Where Did All the Ground Training Go?
The aviation training industry, in a world where some percentage of flight instructors only care about “flight time”, has a major problem no one is addressing… proper ground training! “But, what about the DPE shortage?” That is a shiny object of distraction and another article for another day. The quick and dirty on that topic is, we have an exam-scheduling problem, not a shortage of DPEs. Back to proper ground training. Proper ground training can save your life, as well as reduce liability to flight schools providing the training to their clients.
The industry’s recent failures to acknowledge proper ground training has been a slow burning fuse on a (lack of) knowledge bomb for some time. Lighting of the fuse dates back to when “Ground School”, taught by a living breathing CFI in a hangar, transitioned to VHS video tapes. As the transition continued to “Online Ground School”, a for profit business, that takes money out of your local CFI’s wallet and endures zero accountability when it comes to taking your practical exam, was born.
Two disturbing trends have developed in the aviation training industry. First, Flight Instructors are shying away from doing any ground training and allowing “online” courses to pick up the slack. You cannot ask an online course questions in real time unless there is an instructor present online to ask. With the online training programs offered you can certainly garner great knowledge. Unfortunately, the application of that knowledge is hard to come by. This is where one on one ground training with the CFI comes in. This shift has slowly occurred since the early 80’s with the invention of the VCR and has significantly accelerated with the rapid growth over the last six years in the online offerings in the aviation training industry. Second, Flight Schools and Flight Instructors are opting for more flight training in place of proper ground training. Even more disturbing, that flight training is at a level of trial and error, rather than precisely planned instruction with precisely planned expectations of outcomes.
Part 61 specifically uses two very distinct terms to address the required training prior to making application for a pilot certificate or rating, “Ground Training” and “Flight Training”. The term “Ground School” is a marketing term to generate interest in a group-learning environment specifically to prepare for the written exam. Do not get me wrong, I am not bashing any type of ground school, I actually cherish the opportunity to teach them… in person. Unfortunately, online ground schools currently teach to the rote and/or understanding level of knowledge, not the application of that knowledge. This requires human-to-human interaction with a local CFI. Online ground schools prepare you for the written test, not the ground portion of the practical test. Although the price tag of the online ground schools seems to make the cost of training a bit less expensive for the client, lately, they remove a significant and important piece of the training puzzle to becoming a competent and safe pilot. The local CFI. Thus, driving up the local flight training costs due to lack of ground training preparation.
If you read part 61.57, 105, 107, 125, 127, 129, 186, 187… every one of them states, “…must receive and log ground training…” How have we ventured so far from what is required to become a competent and safe pilot?
As you can see, the old “ground training is not required for part 61” or “not as much ground training is required for part 61” excuses are an absolute farce. Anyone spouting these rumors needs a remedial class in the FAR/AIM. Ground training is required for all parts of Part 61 training; accomplished by a current and competent CFI (preferably the recommending CFI), on the topics listed in each of the respective sections. Where the ground training is logged is optional, preferably in the applicants logbook (usually near the back part of the logbook), and that log is presented to the examiner at the time of the exam to qualify the applicant to take the exam. Unfortunately, you cannot endorse someone for an exam if there is no record of the training received for that endorsement. Specific ground and flight topics demand coverage via ground training per the regulations. A professional educator (the CFI) should be documenting that training, in detail, in the learner’s logbook or training record. Just as if it were a flight lesson. This is what your clients are paying for! Interacting with a local CFI is the only way to allow the transition to occur from rote or understanding level, to the application level of learning (yes, I said it again).
Flight Instructors, you are the front line training manager of your client’s safety and training! I am sorry to tell you, if you attended a flight school where one on one, in-person, ground training was looked down upon or seen unnecessary, your flight school failed you abysmally! Any flight school or CFI that downplays the importance of one on one, CFI to learner, ground training should be avoided at all costs. This red flag denotes a flight school that exists solely as a revenue generating business rather than an institution of higher learning with a grasp of how to achieve desired outcomes through a proper training syllabus. At these schools, there is an over reliance on “self-study” and “online” training programs. Any flight school that is making this shift (from in-person to solely on-line) is setting their clients and business up for failure. Not just bankruptcy, but a failure in safe efficient operations leading to potential incidents and accidents.
Now, let’s do the math…
75 hrs of flight training at $250/hr = $18,750
35 hrs ground training at $50/hr ($1750) + 40 hrs flight training at $250/hr ($10,000)= $11750
As you can see, proper ground training can save a significant chunk of change on your overall cost of training! Normally, proper ground training inlaid with flight training can save up to 25-33% on overall (current) costs. Flight schools, ground training can free up resources on your flight schedule saving the cost of buying another airplane for your fleet and the operating costs associated with that additional aircraft.
Like it or not, you are going to spend time with your CFI or Learner doing ground training, and I encourage you to like it. CFI’s, you are paid the same whether inflight or on the ground (or at least you should be). Regulation and ethics demand you spend time on the ground with your learner covering the required topics in Part 61 for the certificate being sought. The topics are not difficult and are easily found in the Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge or the Airplane Flying Handbook. Yes, both books can be written better… it is what it is.
Finally, you cannot endorse someone for an exam if ground training has not been accomplished via an approved process per Part 61.
Fly safe, fly smart!
Pete
The above article was posted with permission from Vaper Global Aviation LLC.
About Vapor Global Aviation LLC
Vapor Global Aviation, LLC provides top quality flight and ground training to pilots and aircraft owners seeking to pursue continued excellence in aviation.
Established as an LLC in November of 2019 by retired Air Force Pilot, Pete Reddan, Vapor Global Aviation can provide the following ground and flight training services under Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61 and 91:
FAA Practical Exams
Spin, Upset and Recovery Training (see below) GA ASEL/AMEL Instruction
TRAINING NOW AVAILABLE
Concerned about entering a spin? Loss of Control in flight? Events occurring outside your skill set? Fear of the aviation unknown? The remedy, Vapor Global Aviation’s (VGA’s) Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT) Programs. Your instructor, US Air Force Pilot, Pete “Vapor” Reddan, Lt Col (ret). He spent nine years out of 20 teaching fellow USAF pilots aerobatics and upset recovery techniques in the T-6 Texan II and three years providing UPRT to Federal Bureau of Investigation pilots. A true spin/upset recovery specialist! VGA is currently booking UPRT single day one on one/two classes for March and early April in the greater Memphis area (M04 or KUTA). Contact us at vaporglobalaviation@gmail.com for more information. Not from Memphis, fly in, or he’ll come to you.
Website https://www.facebook.com/groups/2482993451737874/
Headquarters: Greater Memphis, Tennessee
Founded 2019
