subject: Learning Before Flying [print this page] Learning how to fly can be an expensive business, especially if you do not have the time to undertake the necessary study to make the most of your lessons. Many trainee pilots looking to take their private pilots license sign up for a ground school course, but do not put in the necessary hours to get the most out of it. When learning the principles of aviation, it is vital to ensure that you consolidate what you learn in the classroom; otherwise it is very easy to forget.
This is particularly the case if you cannot afford to have many practical lessons, as it is often difficult to put theory into practice without the necessity of practical application. This is why it is useful to supplement your work at ground school with other learning resources such as books and DVDs sold via mail order or online pilot shop stores. Indeed, although you will get the basic foundation principles during your aviation course, many pilots find it easier to learn if they understand the underlying principles which the exigencies of time often prevent from being included in the PPL classes. Knowing precisely why certain things work the way they do will help underpin your theoretical and practical knowledge and may make it easier for you to retain your knowledge. Equally, when it comes to putting theory into practice, knowing the fundamental principles which underlie the theory is a great way of helping you to perform better.
There are a wide number of training courses available via textbook, online or via DVD, and the syllabuses can vary dependent on who the target audience is. So if you decide to go down this route and invest in some extra-curricular learning, then make sure that you buy something that is going to be directly relevant to you. This is particularly the case if you are buying online as there are many books and DVDs from the US, which are only useful for American private pilots. Finding an online pilot shop is not difficult as there are many on the web, but finding one that offers great customer service as well as good prices can be a little trickier. However, take the time to browse through all thats available and if in doubt speak to your flying instructor as they might have some good recommendations.
When shopping at an online pilot shop, make sure you take the time to check their online returns policy as you do not want to find that you are stuck with an item if it turns out to be the wrong one.
