Ground Instruction vs. Flight Instruction

When people ask me what I do, it can be difficult to explain it to them. If I say I’m a ground instructor, unless they are involved in aviation, they don’t know what that means. They usually don’t connect it with flying airplanes. If I say I’m a flight instructor, they think I’m up in the air flying planes with people. It’s also not really true, since I don’t do flight instruction. So, what’s the difference? 

Learning how to fly a plane takes a lot of training. In general, it is split into two parts, ground school and flight instruction. Ground school covers all the technical knowledge that has to be learned. This would be things like airspace, aerodynamics, weather, and systems. Flight instruction is where a student pilot puts all that knowledge into practice. It’s where they actually get in the plane and practice the hard skills. Takeoffs, landings, turns, and other maneuvers are learned and practiced. 

One of the reasons there is confusion is that there is a lot of overlap between ground school and flight instruction. When someone is receiving ground instruction they are learning how to fly. When someone is receiving flight instruction they are also learning how to fly. A lot of what needs to be learned is taught in both ground instruction and flight instruction. Without ground instruction, a person will not be a good pilot, and without flight instruction, they won’t be a pilot at all. Both are important.

Ground school used to be done in a classroom setting, where an instructor would teach an entire curriculum over a number of days. This is still done at some flight schools. However, the internet and technology has changed a lot of things. 

Today, many people turn to things like online video courses to do their ground school. There are some advantages to this such as lower cost and convenience. However, there are also disadvantages. A student pilot isn’t getting the personal attention and mentorship that comes with a classroom setting. This can lead to poorer outcomes on exams and ultimately less competent pilots.

I created Virtual Ground School to try and bridge the gap that exists in modern ground instruction. I wanted to create something that provides the convenience of online learning with the personalization and guidance of a live ground school. There are a few different options I offer for aspiring pilots.

First, there is the complete ground school class, where I cover an entire private pilot curriculum through live video classes. This allows for students to join from anywhere, while also getting the benefit of having a live instructor walking them through things. This is the best option for people just beginning their aviation journey.

For those who have already started learning, but are struggling with fully grasping the information, I offer hourly personal lessons. You can book an hour or two with me, and I will help you understand any of the concepts you are struggling with. 

If you are close to your checkride and want to be fully prepared, I offer mock oral exams as well. These are three hour sessions where I drill student pilots on the private pilot ACS (Airman Certification Standards) and explain any areas they are having difficulty with. 

These options are all done through live video calls. The classes are recorded so you can return to them and review anything that you may have missed. Virtual Ground School is one of the best options you can choose for the ground school portion of your flight training. It’s convenient, cost effective, and thorough. You will be fully equipped with all the knowledge you need to become a safe and effective pilot. Hopefully, you have a better understanding of the difference between ground school and flight instruction now too.