Complete the full private pilot syllabus and pass a simulated checkride to FAA standards before you even step in the real aircraft.

For real-world students & sim enthusiasts who want the absolute ultimate learning experience.

Optionally choose to complete the syllabus in an accelerated 15-day timeline with 2 hours of training per day.

Syllabus

PPL-01 | Intro flight and basic aircraft control (checklist use, engine start, runway incursion avoidance, runup, normal takeoff, 4 fundamentals, uncoordinated flight)
This is a basic introductory flight where we build the foundation for all future skills and maneuvers.

The emphasis here is on the visual cues needed to smoothly and confidently trim the aircraft, and an understanding of the concept of coordinated vs. uncoordinated flight. We will set up your simulator views to help reduce the reliance on instruments that often plagues students who initially learn in desktop flight simulators on their own.

While the control forces on your simulator will be different from the real aircraft, there is still significant value to this training – developing the proper scan patterns and reactions to deviations in altitude and heading.

PPL-02 | Basic aircraft control phase 2 (airspeed and configuration changes, VX and VY, climbing/descending turns at various bank angles, traffic pattern familiarization, taxi in wind)
Understand the concept of how climb/descent rates, power settings, airspeeds, and trim are all interrelated.

PPL-03 | Flying slowly (angle of attack, slow flight, stalls)
The focus of this training module will be on the procedural aspects of performing the slow flight and stall maneuvers and thoroughly understanding concepts such as Angle of Attack. Keep in mind that your real-world instructor may have a different preference for how to setup for these maneuvers. Additionally, I can introduce you to the proper instincts for stall recovery, and why they are so critical.

PPL-04 | Flying with wind and ground reference maneuvers (tracking to the runway with wind, s turns, turns around a point)
Let’s crank up the wind and practice how to fly a desired ground track.

PPL-05 | Engine failures and rejected takeoffs
Learn fundamental skills of flying a single engine aircraft – the need to be aware of a forced landing site at all times and the ABCD’s of an engine failure, including mastering the flow pattern to perform the manufacture’s recommended procedure for restarting the engine. While you won’t learn the muscle memory that is also extremely useful for efficiently performing this procedure in the real aircraft, if you sit in the real aircraft with the engine off for 10 minutes and practice the steps I will teach you, you will find that when your real-world instructor pulls the throttle back for your first simulated engine failure, you will be highly prepared.

PPL-06 | Advanced flying slowly (turning stalls, spin awareness, demonstrated stalls)
Understand the concepts behind accelerated stalls and elevator trim stalls. We can also demonstrate the setup to the classic base-to-final stall-spin accident in a way that a whiteboard explanation cannot replicate.

PPL-07 | Steep turns
Gain an understanding of the concepts related to steep turns, such as the increase in load factor, its effect on the stall speed, choosing proper visual references, proper roll-out, etc.

PPL-08 | Landing toolbox (forward slips, go arounds, crosswind takeoffs and landings)
Learn the basic control inputs and aerodynamics behind forward slips to lose altitude and crosswind takeoffs/landings, as well as the decision making and procedural aspects of performing a go-around

PPL-09 | ATC communications
ATC is like a new language. I’ll provide a basic script for your airport, then allow you to practice the proper phraseology and procedures until talking to ATC becomes second nature.

It’s highly recommended that as a “capstone” of this module, we connect to PilotEdge to build your confidence.

PPL-10 | Uncontrolled airport operations
Learn how to properly enter and exit the pattern at an uncontrolled airport and make the necessary radio communications

PPL-11 | Advanced emergency procedures
Practice the POH procedures in detail for emergencies you may only talk about, but never get a chance to see, during your real-world flight training, such as various fires, partial power loss, communications issues, electrical malfunctions, flight control failures.

PPL-12 | Approaches and landings
You cannot learn how to properly land the aircraft in your home simulator and expect the skill to transfer to the real aircraft, so we will not make this a focal point! Unless you have an immersive, full-motion simulator, you will be lacking the visual and kinesthetic cues necessary to flare the aircraft.

However, we can still focus on performing a stabilized approach, the proper scan pattern when on final approach, making precise corrections when you deviate from glide path or speed, and centerline control on final approach.

PPL-13 | Short and soft field takeoffs and landings
Learn the procedural aspects of performing short and soft field takeoffs and landings.

PPL-14 | Basic instrument flight (4 fundamentals, 180 out of IMC, unusual attitude recovery, VOR orientation and tracking)

Luckily, the sim is very well-suited to practice basic instrument flying skills. I will teach you the basic principles of scanning the primary flight instruments, using VORs and GPS, the steps for an unusual attitude recovery, and simulate a scenario where you inadvertently enter IMC and need to get out.

PPL-15 | Cross country – basic

Learn the basics of pilotage, dead reckoning, and requesting flight following on a short cross country flight. Additionally, learn how to use the autopilot in your aircraft.

PPL-16 | Night flying (illusions and light gun signals)

A quick intro to the risks and special procedures associated with night flight

PPL-17 | Cross countries – full

Opening flight plans, pilotage and dead reckoning, GPS use, FSS, engine leaning, diversion, lost procedures, estimating ground speed and ETA

PPL-18 | Class B airspace procedures

Simulate a departure from, an arrival to, or a transition of, your favorite class B airspace. Or even better: Let’s do it on PilotEdge

PPL-19 | Max gross weight and CG effects

Demonstrate the adverse effects of flying at/above max gross weight, and at the limits of center of gravity, on aircraft performance