Private and Commercial Pilot Training Courses

 

FREE Private Pilot Ground School - Course

This course will cover the basic knowledge required of a private pilot to pass the Private Pilot Airplane written exam, and will prepare you for your flight training in an actual aircraft with your flight instructor. It is broken up into LESSONS, and each LESSON has several TOPICS.

Important Notes:

Set realistic goals for yourself.

There is A LOT of material here that will prepare you to become a Pilot. Take your time going through the lessons.

Realistically expect to complete only one or two lessons in a day.

ENSURE YOU MARK YOUR LESSONS and TOPICS COMPLETE using the MARK COMPLETE button in the bottom left of each lesson and topic. You must spend the minimum time shown on the TIMER in the bottom left of the screen to be able to mark the topic complete.

Feel free to work ahead, and even complete the entire course before you ever take your first flight lesson. You can always go back and review later if needed.

This course is completely free (does not require an account on the site) and does not come with a completion certificate or endorsement for the written exam.  To earn an endorsement for the written exam you are required to complete our Written Prep Bootcamp course available here. Enroll Free 

Lessons

Lesson 1: Your First Flight - 6 topics 

Basic Flight Controls

 Four Forces of Flight

 The Parts of The Plane

 How To Preflight The Plane

What to Expect On Your First Flight

 How to do a Normal Takeoff

Lesson 2: Maneuvers and the Traffic Pattern - 6 topics 

Choosing a CFI / School

 Left Turning Tendencies

 Slow Flight

 Airport Markings and Signs  

Radio Calls at Non-Towered Airports

 The Traffic Pattern  

Lesson 3: Understanding the Wind and Turns - 6 topics 

Steep Turns

 Load Factor

The Power Curve

Taxiing in the Wind

 Flying in the Wind

The Secret to Being Stable

Lesson 4: AOA, Stalls, and Other Scary Things - 5 topics 

Angle Of Attack

 Stalled Airflow

 How to Practice Stalls

 Reading the Weather – METARs

Reading the Weather – TAFs

Lesson 5: Ground Reference, Maneuvers, and FARs - 4 topics 

Forward Slips and Side Slips

 Turns About a Point

 S-Turns

 Regulations (FARs Lite)

Lesson 6: Building Good Landings - 5 topics 

Highspeed Taxiing

 Low Approaches

 Aiming Points

Go Arounds

 Touch and Go's

Lesson 7: The Less Busy Airspace: G, E, D - 3 topics 

Class G Airspace

 Class E Airspace

 Class D Airspace

Lesson 8: Class A, B, and C Airspace: The Busier Side of the Sky - 4 topics 

Transponders

 Class A Airspace

 Class B Airspace

Class C Airspace

Lesson 9: Flying Blind and Performance Calculations - 4 topics 

Flying Blind: Simulated Instrument Practice

 Unusual Attitudes

Unusual Attitudes Gone Wrong

Takeoff and Landing Calculations  

Lesson 10: Soft and Short Field T.O.'s + Landings - 4 topics 

Short Field Takeoff

 Short Field Landing

 Soft Field Takeoff

 Soft Field Landing

Lesson 11: Start Your Engines: Engines, Systems, and Instruments - 6 topics 

What makes it Work

 What's Under the Hood

 Managing Your Engine

 Electrical System

The Instrument Panel Explained |Six Pack Instruments (not beer)

Lesson 12: Weight and Balance, Navigation Systems - 4 topics 

The Weighing and Balancing Act

 VFR Chart Basics

VOR Navigation Made Easy

 GPS Basics

Lesson 13: Luck with Weather - 6 topics 

Weather Fronts

 Basic Cloud Types

Thunderstorms / Convective Activity

Mountain Weather

Fog

Icing

Lesson 14: Your First SOLO! - 2 topics 

Getting Your Student Pilot Certificate

 Pre Solo Quiz

Lesson 15: VFR Charts and Navigation - 5 topics 

Advanced VFR Charts

Terminal Area Charts

 FLYWAY Charts

Chart Supplement

 VOR Navigation

Lesson 16: Weather Charts and Services - 6 topics 

Surface / Prog Charts

AIRMETS / SIGMETS

PIREPS

Radar Summary Charts

Graphic Forecast Area

Weather Briefings

Lesson 17: Aeromedical Factors, ADM, FARS - 5 topics 

Medical Factors

 Spatial Disorientation

 Risk Matrix / Hazardous Attitudes

ADM / CRM / SRM

 Regulations

Lesson 18: Flying at Night - 3 topics 

Night Time Flying

 Airport Lighting

 Nighttime Considerations  

Lesson 19: Cross Country Flight Planning - 4 topics 

Airport Diagrams

 Cross Country Considerations

 Flight Computer Calculations

Navigation Logs

Lesson 20: Test Prep - 5 topics 

Written Test Prep

 Oral Prep

 Checkride Prep

Instrument Pilot Videos Preview

Guaranteed To Pass Your Checkride

Free Courses

Below is a list of all of our FREE online pilots courses. For Private Pilots and beyond, check out all of the content below. You do not need to log in to access the free pilot courses here at FLY8MA.

1. WeatherXplore Lessons

by Jon K

10 real world weather lessons regarding common wea...   

11 Lessons - See more 

2. Would You Crash This Airplane? 

by Jon K

Take this course and see if you have the skills to...   

1 Lessons - See more

3. Spin Awareness

by Jon K

Learn the basics of Spins and more importantly how...   

3 Lessons - See more

4. FREE Private Pilot Ground School

by Jon K

This course will cover the basic knowledge require...   

20 Lessons - See more

Flying in Alaska - Free Course

This course is a compilation of our Alaska series videos as it relates to airspace around the Anchorage area as well as the unique weather products offered in Alaska.

From special airspace procedures to watching webcams to determine the weather, this course is meant as an addendum to our Private Pilot Ground School offered here at fly8ma.com, or to help aviators who already hold a certificate and are visiting Alaska from the Lower 48 or Canada.

Airports discussed in this course include Anchorage (Ted Stevens), Lake Hood, Merill, and Fairbanks.

You can expect to spend 3 to 6 hours to complete this course.

Lessons

Alaskan Airspace - 4 topics 

Lake Hood

Merill Field

Fairbanks

FSS (Flight Service Station)

Alaskan Weather - 4 topics 

Weather Cameras

AAWU

General Alaskan Weather

Forest Fires

Start Flying in Alaska

Private Pilot Courses

Below you will find all of our online courses for Private Pilots.  We recommend beginning with our Online Private Pilot Ground School, and then taking the Private Pilot Written Prep Bootcamp to help you prepare for your FAA written exam.  All of our Private Pilot courses and be accessed with the Silverlevel membership or higher.  You can also purchase individual courses here.

1. Premium 2023 Private Pilot Ground School

This course will cover the basic knowledge required of a private pilot to pass the Private Pilot Airplane written exam, and will prepare you for your flight training in an actual aircraft with your flight instructor. You will be able to skip through the lessons as you wish to focus on the topics you would like to review the most!

Premium Ground School

This Course is available to members with a paid membership of Flight Engineer or higher.  You will be able to skip through the Course without having to progress through each lesson in order, and will not have to wait for the lesson timer to allow you to view the next lesson.

This course will cover the basic knowledge required of a private pilot to pass the Private Pilot Airplane written exam, and will prepare you for your flight training in an actual aircraft with your flight instructor.

21 Lessons

Lesson 1: Your First Flight - 6 topics 

Basic Flight Controls 

 Four Forces of Flight 

 The Parts of The Plane 

 How To Preflight The Plane 

What To Expect On Your First Flight 

 How to do a Normal Takeoff 

Lesson 2: Maneuvers and the Traffic Pattern - 6 topics 

Left Turning Tendencies

 Slow Flight

 Airport Markings and Signs

 Radio Calls at Non-Towered Airports

The Traffic Pattern

Choosing a CFI / School 

Lesson 3: Understanding the Wind and Turns - 6 topics 

Steep Turns 

Load Factor

The Power Curve

Taxiing in the Wind

Flying in the Wind

The Secret to Being Stable

Lesson 4: AOA, Stalls, and Other Scary Things - 5 topics 

Angle Of Attack

Stalled Airflow

How To Practice Stalls

Reading the Weather - METARs

Reading the Weather - TAFs

Lesson 5: Ground Reference, Maneuvers, and FARs - 4 topics 

Forward Slips and Side Slips

Turns About a Point

S-Turns

Regulations (FARs Lite)

Lesson 6: Building Good Landings - 5 topics 

Highspeed Taxiing

Low Approaches

Aiming Points

Go Arounds

Touch and Go's

Lesson 7: The Less Busy Airspace: G, E, D - 3 topics 

Class G Airspace

Class E Airspace

Class D Airspace

Lesson 8: Class A, B, and C Airspace: The Busier Side of the Sky - 6 topics 

Transponders

Class A Airspace

Class B Airspace

Class C Airspace

NOTAMs

TRSA

Lesson 9: Flying Blind and Performance Calculations - 4 topics 

Flying Blind: Simulated Instrument Practice

Unusual Attitudes

Unusual Attitudes Gone Wrong

Takeoff and Landing Calculations

Lesson 10: Soft and Short Field T.O.'s + Landings - 4 topics 

Short Field Takeoff

Short Field Landing

Soft Field Takeoff

Soft Field Landing

Lesson 11: Start Your Engines: Engines, Systems, and Instruments - 6 topics 

What Makes it Work

What's Under The Hood

Managing Your Engine

Electrical System

The Instrument Panel Explained

Instrument Insides Explained

Lesson 12: Weight and Balance, Navigation Systems - 4 topics 

The Weighing and Balancing Act

VFR Chart Basics

VOR Navigation Made Easy

GPS Basics

Lesson 13: Luck with Weather - 6 topics 

Weather Fronts

Basic Cloud Types

Thunderstorms / Convective Activity

Mountain Weather

Fog

Icing

Lesson 14: Your First SOLO! - 2 topics 

Getting Your Student Pilot Certificate

Pre Solo Quiz

Lesson 15: VFR Charts and Navigation - 5 topics 

Advanced VFR Charts

Terminal Area Charts

FLYWAY Charts

Chart Supplement

VOR Navigation

Lesson 16: Weather Charts and Services - 6 topics 

Surface / Prog Charts

AIRMETS / SIGMETS

PIREPS

Radar Summary Charts

Graphic Forecast Area

Weather Briefings

Lesson 17: Aeromedical Factors, ADM, FARS - 5 topics 

Medical Factors

Spatial Disorientation

Risk Matrix / Hazardous Attitudes

ADM / CRM / SRM

Regulations

Lesson 18: Flying at Night - 3 topics 

Night Time Flying

Airport Lighting

Nighttime Considerations

Lesson 19: Cross Country Flight Planning - 5 topics 

Airport Diagrams

Cross Country Considerations

Flight Computer Calculations

E6B Calculations

Navigation Logs

Lesson 20: Test Prep - 8 topics 

Written Test Prep

Premium Oral Prep

Stumper Questions

Oral Questions Quiz

Checkride Prep

Instrument Pilot Videos Preview

Guaranteed To Pass Your Checkride

Sport Pilot Differences

Private Pilot Practice Tests

Quizzes

Private Pilot ASEL Ground School

Premium 2023 Private Pilot Ground School

2. Transform Your Air Travel With Insider Knowledge To ELEVATE THE WAY YOU FLY

Flying private is the single best way to maximize your precious time and is far more accessible than you may think! 

Discover how you can profitably transform your business travel, while enjoying a more relaxed and flexible flight experience for your vacations. Learn everything you need to know to make a major impact on how you fly, how much you pay for it, and the quality of your experience.

“Finally someone has created a simple resource to quickly explain & demistify the complex elements of private aviation. The baseline knowledge I’ve gained from this course has saved our clients extraordinary time and money. I recommend it to anyone currently flying private or considering doing so.”This is the first-of-its kind course on how to access private aviation in the smartest, most cost-effective way.

Here’s what you will learn and explore in each module of The Insider's Guide to

Intelligent Private Aviation…

Yes enroll the game changer course

Course

3.. Private Pilot Written Test Bootcamp!

See the questions you'll see on your written test here first! Prepare to ACE your written exam by practicing real questions and calculations from the FAA Private Pilot Written Exam. Our students have a 100% pass rate when they complete our course. Do you want to pass your FAA written exam with ease? Click below to take this course!

PASS Your Written, GUARANTEED!

Want to cram for that written test and be Guaranteed to PASS your test?  Then this is the course for you!

 Structure

The course is broken down into 11 sections, each one teaches you exactly what you need to know to pass the written test via a series of short videos and or notes.

This course is designed not only to make sure you PASS your written exam, but also to ensure you actually understand the information and can apply it later in your flying career!

Some information is just purely rote memorization (it does not really help you in your flying to understand it much deeper) and other information is presented with full examples of how to calculate the problems to ensure you are able to apply the knowledge to the test and your flying down the road.

Our Students

All of our students have a 100% pass rate on their written exams and checkrides when they complete the FLY8MA Pilot Program!  For more information on how to use our educational courses to the fullest, click here!

 Lessons

Engines, Systems, and Instruments -2 topics 

WP: Instruments

WP: Engine Systems

Aerodynamics and Parts - 5 topics 

WP: Forces of Flight and Controls

WP: AOA, Stalls, and Spins

WP: Load Factor, Ground Effect, and Frost

WP: Stability and Turning Tendencies

WP: Aerodynamics

ATC, Airspace, and Airport Environments - 5 topics 

WP: Pavement Markings

WP: Airport Operations

WP: Collision Avoidance

WP: Airspace and Radio Knowledge

WP ADS-B

Aircraft Weight and Balance and Performance Charts - 3 topics 

WP: Density Altitude

WP: Weight and Balance

WP: Takeoff and Landing Distances

Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) - 2 topics 

WP: Aeromedical Factors

WP: Aeronautical Decision Making

FARs (Federal Aviation Regulations) - 5 topics 

FARs Explained Written Prep Part 1

FARs Explained Written Prep Part 2

FARs Rote Written Prep 1

FARs Rote Written Prep 2

FARs Rote Written Prep 3

Aviation Weather - 1 topic 

WP: General Weather Rote Videos

VORs and GPS for the Written Exam - 2 topics 

WP: VORs

WP: GPS

Weather Services - 2 topics 

WP: Weather Products

WP: Forecasts

Navigational Charts and Pubs - 2 topics 

WP: Sectional Charts and Supplements

WP: Sectionals and Other Publications

Cross Country Flight - 3 topics 

WP: VFR Flight Planning

WP: Cross Country Calculations

WP: E6B (optional)

Final Lesson PPL Written Prep

 

4. Private Pilot Checkride Prep Crash Course

Want to pass your Private Pilot Checkride on the first try? Take this course and you’re guaranteed to pass!

 Description

Welcome to the Private Pilot Checkride Crash Course!

This course is designed to be used IN ADDITION to the Premium Private Pilot Ground School on our website.  The ground school course gives you a solid foundation of knowledge required to be successful on your Checkride.

By completing this course, you will refresh and add extra knowledge that will prepare you in the best way possible for your FAA Private Pilot Test.

You can access ALL of our Private Pilot Courses with one single membership here.

5. Spin Awareness

Learn the basics of Spins and more importantly how to avoid them! You'll learn a lot more about angle of attack and stalls, then see a full preflight brief with student and instructor before watching what they actually look like in the airplane and learning the proper general recovery techniques.

 Around and around we go!

The idea of an airplane spinning may be one of the most terrifying things to a pilot, especially a newer pilot. While spins are very dangerous and often end very poorly for pilots who accidentally get themselves into a spin, they are actually, at their core, very gentle and low stress maneuvers. Given the danger involved in not recovering promptly at the first sign of a spin, it is a good idea to get some thorough training both on the ground and in the air on how to best recover and recognize the signs a spin is about to occur.

What’s in this course:

AOA and Stalled Airflow

Stall / Spin Briefing

Spin / Stall awareness and developed spins in the airplane

What you’ll get out of this course:

A better understanding of how the airplane behaves before, during, and after a spin

A basic understanding of how to get into and how to get out of a spin

A better understanding of how the four left turning tendencies act on the airplane in a stall and during a spin

A certificate at the end of the course when you successfully pass the end of course exam!

How long does this take?

Expect to spend about 30-60 minutes on this course in total. Feel free to spend longer and revisit the LESSONS and TOPICS as many times as you’d like.

6. Tailwheel Training Course

In this course you will get an introduction to the operation of tailwheel/taildragger aircraft while taxiing, taking off, and landing, as well as the ground knowledge to prep you for flying one of these awesome aircraft!

For those pilots who want to fly “REAL” airplanes

Back in the day when the first airplanes were built, they all had “conventional” landing gear, and were either taildraggers or tailwheel airplanes.

It’s true these airplanes require sharp piloting skills to safely operate, however its the way pilots have been flying for over 100 years and it is reasonable that any pilot can operate one of these aircraft with the proper training.

In this course you will get an introduction to the operation of tailwheel/taildragger aircraft while taxiing, taking off, and landing (they really fly the exact same in the air as their nosewheel counterparts).

Lessons

Tailwheel Ground Work - 4 topics 

Tailwheel Preflight

Oral (Optional)

Tailwheel Taxiing

Tailwheel Tailwind Taxiing

Tailwheel Takeoffs - 3 topics 

Tailwheel Normal Takeoff

Tailwheel Crosswind Takeoff

Tailwheel Short / Soft Takeoff

Tailwheel Drills - 4 topics 

Highspeed Taxiing

Slips

Energy Management

Bonus Lesson

Tailwheel Landings - 3 topics 

Wheel / 3-Point Landings

Short Landings

Soft Landings

Quizzes

Tailwheel Pilot Quiz

Tailwheel Training Course

Tailwheel Ground Work

Tailwheel Takeoffs

Tailwheel Drills

Tailwheel Landings

Get The Course

7. Cross Wind Landings

Understand how to control the aircraft during takeoff, approach, and landing with crosswinds. In this 30 minute compact course. You'll get the basics of flying when the winds just aren't quite blowing in your favor.

Basics of Crosswind Landings and Takeoffs:

This course is laid out in three parts, Text, Video, and Quiz.

You will read about how to make proper approaches and landings with crosswinds, then watch a short video inside of each section.  At the end of the three sections, you will watch a slightly longer video putting it all together, then take a short quiz. The videos not only show how to use the controls to maneuver the aircraft, but also talks you through how to properly plan out your approach and landing, as well as getting set up for takeoff. The approximate course time is 30-45 mins.

What are the requirements?

Students should have a basic understanding of the parts and controls of a small aircraft (elevator, ailerons, rudder, etc)

What am I going to get from this course?

Understand how to control the aircraft during takeoff, approach, and landing with crosswinds.

Lessons

Crosswinds Lesson #1 - 2m

Crosswinds Lesson #2- 4m

Crosswinds Lesson #3

Get the Cross Wind Landings course 

Piper Cherokee Tear Down

Hey There!

These videos are only for members on our site.  You can sign up for any membership level here: SignUp to gain access!

Want to Join the #FLY8MATEAM ?

Become a FLY8MA Ambassador and help spread the word about FLY8MA across the Country! 

Whether you are a Student Pilot or a Flight Instructor, if you love aviation and learning, we want YOU! 

FLY8MA, Learn to FLY HERE, FOR LIFE!

FLY8MA is more than just an online ground school.  It's adventure learning that will keep you safe for years to come!  Safe pilots are always learning, help others improve when you share our enhanced training courses!

 Become a FLY8MA Ambassador

  What does a FLY8MA Ambassador do?  You'll help spread the word about FLY8MA.com to your friends on Facebook, Twitter, and around your Local Airport!  As you help spread the word and more of your friends signup, you'll get credit for each person you refer to FLY8MA.com (whether they signup for a free account or a premium account).  As more of your friends signup we'll send you free gear, like T-shirts, stickers, hats, and even gift cards that can be redeemed on FLY8MA.com!