Online (Preferably App-Based) Ground School Recommendations

Brandon Lincoln

Brandon Lincoln

Filing Flight Plan
Joined
Mar 7, 2022
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Terenn
Hello,

I am looking at starting my private pilots training next month... I had started in 2014, but decided to have a couple (ok 4) kids instead of finished. I did however complete ground school and had passed my written exam. That said, aside from it having been more than 2 years since then, I would like to do it again to refresh myself by completing ground school again.

I see there are lots of online options now... Which do you recommend (or advise against)?

Kings, Sportys, Angle of Attack, The Finer Points, etc... Lots to choose from...

Thanks!
 
I used Gold Seal, and did good. I liked the way it was set up, and they were about the cheapest option. Last I checked you could check out the lessons for free to see if you like it.
 
Gleim online ground training… good web portal, books and information. worth a try. It’s yearly subscription based, you can get packaged deal with webportal and printed book format…
 
I used King Schools. Not the cheapest but it is easy to use and prepares you for the exam. Unless you simply don’t apply yourself, or have an awful memory you will pass first go round.
 
You really don’t need an online ground school. Everything is available free online.
 
I never really researched it that much. Do they give you the certificate to test as well?
 
Check out Pilot Institute:

pilotinstitute.com

Airplane Pilot Training School - Online Aviation Courses

Online aviation classes for pilots. Pilot Institute's airplane training programs will prepare you to fly for fun or for the airlines.
pilotinstitute.com pilotinstitute.com

Find a training style that works best for you. Most of these you can sample some of the courses to see which you like.
 
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TRC1969 said:
I used King Schools. Not the cheapest but it is easy to use and prepares you for the exam. Unless you simply don’t apply yourself, or have an awful memory you will pass first go round.
Click to expand...

I also like King Schools.

Clip4 said:
You really don’t need an online ground school. Everything is available free online.
Click to expand...

Technically true, PDF downloads of PHAK and AFH would do the trick for free self-study. But would need to find a flight instructor and/or ground instructor willing to provide the logbook endorsement, though.
 
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I hope so too!

I imagine the search function for potential pilots might find this thread helpful...I think the recommended sources are still valid.
 
Ancient thread, but always a timely topic for someone.

How do you like to study?

Hard copy book with real reading and highlighting, assisted by on line review? I'm a bit in that camp, and Gleim fit that need.

Audio / visual / all on line? Sporty's is good.

Nostalgic for 80's VHS tape style of presenting? King (I used them for IFR training, and found their system quite good BTW).
 
I’m still waiting for the chip implant version. Life happened and my two years expired. Relearning all this stuff for the three times a year I’d actually fly IFR is inefficient. Otoh I know that there are other benefits
 
Randomskylane said:
I’m still waiting for the chip implant version. Life happened and my two years expired. Relearning all this stuff for the three times a year I’d actually fly IFR is inefficient. Otoh I know that there are other benefits
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The John and Martha King Matrix edition.


 
I think this one is the best, but you can decide for yourself, since they have a ton of free content:
www.youtube.com

FlightInsight

Click to download our FREE IFR Checkride Study Guide It contains fifteen pages of topics you'll need to breeze through the oral portion of your checkride.
www.youtube.com www.youtube.com
 
Most of the online ground schools have free trials. I typically tell students to web search and try a few and decide which you feel is best and stick with that one.
 
Depends on your goals.

I use Gleim for my private and it was like listening to paint dry.

I used to Gold Seal for both of my instrument ratings.

I use a Shepherd for the foi and my ATP.
It's great if you want to pass the test and not remember a damn thing and believe their BS that their system isn't rote memorization. That's exactly what it is. I would like them better if they would just come out and say use our product you'll pass the test but you won't be any smarter than when you purchased it.
Also their whole system will only being able to do one at a time and having to purchase it through the phone is... Anyway...

I definitely prefer gold seal. I do believe the system is there to teach you the material and hey the owner of the company is a member of this forum @write-stuff and you can actually ask him questions. I don't know if John and Martha King are on here
 
SixPapaCharlie said:
...
I use a Shepherd for the foi and my ATP.
It's great if you want to pass the test and not remember a damn thing and believe their BS that their system isn't rote memorization. That's exactly what it is.
Click to expand...
This is the correct way to look at sheppard, I have used it for every written so far since private, and it works... for the written.
Without a doubt you will excel on the test. But once thats out of the way, the real studying to understand has to take over.

which if you are aware of this then I am all for them, but knowing that it is "test prep" not a ground school has to be understood.


All that being said. I did not care for sportys all that much. bought their instrument and commercial, and was thoroughly underwhelmed considering they are the 800lb gorilla in the market. So for CFI I am just doing an immense amount of self study and using an instructor I trust for the rest. Everyone else's mileage will certainly vary.
 
Maybe a hybrid approach. For instrument, I use Kings for material, and Gold Seal for more material and test practice. And …. I created my own binder of material - yeah, hand written - as I went through the material.

Writing it out helped internalize it.
 
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I'm a big proponent of hand writing over and over again all the critical material, and keeping your best notes in a binder for reference. Sometimes when your mind draws a blank, simply turning to that page in your notes can magically unlock that part of your brain holding those facts!
 
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