ground training

[rincon]

Another 'newbie'question....I was looking at FAR61 which explains the requirements for a private license and it seemed that it did not specify a number of hours for ground school, only the flight time. It also describes some kind of "Home Study" program rather than any actual class room time at all and mean that the CFI only needs to review this info and certify that you learned anything? It makes it sound like you can basically 'challenge' the knowledge prtion of the test and then obtain the flight time, essentially cutting out the ground classes.

 

Now look....before somebody flips out and says I am trying to take some easy out and avoid anything(you know you think it too) I was just curious that it doesn't specify a time or maybe there is a supplemental somewhere. AND..FYI, I work for a department that has two aircraft and three pilots, so if this were true and I could talk them into letting me transfer to their division and they taught me the ground portions(or even allowed me to fly) I could potentially save a load couldn't I? The quality of instruction and time in the AC(all turbine in an Astar 350) would be just as good, if not better considering you would be with the same guys all the time.

[67november]

Hi Rincon, your answer is yes, you can do your ground training outside of an established school. I am nearly finished with the gathering of all the ground school materials needed to do my home studies.

The studying will need to be done on a disiplined scheduled that you can show a CFI so they are able to sign off in confidence that you have accomplished your home study to the satisfaction of the FAA requirements.

i've spent $100+ so far and there will be another $100 to go but I don't have the pressure of a scheduled time frame so this is the advantage of home school training. It's the self disipline that makes the difference.

Edited January 21, 2007 by 67november

[Porter]

rincon-

 

I went to a FAR61 school for my private license. I did all of the ground school at home. I kicked butt on my written, but had a pretty hard time with the oral part of my checkride. Studying for a written test is a lot different than being able to converse and answer questions about what you've read from a book. And for me, while I was in the air with my instructor, we weren't talking about what I had studied at home the night before. There was no set study schedule, so what I studied never matched up with the flights.

 

I then switched to a FAR141 school when I started my instrument training. That meant A LOT of ground school with my instructor. I was, at first, apprehensive about spending money on all of those ground school hours, but for me, being able to discuss what I was learning, as well as have stage checks to ensure that I actually did understand it, made all the difference in the world for me. I was also much more efficient with my flight hours because I actually had an idea of what was going on before I flew. With private, I had an enormous number of hours because so many flights left me scratching my head going "What was that?" By the way, my instrument oral exam was a breeze compared to private.

 

If you find it easy to read, comprehend what you've read, and have the ability to then explain it back to someone, then do the home study course. It will save you lots of money. If you're like me, and you need to actually talk about things as you're learning them, go to a school that offers ground training. I think it all comes down to how you best learn.

 

Best of luck!!!

[rincon]

Thanks for your responses. I understand exactly what you guys are talking about with being disciplined and how hard it would be to work through the program by yourselves and only talking to your CFI once in a while. I'm sure it takes a good mix of reading and studying and actually talking to someone so you can hear yourself say it and show you really understand it. I think that if I could get over into the aviation section then I can be involved with the pilots routinely and be discussing things with them and having them explain some things to me as I go and it would help when it came to taking the check rides etc.. I admire you guys for doing it 'cold turkey' like that. I think I am in a really good position and have some valuable resources by having these pilots and their A/C available to me. All three have 30-40 years of flying and if I work it right I can even be getting paid while I spend time with them as an observer.

 

What materials do you need for the 'home study'?? Is there a program designed for this?

[nsdqjr]

Another 'newbie'question....I was looking at FAR61 which explains the requirements for a private license and it seemed that it did not specify a number of hours for ground school, only the flight time. It also describes some kind of "Home Study" program rather than any actual class room time at all and mean that the CFI only needs to review this info and certify that you learned anything? It makes it sound like you can basically 'challenge' the knowledge prtion of the test and then obtain the flight time, essentially cutting out the ground classes.

 

Now look....before somebody flips out and says I am trying to take some easy out and avoid anything(you know you think it too) I was just curious that it doesn't specify a time or maybe there is a supplemental somewhere. AND..FYI, I work for a department that has two aircraft and three pilots, so if this were true and I could talk them into letting me transfer to their division and they taught me the ground portions(or even allowed me to fly) I could potentially save a load couldn't I? The quality of instruction and time in the AC(all turbine in an Astar 350) would be just as good, if not better considering you would be with the same guys all the time.

 

Great study habits are awesome, and you will save money if you take the time at home to read and prepare; however, you need a CFI to sign you off in order to take the written exam. You might want to get with an instructor and find out exactly what they are going to expect you to know before they are willing to sign you off, otherwise you may end taking a lot longer than you originally planned.

[RotorRunner]

Does anyone have any experience with going to a weekend seminar to prepare for their written. The reason I might consider this for my commercial written is because there is a lot of IFR stuff on the Commercial written and a lot of formulas that will probably never be used again after the test.

[Porter]

What materials do you need for the 'home study'?? Is there a program designed for this?

In regards to the written exam, the ASA TestPrep Software is golden (I think it's around 50 bucks). If you are discilplined with your studying of it, and are consistently scoring in the 90's on the practice tests, you should be fine on you written exam. All my instructor needed from me was a print out showing I'd scored a 90% at least once, and he signed my endorsenment (though I personally didn't feel ready until I was consistently scoring in the high 90's). As for prep for the oral exam, flying manuevers, etc., the FAA Rotorcraft Flying Handbook has a lot of good information it.

 

If you can work things out in such a way that you can read from your books, then casually ask questions and discuss things with the guys you work with, all while being paid, you will be in a great situation.

 

Good luck! I hope things work out in your favor!

[rincon]

Thanks for the great advice and support guys.....