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From: cfiaime@ihnp4.UUCP (Jeff Williams)
Newsgroups: net.aviation
Subject: Re: Wanted: Advice on Ground School Courses and Texts
Message-ID: <753@ihnp4.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 19-Apr-85 11:13:05 EST
Article-I.D.: ihnp4.753
Posted: Fri Apr 19 11:13:05 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 20-Apr-85 03:22:34 EST
References: <707@infopro.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
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> Like everyone else, we will have
> to take some kind of ground school course. We could settle for the
> filmstrip-and-cassette package they sell for $180 at our local Cessna
> school, but figured we would ask you people who have already been
> through it all. Is this type of course a waste? Are there better
> cassette or even videocassette courses available? Is classroom
> training better, a substitute, a useful addition,
> or another waste? Does anyone maybe
> have a set of recent cassettes they no longer need that they would be
> willing to part with for a reasonable sum? Are there texts other than
> the FAA "Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge" that you would recommend
> or disapprove (limit this to just ground-school type texts please,
> because we noted the general books listed a few months ago here)?
> 
Having taught several ground school courses, and having seen the 
results of the Cessna Pilot Center course, in my opinion, RUN, DO
NOT WALK AND SIGN UP FOR THE FULL CESSNA PILOT CENTER INTEGRATED
PACKAGE.  The full CPC package is about the best thing going if it
is administrated correctly.  However, find out if YOUR instructor
has been to the factory school on using the course, and look at the
student folders for the school.  If the paperwork looks lacking (and
it is easy to tell), find another school.  If the instructor knows
what he/she is doing, and the paperwork is ok, you will have a better
chance of good scores on the written, and a good, usable private
license.

The ground school without the flight training as an integrated package
is about as good as any other method (quicky school, home study, etc).
Using the system, the student is exposed to a concept in ground school,
and then flies the concept in the air.  Each of the 1500 new concepts
needed for the licence is given at least 3 different times in at least
two of four different ways (video, book, workbook, and flight).  By
the time you are done, you KNOW your stuff better than if you take 
ground school and then go and fly.

Dedicate several days per week to flying (spare time, of course).  Try
to get at least two and no more than three lessons per week, if at all
possible.  It isn't cheap, but the training is worth it, and the license
is finished a bunch faster than if you go once a week.  (The CPC average
licence is around 48 hours, the national average is around 67 hours.)

If you want to do the studying yourself, the best courses are available
from Jeppesen.  I have had good luck teaching the Private Pilot Manual
as a textbook, and I have used the programmed instruction courses for
both my instrument rating and the ATP written.  (Matter of fact, I got
an 89 on the ATP for the first crack at the written.  And none of the
wimpy 135 test either, the test was on FAR part 121 and a Boeing 727.)
The Jeppesen courses are available almost anywhere (Sporty's, Pan
American Navigation, local flight schools, Cooper, Van Dusen, etc.)

					Good Luck on the license.

					jeff williams
					AT&T Bell Laboratories
					ihnp4!cfiaime

p.s.
I got my private license using the CPC course back in 1971.  I was
the first graduate of the first CPC in the Chicago area.  As a 141
school, the minimum for the ticket was 35 hours.  My 37th hour was
my checkride with the FED (honest).  And, I feel that I am an average
pilot.  (It sure was heady stuff for a 19/20 year old, way back when...)