Do you want to begin flight school training? Contact Leopard Aviation at 480-637-4217 to get started at our Arizona ground school.

Before you can earn a pilot license, you must complete pilot ground training. This basic training is the starting point for anyone looking to earn a commercial pilot license in Arizona.

This guide will explain everything you need to know about both ground school and the training that follows.

What Is Flight School?

Anyone looking to become a pilot needs to understand the full scope of what flight school entails from beginning to end.

Enrolling in flight school means you’ll learn the ins and outs of different aircraft systems in hopes of receiving a private pilot license or going on to fly for a commercial airline. To achieve this, however, you need to go through intense flight training that starts in ground school.

After you pass the knowledge test and finish ground school, you can move on to in-flight training.

What Is Ground Training?

Obtaining a pilot license requires passing ground school, the very first set of lessons that student pilots learn.

Pilot ground training covers several important topics before you can move on with flight school training, including:

• Air traffic control
• Radio communication procedures
• Your airplane flight manual
• Equipment systems and complex aircraft operations
• Weather patterns and how they impact aircraft navigation

Your flight instructor will dive deep into these topics to ensure you gain aeronautical knowledge. You’ll need to pass a computerized knowledge test that shows you have a sufficient understanding of these topics.

Only after successfully completing an approved ground training course can you fly light sport aircraft and other similar systems.

How Long Does Ground School Training Last?

To become a private pilot, ground school takes a few weeks to complete to make sure you have enough time to cover aerodynamics, navigation, and standard Federal Aviation Association regulations. As soon as you pass a computerized aeronautical knowledge test, you’ll be one step closer to obtaining a private pilot license.

The practical tests that you need to pass in order to become a commercial pilot are a bit more intense. The commercial pilot test covers airspace rules, emergency procedures, performance charts, and more.

What Happens After You Complete Student Pilot Ground Training?

Once you receive your student pilot certificate that shows you have sound aviation knowledge and aeronautical knowledge, you can move on to overall flight training. Every pilot requires knowledge of flying in controlled and uncontrolled airspace.

While ground school may include simulated flight training, flight school is where you can get into the cockpit and begin advanced pilot training. You’ll use your knowledge from ground school and apply it on every flight you take until you accrue enough hours to co smplete your first solo flight.

You must master flight maneuvers and pass a pre-solo knowledge test in order to receive solo flight endorsement from your instructor. This test involves the airspace rules and procedures that apply to the airport where you’ll conduct your first solo flight.

You must demonstrate to your flight instructor that you can confidently perform the following procedures:

• Take off
• Landing
• Communication with air traffic controllers
• Recovery from stalls

You’ll continue to log solo pilot training hours until it’s time to receive your sport pilot certificate, private pilot license, or recreational pilot license. With proper flight instruction from the right pilot school, you can become a competent pilot who flies for a commercial airline.

Whether you want to learn to fly for pleasure or for your career, Leopard Aviation is ready to help you get started. We offer training at pilot schools in Scottsdale and Mesa, AZ, from qualified instructors.

Is Flight School Training Different for Different Types of Pilots?

Ground schools and flight schools can have different requirements set by the Federal Aviation Association. One type of program, known as Part 141, requires students to have an approved training course during ground school. The other program, Part 61, does not require this course but does need you to log ground training from a certified instructor before you can apply for a pilot certificate.

In general, the information you learn in ground school will be the same, whether you’re pursuing a recreational pilot certificate or sport pilot license. However, the training will differ once you enter flight school.

To earn your private pilot certificate, you’ll need to log at least 35 hours of flight time under a Part 141 program and 40 hours of flight time under a Part 61 program. Aspiring commercial airline pilots must accrue far more training (250 hours under Part 61, 190 hours under Part 141).

Begin Your Flight Training Today With Leopard Aviation

Do you know everything that a commercial pilot knowledge test entails? Enroll in ground school at Leopard Aviation to begin your pilot ground training and eventually work your way up toward earning a commercial or private pilot license.

Contact us today at 480-637-4217 to learn more about the quality flight training we offer student pilots at our flight schools at Scottsdale and Mesa/Falcon field airports.