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Private Pilot Online Ground School
Part Time Pilot is the Best Private Pilot Online Ground School in America according to student pilot reviews
Part Time Pilot helps future Private Pilots save time & money with our Online Ground School & FAA Test Prep that contains written, audio & video lessons so that no matter what way you learn best, you can learn it with us.
One reason we are student pilot's Top Rated Online Ground School is by helping them save Time & Money
1-on-1 Instruction:
Pros: An expert at your fingertips to instantly answer your questions & show you how to understand a concept.
Cons: It costs anywhere between $40-$80 per hour for ~40 hours of ground training ($1600-$3200 total)
Most Online Private Pilot Courses:
Pros: The affordable price and the ability to learn where ever and when ever you want.
Cons: Trouble getting your questions answered.
The #1 Rated Online Ground School:
Pros: Takes the best parts of 1-on-1 instruction (experts by your side to answer your questions) and online private pilot training (affordable price and ability to learn where ever and when ever).
More Pros: Learn with written test lessons that have visual aids and step-by-step examples OR by video lessons OR by audio lessons that you can even download to your device & listen where ever you go
More Pros: 7 day a week expert email support, online study community for collaborative learning and trained AI instructor chats on every lesson for instant support.
Even More Pros: Includes a custom test prep process with over 1200 private pilot FAA written exam practice questions and endorsement review that has led to a 99.9% success rate on the FAA exams.
Over the years student pilots had to choose between either in-person instruction or online ground schools.
Getting an online ground school but having to search through books and youtube videos for answers to their questions.
Getting 1-on-1 instruction but having to drive to the airport only to stay in the hangar and spend $1000s on ground study.
But now, Part Time Pilot is giving student pilots the best of both worlds.
Online private pilot ground school + online private pilot test prep that you can study where you want, when you want, get ALL your questions answered instantly and only pay a small, one-time fee for lifetime access.
Part Time Pilot has become the best ground school in the eyers of the student pilot by providing both comprehensive online ground school training & test prep using the following features:
- Full Ground School & Written Test Prep (covers entire Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS))
- Written, Video & Audio lessons for all learning styles
- In-depth and plain English explanations
- Visual aids & step-by-step examples
- FAA Written exam endorsement
- Complete on your own schedule
- Lifetime access
- 100% mobile friendly on all devices
- 100% money-back guarantee if you don’t pass
- Quizzes on every lesson
- FAA Written Practice Tests & custom Practice Test report from CFI
- Downloadable & Digital Flash Cards with over 1000 FAA ?s
- Online Study Groups
- Live Lessons & Live Q&As for members
- Trained AI Instructor chat on every lesson
- ATC Communications Voice-to-Voice practice simulator
- 7 Day a week support
- BONUS Ultimate Test Prep book PDF
- BONUS Cross-Country Planning guide, checklist, nav-log & eBook
- BONUS How to Become a Pilot & Save Money course
- BONUS 5 Step Study Hack course
- BONUS kneeboard downloads
- Recordings of all live lessons
- Mobile App with Practice Test Generator, E6B & soon to come offline lessons!
- Eligible to apply for our 4 yearly $1000 scholarships
- 33% off Military & Veteran Discount (click here to request discount)
Or watch a tour of what’s inside and see why we are the top rated Online Ground School by student pilots:
Why do student pilots like Part Time Pilot? Read our Online Ground School Reviews:
It could be because our students pass their exams 99.9% of the time. Or maybe it’s how we show up for our customers 24/7. Hear from the students themselves what is working for them:
“I am currently working toward my pilot license. I have used Kings, Sportys and now Part Time Pilot. I find part time pilot the most comprehensive and easily understandable ground school so far. I recommend PTP if you are just starting out.”
-Kyle S
Part Time Pilot Student
“Part Time Pilot has been and continues to be the best choice I have ever made! Coming from zero knowledge in aircraft or what it takes to become a pilot the podcasts, app, course lessons, and bonus material have paved a way for me to understand what it takes to become a pilot.”
-Ryan F
Part Time Pilot Student
“I researched quite a few online ground schools before committing to PTP. I chose PTP because Nick truly cares about his students & wants them to succeed. I appreciate the lifetime access to everything without needing to worry about subscription… From the live lessons, to the Facebook study group, to the podcasts, to the student portal chock-full of videos and quizzes… there are just SO many ways to learn through PTP!”
-Tracy S
Part Time Pilot Student
“Part Time Pilot is a hidden gem in the world of Online Ground Schools. The lessons are easily digestible and the quizzes at the end are really helpful as well. There are a ton of free resources included that are unique to the Part Time Pilot school, not just free downloads you can get from the FAA anyways.”
-Kyle B
Part Time Pilot Student
“From 9 to 90! I had no prior experience with aviation. I took a practice test before starting part time pilot and got a 9%. I now have been getting high 80s and 90s on the tests… Nick walked me gently through the program. He kept in constant contact as I felt defeated and lifted me up and celebrated when I began mastering the material.”
-Jason K
Part Time Pilot Student
“Amazing customer service and knowledge lessons. I had a little trouble with enrolling in the course. Nick responded to my email in like five seconds and helped me fix it. I’ve been listening to the audio lessons and am learning a lot. There’s so many ways to study in this course I recommend this for anyone looking for a ground school.”
-Chris O
Part Time Pilot Student
Check out the Online Ground School comparison chart below with 14 different ground schools & decide for yourself:
What subjects are covered in the Private Pilot online ground training?
Part Time Pilot not only covers all required subjects in the FAA Private Pilot Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS) in a comprehensive online private pilot course but also provides a near perfect FAA private pilot test prep process (99.9% success rate).
See below for our Private Pilot Online Ground School syllabus:
Operation of Aircraft Systems
- Aircraft Overview
- Flight Controls
- Aircraft Lights
- Cockpit Instruments
- Electrical System
- Vacuum System
- Pitot-Static System
- Magnetic Compass
- Transponders
- GPS
- Fuel & Oil System
- Aircraft Engine
- Carburetor Heat
- Propeller
- Antennas
- ELT
- Landing Gear
Pilot Certifications, Qualifications & Limitations
- Categories, Classes & Types of Aircraft
- Certificates
- Pilot in Command
- Pilot for Hire Limitations
- Alcohol & Drugs
- Incidents, Accidents and Emergencies
- FAA Advisory Circulars
- Other Airmen Ratings
- Formation Flight
- Dropping Objects
Aircraft Airworthiness Requirements
- Required Documentation
- Required Inspections
- Required Equipment
- Inoperable Equipment
- Airworthiness Directives (ADs)
Weather Theory, Charts & Information
- Air Masses & Weather Systems
- Thunderstorms
- Wind Shear
- Temperature Inversions
- Fog
- Frost & Ice
- Dew Point
- Clouds
- Weather, Altitudes & Altimeter Settings
- Estimating Numbers on Charts
- Interpolating
- METARs & TAFs
- PIREPs
- Trusted Weather Sources
- Winds & Temperatures Aloft
- Significant & Wide Area Weather Charts
- Radar Weather Observations
- AIRMETs & SIGMETs
- Weather Briefings
National Airspace System
- VFR, IFR and Special VFR
- Class A
- Class B
- Class C
- Class D
- Class E
- Class G
- Primary & Satellite Airports
- Special Use Airspace
- Airspace Review
- Transponder Requirements
Fundamentals of Aerodynamics
- Forces of Flight
- Lift
- Stalls
- Spins
- Weight
- Thrust (Power)
- Drag
- Wake Turbulence & Ground Effect
- Left Turning Tendency
- Adverse Yaw
- Density Altitude
More Regulations
- Aircraft Speeds
- Speed Limits
- Seatbelts & Harnesses
- Right of Way
- Minimum Safe Altitudes
- ATC Clearance & Compliance
- Temporary Flight Restrictions (TFRs)
- Fuel Requirements
- Hemispherical Rule
- Aircraft Maintenance
Human Factors
- Supplemental Oxygen
- Hypoxia
- Hyperventilation
- Ear and Sinus Concerns
- Motion Sickness
- Spatial Disorientation & Illusions
- Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- Scuba Diving
- Aeronautical Decision Making (ADM) & Hazardous Attitudes
- Self-Assessments
Weight & Balance
- Weight & Balance Theory
- Procedure for Weight & Balance
- Weight & Balance Examples
Cross-Country Planning
- Procedure for Plotting your Course
- What Information do you Need?
- Choosing Checkpoints & Altitudes
- Distances Between Checkpoints
- Estimate Fuel Needed
- Measuring Courses
- Winds & Temperatures for Takeoff, Landing & Cruise
- Distance to Climb to Cruise Altitude
- Distance to Descend to Landing Destination Airport Traffic Altitude
- Airspeeds
- Calculating Airspeed During Climb
- Calculating Airspeed During Cruise & Descent
- Ground Speed and Magnetic Heading
- Time En Route
- Fuel Consumption & Planning
- Takeoff & Landing Perofrmance
- More Practice with Paper E6B
- More Practice with Electronic E6B
Before Takeoff Procedures
- Pre-Flight Assessment
- Flight Deck Management
- Engine Starting
- Taxiing
Airport Operations
- Airport Information
- Communications
- Flight Service Stations & Control Centers
- Filing Out, Filing & Activating a Flight Plan
- Collision Avoidance & Traffic
- Airport Light Signals
- Taxi-way & Runway Lighting Systems
- Taxi-way & Runway Signs & Markings
- Traffic Patterns
- Wind & Traffic Pattern Selection
- Land & Hold Short Operations
- Takeoff & Landing
Pilot Control & Ground Reference Maneuvers
- Steep Turns
- Turns Around a Point
- S-Turns
- Takeoff & Landing in Crosswinds
- Cross-Checking
Emergencies
- Types of Emergency Landings
- Landing Spot Selection
- Electrical Failure
- Gyro Failure
- Radio Failure
- Engine Fire
- Electrical Fire
- Engine Failure After Lift-Off (simulated)
Navigation
- Aeronautical Charts
- Pilotage & Dead Reckoning
- VORs, DMEs, TACANs & VORTACs
Night Operations
- Night Definitions
- Vision
- Illusions
- Equipment
- Airport, Obstruction & Navigation Lighting Aids
- Traffic at Night
Money-back Guarantee if you don't Pass the Private Pilot FAA Written Exam
Worry-Free Purchase
If you complete our course and receive an endorsement from us but then fail the FAA Knowledge Exam (Written Exam) we will refund you the cost of your Online Ground School.
We are confident in guaranteeing this because we are so confident in our Test Prep process. After you finish the lessons of our course we take you through our custom Test Prep process that includes 1000s of FAA Written Test questions and a custom & personalized practice test report from our CFIs.
After students go through this process they pass the FAA exam with an average grade of ~93% and a passing rate of 99.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions about the topic of online ground school.
Is the Part Time Pilot Online Ground School FAA Certified?
Yes, the course was created by Nick Smith who is a certificated ground instructor by the FAA with privileges to provide students the endorsement required to take their FAA Knowledge Exam (Written Test). The endorsement is signed of by Nick himself and all content within the ground school follows the required FAA knowledge outlined in the Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS) (Airman Certification Standards | Federal Aviation Administration, 2024).
Can I get an FAA Written Exam Endorsement with the Part Time Pilot Online Ground School?
Yes! We will give you a printable PDF certificate with Nick Smith’s instructor certificate number and sign off for you to take the Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Exam (FAA Written). This endorsement, is required for you to take the exam along with your ID. After you finish the lessons of the ground school, you will be given access to FAA Written Practice tests (Airman Testing | Federal Aviation Administration, 2025). In order to receive your endorsement, Part Time Pilot just needs to see you score an average of 81% or higher on your first attempt at a unique test before we send your endorsement. When you do these tests, we also send you a custom test report with review recommendations and we will work with your over email to answer any questions you may have. When students complete this process with us, they pass the FAA Written exam at a 99.9% success rate and an average score over 90%.
Is Part Time Pilot Legit?
Yes! The course was created by Nick Smith who is a certificated ground instructor by the FAA with privileges to provide students the endorsement required to take their FAA Knowledge Exam (Written Test). The endorsement is signed of by Nick himself and all content within the ground school follows the required FAA knowledge outlined in the Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS) (Airman Certification Standards | Federal Aviation Administration, 2024).
Part Time Pilot has successfully endorsed and helped over 4000 students take and pass their Private Pilot exams. You can see over 400 independent reviews of verified student pilot customers here on the 3rd party review site, Trust Pilot.
How much is the Private Pilot Online Ground School?
The Part Time Pilot Private Pilot Online Ground School is $249.99 for lifetime access which can come in handy.
Does Part Time Pilot offer Refunds?
Yes! Part Time Pilot offers refunds. We believe that a good company and a good product is not one that you feel forced to keep and pay for. We believe in our courses ability to teach you to become a great, safe pilot and pass your exams with high scores. We only want people in our course who want to be in the course. As long as you have not completed over 50% of the content in the online ground school, we will allow a full refund.
Does Part Time Pilot have a Guarantee?
Yes! Part Time Pilot offers a 100% money back guarantee if a student receives an endorsement from us but does NOT pass their FAA Written Exam. This has only happened twice out of over 4000 students and each of those 2 times we refunded the student and helped them to pass their test on the 2nd attempt.
What are the best Online Ground Schools?
There are many options for Online Ground School these days. The best online ground school is the one that works best at helping you understand that content. Students should look at the type of lessons provided (written lessons, video lessons and audio lessons), the ability to get their questions answered from a real-life instructor, and reviews from student pilots when looking into the best online ground school for themselves. Many Online Ground Schools provide free trials (like Part Time Pilot’s here) that you can try out before purchasing.
There are many good options out there for Online Ground School but according to a side-by-side comparison of 14 online ground schools, only one has the combination of features, ability to get your questions answered 7 days a week, and is the #1 rated in terms of customer reviews – Part Time Pilot (What is the Best Online Ground School in 2025 | Part Time Pilot)
Does Part Time Pilot offer a Military Discount?
Yes, Part Time Pilot offers a 33% discount on all courses and course bundle deals to active military and veterans. To request a discount, please contact us here.
What features are in the Private Pilot Online Ground School?
The Part Time Pilot Private Pilot Online Ground School includes every lesson required to be learned by Private Pilots from the FAA. Each lesson includes a written lesson with visual aids and step by step examples, an audio lesson, a quiz, and a trained AI instructor chat. The vast majority ~80% of the lessons also include a video lesson. The Private Pilot membership also includes access to our VIP podcast which allows students to download ad free audio lessons and expert interviews straight to their device and listen anywhere at any time (even without internet). The Private Pilot membership also includes a Bonus downloads and videos section with a ton of bonus videos from our live lesson recordings and downloads for test prep, cross-country planning and more. The membership also includes digital flash cards with over 1200 FAA Written Practice Test questions. Finally, each membership includes our new interactive AI tools such as our live voice-to-voice ATC simulator.
How long does it take to finish Online Ground School?
The amount of time it takes to finish an Online Ground School is up to you, the student. Each online ground school is required to teach you all the knowledge from the Airmen Certificate Standards from the FAA. This document details all the knowledge, skills and areas of proficiency required to achieve a pilot certificate.
The amount of time it will take you to finish learning all the required content depends on how quickly you learn and how much time you can dedicate each day to studying. On average, is takes students about 3 months to complete online ground school with some students completing it in as quickly as 1 month and others taking 6 months to even a year.
Part Time Pilot provides each of our students with study tracking calendars they can download to keep track of their progress. There are different calendars based off of how much time a student can dedicate each day to studying (30 min, 1 hour or 2 hour) and each calendar shows the lessons the student should complete each day to stay on track.
Do you have to complete Ground School before Flying?
No! However, it is highly recommended that you do it before flight training or before getting too far along in your flight lessons, but there is no requirement to do ground school before flight training.
The only requirement is that you have your FAA Written exam passed prior to your final Checkride flight test, and in order to take the FAA Written test you need to have an endorsement from a certified instructor who performed the ground training (or an online ground school) and believes you are ready for the test.
What subjects are taught in the Online Ground School?
The below subject categories or sections as we call them are included in the Part Time Pilot Online Ground School. There are many lesson subjects within each of these subjects categories. To view the entire detailed syllabus, click here:
- Operation of Aircraft Systems
- Pilot Certifications, Qualifications & Regulations
- Aircraft Airworthiness Regulations
- Weather Theory, Charts & Information
- National Airspace System
- Fundamentals of Aerodynamics
- Human Factors & Medical
- Aircraft Weight & Balance
- Aircraft Performance
- Cross-Country Flight Planning
- Aircraft Procedures
- Airport Operations; Takeoff, Landing, Taxiing, etc.
- Pilot Control and Maneuvering
- Emergencies
- Navigation
- Night Operations
These subjects are directly taken from the Airmen Certificate Standards (ACS) document from the FAA that details exactly the knowledge and skills required to become a private pilot (Airman Certification Standards | Federal Aviation Administration, 2024).
For online ground schools this content can be taught in the form of written lessons, video lessons or even audio lessons and should be reinforced with examples, visual aids, memory aids and quizzes. A good online ground school should teach the fundamental principles of each topic as well as provide test prep to prepare students for the FAA Written Exam.