the “weekend courses”. They tend to “teach the test” and not the materials you need to know and understand. However, they are a good review for those who have previously completed a thorough exam preparation course and just need a quick brush up prior to taking the examination.)

As far as home study courses go, there are several excellent computer and video courses available to prepare the student to successfully pass the knowledge exam. These courses utilize the latest in computer-generated graphics and make learning the material very easy and enjoyable. They have the advantage of excellent presentation, but they tend to be a bit more expensive than the formal ground schools. These courses are readily available from several sources. Perhaps the easiest way to obtain one is through mail-order. Any of the aviation oriented magazines such as “Flying”, “Private Pilot” and “Plane & Pilot” will have several advertisements offering suitable courses. Your CFI will be able to make some recommendations if you decide to go this route.

For what its worth, I have a tendency to prefer the computer and/or video ground school courses. Having a home study course allows you to go over the materials once or twice before your flight instruction actually begins. I have found it to be advantageous for most students to have the background that the study material provides prior to beginning any actual flight training.

Lead Sled

 

[nosehair]

Hey, Lead Sled, who said helicopters are safe?

 

[English]

Has anyone had any experience with self study private pilot ground courses? Is a pilot just as safe using that instead of classroom teaching? Worse? Which ones are better than others? I took ground school in 2001, but with 9/11, and not enough money, I didn't acutally fly. So I'm looking to get a little refresher.

When I did my private, I did most of the "ground school" on my own. My flight instructor told me which books to use and I studied them. I never took a formal ground school class until I was hired at a regional airline. If I had a question about something I read, I'd just ask my instructor at our next lesson. The only ground school I had, if you'd call it that, was our pre and post flight briefings. I got 100's on every written test I did, so I think it worked out ok. It saved me a ton of money and time.

The exception was when I worked on my CFI. My instructor and I had many ground school sessions, one on one.

Is a pilot as safe going this route, you ask...I think it has to do more with learning styles than safety. Some people learn better in a group setting, others are more independant learners. Me, I feel bogged down in a classroom and learn better on my own or one on one, going at my own pace.

 

[JetBlast2000]

I agree with what the previous post are saying. I would like to add a key point. No matter which route you choose. Hold yourself too high standard. Do not "just get by." Work hard at your career. It will pay off in the long run.

 

[FlyinTim]

If you go with ground courses...go with King...a little more expensive then sporty's...but they make it stick....the only downside is they are so FU$#%#% Annoying.....hmm maybe thats why it sticks!

 

[Goose Egg]

My preferred method is a formal ground school, but only if the instructor is good. If not, I really like the King DVD series. Sure, they are a bit cheesy, but I don't get bored watching them, unlike the Sporty's videos.


-Goose