syllabus.
Private/Recreational/Sport (PRS) Ground School
Student Handout
Major Units of Study
Each unit is a least one week long lecture class and in some cases is longer. Every few weeks, a hands-on unit will be conducted by student assistants and will consist of project driven activities such as reading weather charts and reports, learning to use the flight computer, flight planning, and regulation interpretation.
Unit 1: The Aircraft
- Aerodynamics
- Flight Mechanics
- Stall/Spin
- Systems
- Powerplants
Reading Assignment: Lesson 1 (pp. 1-23); Lesson 2 (pp. 1-15); Lesson 3 (pp. 1-11)
Unit 2: The Environment
- Meteorology
- Weather Charts
- Weather Reports
- Physiology
Reading Assignment: Lesson 6 (pp. 1-13); Lesson 7 (pp. 1-19); Lesson 5 (pp. 19-24)
Unit 2 (continued): The Environment
- Meteorology
- Weather Charts
- Weather Reports
- Physiology
Reading Assignment: Lesson 6 (pp. 1-13); Lesson 7 (pp. 1-19); Lesson 5 (pp. 19-24)
Student Assistant Week
- Reading Weather Reports and Charts
- Introduction to the E6B
Reading Assignment: Lesson 9 (pp. 7- 12)
Unit 3: The System
- Airspace
- Airports
- ATC
- Radio Communications
- Navaids
- Aeronautical Charts
Reading Assignments: Lesson 5 (pp. 1-18); Lesson 9 (pp. 1-6; 12-23); Lesson 11 (pp. 1-12)
Unit 4: The Regulations
- Certification
- Operations
- Accident Reporting
- Publications
Reading Assignment: Lesson 4 (pp. 1-20)
Student Assistant Week
- Airport and Airspace Review
- Weight & Balance
- More Computer Problems
- Regulation Review
Reading Assignment: Lesson 8 (pp. 1-6)
Unit 5: Flight Planning
- Aircraft Performance
- Weight and Balance Review
- Flight Computer Review
- Aeronautical Charts Review
- Navigation
- Planning and Pre-Flight Action
- Decision Making
- Crew Resource Management
Reading Assignment: Lesson 8 (pp. 6-20); Lesson 10 (pp. 1-16); Lesson 11 (pp. 12-24)
Unit 5 (continued): Flight Planning
- Aircraft Performance
- Weight and Balance Review
- Flight Computer Review
- Aeronautical Charts Review
- Navigation
- Planning and Pre-Flight Action
- Decision Making
- Crew Resource Management
Reading Assignment: Lesson 8 (pp. 6-20); Lesson 10 (pp. 1-16); Lesson 11 (pp. 12-24)
Student Assistant Week
- Final Flight Planning
- Decision Making – Go/No Go
- Crew Resource Management
Text: Gardner, B. (2003). The complete private pilot (9 th ed.). Newcastle. WA: Aviation Supplies & Academics.
Additional Instructional Items
Flight Computer: E6B
Flight Plotter
Omaha Section Chart
Access To:
Airmen’s Information Manual
Airport Facility Directory (NC) North Central US
FAR 61, 91, NTSB 830