Online Groundschools

[DaveC]

Hey all. I know of PilotTraining.ca's online course, and saw some positive feedback via search. I'm looking to self study my CPL since my IT job is very part-time right now, can anyone make any other recommendations? $275 is pretty affordable for the Harvs Air (PilotTraining) one.

[cienki]

I don't know of any others, but the course from pilottraining.ca is excellent. I'm almost done the CPL groundschool now and have nothing but good things to say. It's extremely thorough and, at least for me, the huge amount of powerpoint material does not get boring and tedious, but is very helpful because you can quickly go back and review. The quizzes at the end of each part will keep you challenged and wanting to keep going as you see yourself progress. The other advantage is that you can get it done more quickly than going to a class (if you have a lot of time to dedicate to it).

[Panama Jack]

Interesting to see all of the positive feedback on the pilottraining.ca groundschool course, and perhaps it is very good for the PPL, CPL and ATP mainstream courses. However, I must say that I was relatively disappointed with the content of the Ultralight Permit Groundschool Course that I had bought for my wife. A mostly seems to be salvaged material from the PPL, CPL and ATP material which sometimes does not reflect the interest level or scope of Ultralight Pilot Permit operations. For example, an entire chapter on Turbine Engines. WTH? Lack of ultralight topics.

The Ultralight Course is "legal" and fortunately, I have background experience in aviation so we are using it as supplementary material and I am "guiding" her studies as necessary. I am not certain, though, how an independent student without guidance from an ultralight instructor could deal effectively with this course, though. I don't know of any other on-line courses, but Harvair did start with a good concept that I hope will be built on and improved upon. I would love to see something of John & Martha King quality sometime in Canada.

[CYXDSTUD]

http://www.canadianflightinstitute.ca/ogs/

Pretty good reviews from here as well. IFR G/S to boot.

[PAJ]

Need to start studying for the INRAT. Anybody have experience with either of the below courses? Any reason why one would be better than the other?

http://pilottraining.ca/lms/
or
http://www.canadianflightinstitute.ca/ogs/

Any other online resources out there?

Thanks

PAJ

[kmf.kenif]

I did my CPL Ground school with pilottraining.ca and loved their material. Although their material was great I didn't quite go over everything (they were really in depth) and I was on a strict timeline to finish. But I'd definitely do it again with Harv's for my CPL g/s not only do they have powerpoints, they have lecture video and mp3 recordings that were very interactive. However, I doesn't make sense to me that I wasn't able to download the PowerPoint slides myself. It wasn't a big problem since I hand written most of my notes... But it would've been an added bonus. They also keep a very good tracking of your hours on the site to log g/s hours into your PTR. You'll burn through that 80 hours no problem if you study hard enough.

As for INRAT I'm looking into Aerocourse. They do weekend seminars at YTZ and YYC. And I think they offer stuff online as well (not sure?).

That's my thoughts on it. Good luck.

[Shiny Side Up]

However, I doesn't make sense to me that I wasn't able to download the PowerPoint slides myself. It wasn't a big problem since I hand written most of my notes...

Two reasons:

a) So you do make your own written notes and,

b) So its not too easy to copy and release it as kmf.kenif's super awesome groundschool for dummies.

[172pilot]

I'm doing the CPL course from pilottraining.ca (harvs air). It's good but the video sure can give you a headache. The camera is all over the place as the instructor paces back and forth the front of the room. Please leave the camera on a tripod fixed on the powerpoint slide. If he wants to walk up and point something out, great. But otherwise, trying to listen to him while the camera pans side to side following him around the room, and zooms in and out, forces a person to use the mp3 files and powerpoint slides alone - unless you like being dizzy. Otherwise, content is good, and the quizes help you retain key points. I still read From the Ground Up after each few chapters.