Pilot Ground School

Here at Thrust Flight, we offer live, in-person ground school. If you’re preparing for your written exam our ground schools will get you ready in just three days.

What is ground school?

Weekend ground school is designed to prepare you for the FAA written exam. We offer both a private pilot ground school and an instrument pilot ground school.

In our ground schools, one of our certified flight instructors will teach you each day, going over a variety of material that you’ll encounter on the written exam.

In Person Ground Schools Update

At this time we have discontinued our in person ground schools. If you’re ready for ground school here are the online ground schools we recommend.

View Private Pilot Ground School Dates

View Instrument Pilot Ground School Dates

Frequently Asked Questions about Ground School

Is ground school required?

Yes, ground training is essential for all ratings. But there are many delivery methods available. We offer live, in-person classes or live online classes. There are also recorded programs available to purchase.

How long does the ground school take?

Our weekend ground schools run for three days. Our Private/Sport Pilot class is from 12 pm to 5 pm while the Instrument Pilot ground school class is from 8 am to 5 pm on Friday. Both classes run all day Saturday and Sunday from 8 am to 5 pm with breaks for lunch.

Will a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) or Certified Flight Instructor – Instrument (CFII) teach ground school?

Yes, a CFI/CFII will teach ground school. We utilize our or most experienced CFI’s to teach ground schools each month.

How hard is ground school?

The purpose of our weekend ground school is to prepare you for the FAA written exam, so it’s supposed to be hard. We’re here to make sure you are fully prepared. If we made it easy you’d probably fail the FAA written exam.

There is a lot of information to cover, so reading the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook (for Private/Sport pilots) or Instrument Flying Handbook (for Instrument pilots) before the class will make it much easier to digest and comprehend the information.

What does ground school consist of?

The weekend ground school consists of three days of classroom time where an instructor teaches the knowledge in lecture format. And then reinforces understanding by completing actual practice questions from the FAA knowledge test bank. If you take an online ground school program the content will vary across providers.

Is there a ground school for commercial pilots?

We currently do not offer a live classroom format ground school for the Commercial Pilot course. Generally pilots at this level utilize prepared written and video resources for initial preparation, reinforced with one-on-one quizzing and review with an instructor.

What are good ground school books for private pilots?

We have found the Jeppesen Airman Knowledge Test Prep book to be the best in content, presentation and format. When supplemented with the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge and FAR/AIM, you will have all of the information necessary to ace the FAA knowledge test.

How do I study for ground school?

Before coming to ground school, make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. (If you attend our weekend ground school, the books are all included). We recommend attending ground school after you’ve had a few flight lessons so that you’ve already been exposed to the topics that will be covered.

It is also highly recommended that you read the FAA’s Airplane Flying Handbook in order to build a foundation of knowledge the ground school can build upon.

While in class take notes and be sure to keep a list of topics you have a harder time with so that you can study them further on your own or with a flight instructor.

How much does ground school cost?

At Thrust Flight, private pilot and instrument pilot weekend ground schools costs $395 each.

What is the refund policy for ground schools?

You may reschedule a classroom or online training course at no charge if requested more than 10 days before the class start date. Cancellations within 10 days of a class incur a rescheduling fee of $100. You are allowed up to 2 reschedules of a class reservation and all must be within 6 months of the originally scheduled class date. If the published course fee for the rescheduled course is different than the original fee, you are responsible for any increase or will be refunded any decrease. If the third date does not work for you, the reservation will be canceled, and your deposit will be refunded in accordance with the Cancellation Policy. View the full refund policy and the cancellation policy here.