Advice on the PPL

[Ken G]

Howdy, a few questions from a new member about to embark on getting my PPL and hopefully begin doing something I have been looking forward to for many years.

Does it make sense to prepare for the written exam through self-study, and then take & pass that exam before beginning flight training? Or is that even possible? How do most CFIs prefer their students to sequence those activities?

And then also, any general advice on how to best go about the process would be appreciated. Optimum pace of training (hours/week) and so on.

Thanks!

Ken

 

 

[Hank]

I signed up for lessons and bought a Gleim "You Can Be a Pilot" kit to go home and start reading. My instructor and I moved one lesson at a time against a printed syllabus, so I knew what to read from which book when. When we both thought I was ready, I took the written test (not too long before my checkride).

Reading up on a concept then seeing it in the air (or making it happen!) really helped with comprehension, and that helped with the test.

General consensus is that the more often you fly, the quicker you will finish up because there will be less repitition of each previous lesson. I flew as many weekends as possible, at least once and sometimes twice. "Impossible" means low clouds, snowfall, icing conditions, hard rain or stupid high winds. But you want some exposure to less-than-ideal conditions; my CFI was determined to not allow me to become a "fair weather only" pilot, and she was successful.

Congratulations! Hope everything goes well for you.

[Niko182]

36 minutes ago, Ken G said:

Howdy, a few questions from a new member about to embark on getting my PPL and hopefully begin doing something I have been looking forward to for many years.

Does it make sense to prepare for the written exam through self-study, and then take & pass that exam before beginning flight training? Or is that even possible? How do most CFIs prefer their students to sequence those activities?

And then also, any general advice on how to best go about the process would be appreciated. Optimum pace of training (hours/week) and so on.

Thanks!

Ken

 

 

I took the Written when I was ready for the checkride. Its nice to get it out of the way at the beginning, but id take lessons before taking the written for my PPL. for IFR, commercial, and more, It makes sense to take the test before, but for the PPL id take it mid way through.

[Marauder]

Howdy, a few questions from a new member about to embark on getting my PPL and hopefully begin doing something I have been looking forward to for many years.
Does it make sense to prepare for the written exam through self-study, and then take & pass that exam before beginning flight training? Or is that even possible? How do most CFIs prefer their students to sequence those activities?
And then also, any general advice on how to best go about the process would be appreciated. Optimum pace of training (hours/week) and so on.
Thanks!
Ken
 
 

I started lessons and then did the King tapes to get the written done.

As for the optimum pace. I scheduled for 5 days a week and flew on average 3. Was ready for the check ride around month 4. I found a structure curriculum worked for me and I went to a 141 school.


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[gsxrpilot]

Welcome aboard Ken. I'd say it depends on your end goal. Are you young and on the front end of a process that will get you an airline job someday followed by a long career as an airline pilot? Or are you approaching the end of a career that has finally given you the disposable income to pursue something you've always wanted to do. But it's strictly a hobby?

If the first scenario is true... then go sign up for a flight school and do what they suggest/recommend/require.

If it's the second scenario... then I'd start out self studying for the written. While you're doing that, start looking for an instructor. I'd try to find someone independent of a flight school. But the bottom line is to find someone you like to hang out with and can learn from. Treat it like interviewing an employee. Talk to several until you find a CFI who will let you learn the way you want to. My experience was that a lot of CFI's treated me like an 8th grade student. I wanted someone who would allow me to direct my studies... more like a graduate student. It will likely take longer this way, but was a lot more fun for me. 

Once you find the right CFI, then tell them you've self studied for the written and get them to sign you off to take it.

[Yetti]

first off go get your medical.   If you think there will be any issues with getting the medical, like past major medical events, don't post them here,  consult a specialist with FAA Medical process.   Dr. Chen I believe is his name.

I used Sporty's for ground, bought their whole kit for say $400.   You can download 3 of the books off the FAA website.   AIM, Weather Flying and basic piloting guide.  Some people really like Sheppards for test prep.   I did a fair amount of study with exam4pilots.com    

Plan to fly about once or twice a week.   Plan for about $8,000 or so.

[jaylw314]

44 minutes ago, Ken G said:

Howdy, a few questions from a new member about to embark on getting my PPL and hopefully begin doing something I have been looking forward to for many years.

Does it make sense to prepare for the written exam through self-study, and then take & pass that exam before beginning flight training? Or is that even possible? How do most CFIs prefer their students to sequence those activities?

And then also, any general advice on how to best go about the process would be appreciated. Optimum pace of training (hours/week) and so on.

Thanks!

Ken

 

 

Remember, you need to have your CFI endorse in your logbook that you are ready to take the written exam, so no, you can't really do that before you find a CFI, so your first order of business is identifying a CFI.  Remember, they work for you, so you should do your due diligence when selecting a CFI--ask them about their experience, teaching style, recommendations for training, and essentially interview them as job applicants before deciding to move forwards.  Otherwise, if you find you are not compatible, changing CFI's later will result in lost time.

It would also behoove you to know how you best learn and what pace you think works for you, and present that to your CFI to put together an individualized schedule of goals.  That will always be better than a canned curriculum that may or may not work for you.

[bonal]

Definitely agree on the medical before investing any of your time and money. Once you know you are fit to fly you can start with your learning process. I did mostly book and Gleim courses mixed with a little ground school with my CFI. As the worlds worst test taker I was shocked when I received a 95 on the written exam. Good luck and welcome to Mooney Space.

[carusoam]

Summary...

1) Welcome aboard Ken, you are about to embark on a fun ride!

2) The written test is a need to know list of about 500 detailed topics. Helpful to know it all from day one, but is not anything like the practical knowledge you are going to be learning with your CFI...

3) Your CFI will be covering all 500 topics as they come up, and some time before and after each flight.

4) To take the test, you need his recommendation/signature/CFI number...

5) I used the Gleim books... read, study, memorize, get it out of the way, demonstrate your knowledge with your CFI, take the test... practice tests are online... artfully written to be as misleading as possible... the test writers didn’t want you to be a pilot for some reason...?

6) Step 1: Get the medical out of the way... report back if you have any difficulty... we have suggestions for that too... meds, heart-attacks, disabilities, we have them all...

7) Step 2: Join AOPA, they have a great monthly mag for students... a great place to look up meds used and other interesting facts...

8) Fly early and often, you are about to find out how quickly your newly earned skills try to fade on you... There are about 30 (?) various physical skills that need to be learned and perfected to an FAA standard...

9) Do you prefer a school atmosphere for learning?  There are companies that put a system together to follow.... and there are some pretty good people/CFIs that teach flying one on one...

10) Select a trainer to learn in.  As apposed to learning to fly in a Mooney...  the transition from one to the next is brief and there is much to be learned by the transition itself... Not all planes fly the same.  You get a good feel for why/how by flying various aircraft...

What else do you have?  Go make it happen!

PP thoughts only, not a CFI...

Best regards,

-a-

[GDGR]

I just finished my PPL 2 months ago. About a year to the day, I convinced my wife to be on board for me doing this life long dream of getting my pilots license. 

First thing I did was researched the Transport Canada PPL written exam. Honestly, the first time I attempted to even understand anything in it, it was all backwards, and gibberish. 

I enrolled in a 40 hour ground school. 2 nights a week and Saturday’s for a month. Wasn’t the greatest, but things started to make sense. 

Started flying after that. Took 8 months, but completed the hours, and passed the check ride. Studied like crazy for 2 weeks before attempting the written. The flight school made me take 7 practice exams, and had to get 80+ on all of them before writing. 

Practice tests were overkill. But, really made me review my study habits, and reread everything. I’m more prepared as a pilot than I thought I’d be because of it. 

Long story- Flying helps solidify what you’re learning from the book. But, you’ll need to focus on passing the check ride and the written separately when it comes time. 

[kortopates]

As a CFI I highly recommend you get the written out of the way before starting training. It's the most effecient and improves your education in the cockpit. I have yet to see the pilot that wasn't delayed in some fashion but not taking care of the written before starting flight training. You do NOT need to find a CFI first to take the written, but you will need a signoff but that's easy.
You have many self paced home study programs that will prepare you for the written. Cost vary from what they provide but pick one that is comprehensive to include practice exams and a completion certificate that entitles you to take the written. The most Popular ones are Gleim at cheaper range to King Schools at the more expensive upper end. All of the comprehensive ground school self study programs will provide you with a completion certificate that will enable you to take the written at any approved testing center. But if you have a local community college nearby with a pilot program that is by far your best option and also your cheapest. In a semester you can get the most comprehensive ground School education that goes beyond the exam and for practicaly free. I teach at such a college.

Before tsking the exam, besure to Practice the written exam questions until you are repeatedly above 90%; preferably higher. For Each question you get wrong, the pilot examiner is required to quiz you on that topic during your practical; so your practical will go much smoother for you with a good score.
With written completed go interview a few CFIs and pick one you think you'll enjoy working with. I would personally suggest an experienced independent instructor that's teaching because they love it over a wet 250 hr CFI teaching only to build the pre-req hours for a flying job.
Meanwhile go sign up with AOPA for their free student pilot periodical "Flight training" - I think they'll give you a free 6 months. But you'll want to join for all the great resources they provide student pilots.


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[skydvrboy]

I don't think you posted enough info about yourself to adequately answer that question.  Someone already mentioned long term goals, but I'd also add, what kind of student are you?  Can you learn simply by reading something, understand it, and apply it to different situations, or do you need someone to teach it to you and answer questions?  What background and familiarity with aerodynamics, physics, math, weather, etc. do you already have?

You don't NEED to spend a penny on ground school, IF you are capable of fully understanding the topics just by reading them.  All of the information you need is freely available on the intranet, most on the FAA website.  As an engineer, with a skydiving background, I already had a pretty good handle on most of the topics.  I started by taking a free sample test online and scored 80 before I even started studying.  The extent of my instructor training for the ground school was asking me about 10 questions to see if I knew as much as I thought I knew, and signing the logbook to go take the test.  Ended up with a 98 on the written.  I'd say that's good enough.

On the other hand, it is MUCH easier to learn the material if you have someone teach it to you, especially in person where you can ask questions back and forth.  It's also easier to learn some of the concepts if you can experience them in the plane (VOR navigation didn't make a lot of sense until I saw it in the plane and then the light bulb lit up).

As far as instructor preference, my instructor only insisted that I pass the written before I started solo cross country trips.  His reasoning was that at that point, you build hours fast and will be ready for the practical in no time. 

[Danb]

I did similiar to Marauder, except I had no idea I as going to fly or take lessons. One day I went up for a discovery flight,after a student in my class told me his dad had a plane,fell in love, started lessons that week, bought some study guides, long time before computers, took the written after reading the guides, kept flying, the took my flight test in four months or so still flying.  Easy peasy 

[Ken G]

Thanks to all for the thoughts and insights, can't believe how many of you responded - very welcoming community!

So some more details ... I am 57, a mechanical engineer and have been wanting to fly since my early 20s. But, I was either never in a position where it was a financially prudent thing to do, or when kids were at home it would have been very selfish time-wise, or my career was consuming very large blocks of time, etc.  And I knew that I had no interest in starting flying if I was not going to be in a position to fly often enough and log enough hours to be competent & safe. 

My objective is to go through at least an instrument rating, and then mostly see the country on long weekend trips. My job still keeps me very busy, but the hope is that we can also take several extended weekends and fly around to interesting places and sights, spring break to Florida, etc. So a lot of cross-country stuff... seems like I will eventually want a Mooney. 

I learn best in a very analytical / linear fashion, and tend to dive in and immerse myself to completely master something once it has my attention. 

Putting your collective wisdom in practice, I now have my Class III medical scheduled, and assuming that goes swimmingly will then order a ground school course and begin attacking the material. And then in parallel begin the search for a CFII, under the assumption that if we can develop a good rapport, will probably continue working with that instructor over the long term.

Thanks again to all, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Ken

[carusoam]

Ken,

For fun... UND has a free set of VFR learning tools on line...

I think they have an IFR set as well...

See if you can find them all...

Happy Thanksgiving, Go engineers!

Best regards,

-a-

 

 

[HXG]

I agree with what others have stated. It depends a lot on how you learn. There is no one best way for all. I took my written exams at the start of all of my ratings. I’m a bookworm and love self study so this worked well for me. It gave me a good knowledge basis for future training. The downside is the lack of practical application of your studying until later in your training, but I found it easy  to go back and brush up and reinforce lessons.

As an instructor, I love it when students take the written and do well on it early. It’s a great sign that they’re highly motivated and dedicated. I do recommend that you don’t put off the written until the end of your training. It’s nice to have it done by then so you can focus on practical knowledge and flying. Gleim, Jeppesen, FAA books, ASA, King Schools, Sporty’s etc. are all good for doing well on the written exam. The majority of questions are repeated from prior question banks. I agree in setting yourself up for future success by doing well on the exam. The better you do, the less your examiner is required to test you on knowledge deficienct areas and the better the first impression for many examiners. 

Edited November 21, 2018 by HXG

[jaylw314]

1 hour ago, Ken G said:

Thanks to all for the thoughts and insights, can't believe how many of you responded - very welcoming community!

So some more details ... I am 57, a mechanical engineer and have been wanting to fly since my early 20s. But, I was either never in a position where it was a financially prudent thing to do, or when kids were at home it would have been very selfish time-wise, or my career was consuming very large blocks of time, etc.  And I knew that I had no interest in starting flying if I was not going to be in a position to fly often enough and log enough hours to be competent & safe. 

My objective is to go through at least an instrument rating, and then mostly see the country on long weekend trips. My job still keeps me very busy, but the hope is that we can also take several extended weekends and fly around to interesting places and sights, spring break to Florida, etc. So a lot of cross-country stuff... seems like I will eventually want a Mooney. 

I learn best in a very analytical / linear fashion, and tend to dive in and immerse myself to completely master something once it has my attention. 

Putting your collective wisdom in practice, I now have my Class III medical scheduled, and assuming that goes swimmingly will then order a ground school course and begin attacking the material. And then in parallel begin the search for a CFII, under the assumption that if we can develop a good rapport, will probably continue working with that instructor over the long term.

Thanks again to all, and Happy Thanksgiving!

Ken

Your thinking sounds kind of like mine, so I'd suggest the FAA Advisory Circulars. which are free to download and good reference material to read through.  The most appropriate one is the Airplane Flying Handbook, but there are AC's on weather and decision-making that are worthwhile as well (among others less appropriate).

Incidentally, you can get most of those in printed version on Amazon for $30-50, but I'm a big fan of free!

[gsxrpilot]

As others have said, the most important thing here is to find a good CFII that you can work with. Consider the following criteria:

• Someone who's either not going to the airlines or has already been there, retired and come back to teaching. You don't want to have to start the search over every few months.
• Someone who will let you set the pace, set the plan, and not hassle you about flying/studying/practice/etc. You're not a kid, you're an adult. It's your time, and your money and you'll waste it how ever you like.
• Someone who knows how to teach. 
• I wanted someone who didn't have a boss. I don't like have to do stage checks with a "senior" CFI. I'd rather work with the guy who can make the decisions him/herself.
• Someone who is confident to let you fly the plane and not one who would rather show off how good their own stick and rudder skills are.
• The type of person you'd be willing to hire as an employee.
• Most of all the type of person you'd like to hang out and have a beer with.

Just my $0.02

[lamont337]

I feel like most ground school courses just summarize/regurgitate what is already in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Airplane Flying Handbook and FAR/AIM. Try the first few chapters of the digital (free!) PHAK and AFH and if it is easy for you, skip the full ground course and save a few hundred bucks.

[skydvrboy]

Obviously, as an Engineer, you know how to learn and don't need everything spoon fed to you.  As a mechanical engineer, you are already going to know 50% of what you need to learn to pass the written.  So, don't pay for a ground school course.  Get the info online for free.  I used http://www.ascentgroundschool.com/ primarily and got a 98% on my written without paying a penny.  You'll find there is plenty to spend your money on in aviation, so save it and use it for something you need (headset, flight bag, charts, instructor, plane rental, etc.).

@gsxrpilot gave you a very good list of what to look for in an instructor.  However, don't rule out the kid straight out of school.  I was fortunate (unlucky) enough to have two primary instructors, one straight out of school building hours for the majors and one who had just received his 50 year Wright Brothers award, retired, and instructed in his spare time.   The one straight out of school was the better instructor, he had just learned everything and could simply repeat the training he just received.  He knew everything by the book and was current on all topics.  The downside was when his young lifestyle caught up with him and I had to find a new instructor after 35 hours.

The older instructor definitely had an advantage in experience, but with it he still believed several of the long debunked old wives tales.  Instead of flying by the book, he wanted me to fly his way.  In the end, I think it made me a better pilot having both instructors with the dramatically different points of view.  I could learn the best each one had to offer, but it pissed me off that I ended up taking 46 hours instead of the 40 I was hell bent on achieving (and on track for).

Edited November 21, 2018 by skydvrboy