Written Tests Prior to Training
05-01-2019, 07:43 AM
#1
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Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 78
Written Tests Prior to Training
Hi All,
I am planning on beginning full time training about a year from now with a local 141 school. I am currently in the money saving phase, trying to save every penny before i begin training. Once i start, I will want to get through my training as fast as possible. One thing i have heard of to help speed training along is taking written tests prior to beginning training. Is this something that would even be possible? How would I go about this?
I am planning on beginning full time training about a year from now with a local 141 school. I am currently in the money saving phase, trying to save every penny before i begin training. Once i start, I will want to get through my training as fast as possible. One thing i have heard of to help speed training along is taking written tests prior to beginning training. Is this something that would even be possible? How would I go about this?
05-01-2019, 09:04 AM
#2
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Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,210
It would be fine to take the written tests in advance, the written knowledge is not exactly practical aviation knowledge, so you'll end up covering all of the important stuff later anyway.
You'll need to do a self-study course, typically a textbook and workbook, and then get a CFI to give you an endorsement to take the written test. Good idea, but not required, to talk to the CFI in advance in case he has a preference for for which course you use.
You'll want to use a test prep book or website to review the test bank questions immediately prior to taking the test (a CFI can explain that).
You then have to take the checkride within two years of the written (or re-take the written).
You'll need to do a self-study course, typically a textbook and workbook, and then get a CFI to give you an endorsement to take the written test. Good idea, but not required, to talk to the CFI in advance in case he has a preference for for which course you use.
You'll want to use a test prep book or website to review the test bank questions immediately prior to taking the test (a CFI can explain that).
You then have to take the checkride within two years of the written (or re-take the written).
05-01-2019, 09:06 AM
#3
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Posts: 75
I am about to start at a 141 school. Their ground school is done online via king schools. I have the app downloaded on my ipad and go through material everyday. It tracks your progress and my CFI will be able to see where I am at with all of it.
My first flight lesson is on 5/10/19. I too have heard you should try to take your written prior to training in an attempt to save time/money. I mentioned this to one of the staff at the flight school and they said they do not recommend that. He said that there are things that you are learning through ground school/books that will make much more sense once you are actually flying. I can see that being true, but I could also see them saying that in an attempt to get more $$ from students (assuming that taking your written prior to training actually does help save money/time.... maybe it does but perhaps on a case by case basis depending on how a given person learns? I really do not know...)
If your flight school is like mine in that mine uses the online ground schooling, you may be able to get a head start without dropping a lot of $$$. I paid $394 for a ground school package. This included a flight bag and the ground school from King Schools. So I have just been going through that program every night after work. I am about 25% through the material so far in about 2.5 weeks.
Something to keep in mind, I had bought the sporty's private pilot package for ground school about 1.5 months ago. Basically the same thing as the kings school, but when I visited my prospective flight school to discuss more about the flight training, I was told that they only uses kings school. So I HAVE to use the Kings School program. So I kind of wasted $300 of the Sporty's program.
If you are going to get some kind of online ground school program (Which it seems from what I have seen that a lot of part 141 do), just check with your flight school first. Otherwise you may spend money on a program that they will not use/accept.
I am still a little confused on exactly how my flight schools training goes.... whenever I have gone in person to talk to people I never seem to get clear, concise straight answers. Hopefully once I start actually flying I am able to see how the process will be for the duration of my training.
My first flight lesson is on 5/10/19. I too have heard you should try to take your written prior to training in an attempt to save time/money. I mentioned this to one of the staff at the flight school and they said they do not recommend that. He said that there are things that you are learning through ground school/books that will make much more sense once you are actually flying. I can see that being true, but I could also see them saying that in an attempt to get more $$ from students (assuming that taking your written prior to training actually does help save money/time.... maybe it does but perhaps on a case by case basis depending on how a given person learns? I really do not know...)
If your flight school is like mine in that mine uses the online ground schooling, you may be able to get a head start without dropping a lot of $$$. I paid $394 for a ground school package. This included a flight bag and the ground school from King Schools. So I have just been going through that program every night after work. I am about 25% through the material so far in about 2.5 weeks.
Something to keep in mind, I had bought the sporty's private pilot package for ground school about 1.5 months ago. Basically the same thing as the kings school, but when I visited my prospective flight school to discuss more about the flight training, I was told that they only uses kings school. So I HAVE to use the Kings School program. So I kind of wasted $300 of the Sporty's program.
If you are going to get some kind of online ground school program (Which it seems from what I have seen that a lot of part 141 do), just check with your flight school first. Otherwise you may spend money on a program that they will not use/accept.
I am still a little confused on exactly how my flight schools training goes.... whenever I have gone in person to talk to people I never seem to get clear, concise straight answers. Hopefully once I start actually flying I am able to see how the process will be for the duration of my training.
05-01-2019, 09:32 AM
#4
Prime Minister/Moderator
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: Engines Turn Or People Swim
Posts: 39,210
In 141 it's going to be harder to do things a la carte. There's probably a way to do it, but they may not want to encourage that.
I would recommend part 61 training in all cases except an R-ATP eligible university degree program or military GI Bill.
Otherwise 141 is inflexible, but they charge you a lot extra for inflexibility.
Don't buy the BS that 141 is somehow "better". It's not. Quality is determined by management and who they employ. Learning from a 23 year old 600 hour CFI is the same whether it's 141 or 61.
I would recommend part 61 training in all cases except an R-ATP eligible university degree program or military GI Bill.
Otherwise 141 is inflexible, but they charge you a lot extra for inflexibility.
Don't buy the BS that 141 is somehow "better". It's not. Quality is determined by management and who they employ. Learning from a 23 year old 600 hour CFI is the same whether it's 141 or 61.
05-01-2019, 12:47 PM
#5
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Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 78
Originally Posted by rickair7777
It would be fine to take the written tests in advance, the written knowledge is not exactly practical aviation knowledge, so you'll end up covering all of the important stuff later anyway.
You'll need to do a self-study course, typically a textbook and workbook, and then get a CFI to give you an endorsement to take the written test. Good idea, but not required, to talk to the CFI in advance in case he has a preference for for which course you use.
You'll want to use a test prep book or website to review the test bank questions immediately prior to taking the test (a CFI can explain that).
You then have to take the checkride within two years of the written (or re-take the written).
You'll need to do a self-study course, typically a textbook and workbook, and then get a CFI to give you an endorsement to take the written test. Good idea, but not required, to talk to the CFI in advance in case he has a preference for for which course you use.
You'll want to use a test prep book or website to review the test bank questions immediately prior to taking the test (a CFI can explain that).
You then have to take the checkride within two years of the written (or re-take the written).
05-01-2019, 12:49 PM
#6
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Thread Starter
Joined APC: Feb 2018
Posts: 78
Once i start training, what would a realistic time frame be to go from PPL-CFI if i am training full-time? I know everyone's timeline is different due to weather, trainability, etc.. Im just trying to get a rough idea on what to plan for. I have about 11 hours of PPL training already so i will have a general understanding going into it.
05-01-2019, 04:57 PM
#7
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Feb 2019
Posts: 163
Originally Posted by GoJuice
Once i start training, what would a realistic time frame be to go from PPL-CFI if i am training full-time? I know everyone's timeline is different due to weather, trainability, etc.. Im just trying to get a rough idea on what to plan for. I have about 11 hours of PPL training already so i will have a general understanding going into it.
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