Podcasts about private pilots

In this episode, Wally Mulhern and Bobby Doss take listeners deep into the mindset and methods behind effective flight planning. They break down how professional pilots think, plan, and prepare—long before the engine ever starts.Wally explains why smart flight planning begins weeks in advance, sometimes as early as 20 days before departure, especially for longer trips. He shares how to select fuel stops just beyond the halfway point—around 280 to 320 miles—to maintain both efficiency and mental endurance. Past experiences taught him that chasing cheaper fuel can backfire through delays and limited services, making reliability and safety worth the extra cost.Weather plays a defining role in every flight, and Wally emphasizes checking forecasts repeatedly—three weeks, two weeks, ten days, and again the night before. He outlines how to analyze broad surface charts, TAFs, and METARs to anticipate conditions, adjust routes, and account for winds that can change fuel burn by up to 20% in a Cessna 172. He also discusses planning around TFRs and keeping alternate airports ready, even when not required.Bobby builds on that foundation with his focus on cockpit organization and readiness. His night-before checklist includes verifying oil levels, charging devices, updating ForeFlight, and packing flight materials. These habits reduce stress, save time, and make each preflight smoother. Wally echoes this with his own structured airline routine—packing the night before, updating iPads, and keeping notes on the yoke for future pilots. Both stress that good organization directly impacts performance and safety, especially during check rides.Together, they underline a shared philosophy: prepare early, plan thoroughly, and stay flexible. Weather forecasts are only predictions, sound judgment and real-time decision-making matter most. Their combined airline and general aviation experience shows that professional-grade preparation leads to safer, more confident flying.Whether you're a new student pilot or seasoned aviator, this episode delivers actionable insights on fuel management, weather interpretation, and cockpit discipline—helping you fly smarter, safer, and more like a pro.

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast takes our free podcast to a whole new level by providing students with every single lesson included in the Part Time Pilot Private Pilot & IFR Ground Schools without a single Ad! On top of that, VIP podcast students get BONUS episodes like Mock Checkrides, Checkride Prep, Expert Interviews and more!   The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.   You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.   This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.   Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.     IFR Section 6 Lesson 2: In this FREE online ground school lesson for IFR pilots, we review the Class A Airspace we care about as IFR pilots. We talk about what they are, what they are used for and why we use them. This is a key concept you should have learned in private pilot but if not, we will review it for you here as it sets up the following lessons on IFR instrumentation.   Links mentioned in the episode:   Private Pilot Online Ground School: PPL Ground School - Part Time Pilot Checkride Prep: PPL Checkride Prep - Part Time Pilot IFR Online Ground School: IFR Ground School – Part Time Pilot   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/   Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 9. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 8. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 7-2. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast releases a 2 new episodes every week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Every Monday, we release an episode that is the next lesson of our IFR Online Ground School. Every Wednesday, we release an episode that is the next lesson of our Private Pilot Online Ground School.    We are working our way through both Online Ground Schools for students to listen to ground school for FREE! If you don't want to wait for new podcasts or you don't want to hear ads or course updates, you can join us in our VIP podcast. In order to join the VIP podcast, you must purchase our Online Ground School. When you do, you'll get sent an email invite to the VIP podcast to download and listen on your favorite podcast app, plus all the amazing lifetime features inside our Online Ground Schools (lessons, videos, audio, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, test prep PDFs, grade tracking, digital notes, trained AI instructor chat, 7-day a week email support, online study group, scholarships and more).    The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.    You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.    This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.    Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.    Private Pilot - Section 5 - Lesson #10: In this episode we do another Free online ground school lesson from the number 1 rated online ground school for private pilots, Part Time Pilot. In this lesson we talk about how to estimate numbers on aviation charts. An important skill for pilots to learn to be able to read weather charts and perform flight planning tasks.    Links mentioned in the episode:   Online Ground School: https://parttimepilot.com/private-pilot-online-ground-school/?utm_source=podcast Free How to Become a Private Pilot course: https://parttimepilot.com/free-how-to-become-a-pilot/   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/  Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 7-1. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 6-2. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast takes our free podcast to a whole new level by providing students with every single lesson included in the Part Time Pilot Private Pilot & IFR Ground Schools without a single Ad! On top of that, VIP podcast students get BONUS episodes like Mock Checkrides, Checkride Prep, Expert Interviews and more!   The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.   You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.   This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.   Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.     IFR Section 6 Lesson 1: In this FREE online ground school lesson for IFR pilots we give a refresher and overview of the different flight rules and airspace including VFR weather minimums because even as an IFR pilot there will still be situations where you will need to remember these minimums.    Links mentioned in the episode:   VFR Weather Minimums Video: https://youtu.be/uwyh2F81-GM    Private Pilot Online Ground School: PPL Ground School - Part Time Pilot Checkride Prep: PPL Checkride Prep - Part Time Pilot IFR Online Ground School: IFR Ground School – Part Time Pilot   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/   Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 6-1. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 5. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 4. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 3. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

In this episode, host Bobby Doss and co-host Wally Mulhearn dive deep into what it truly takes to run a modern flight school day to day. Bobby offers a transparent look at the enormous scope of responsibilities behind United Flight Systems—from facilities and fleet management to staff culture and student success—illustrating that being a flight-school owner is far more than “counting gold bars.”The conversation begins with Bobby describing the constant balancing act of maintenance, compliance, and customer experience. He emphasizes the unseen details that shape safety and efficiency: reliable internet, plumbing, lighting, hangar upkeep, and even thoughtful touches like pull-through aircraft parking, which saves students time and money. The two outline the structure of the show in aviation terms—takeoff, cruise, and landing—mirroring the rhythm of a typical workday.During the “takeoff” segment, Bobby explains his early-morning ritual: checking weather with the Windy app, reviewing schedules, and coordinating with his leadership team to prepare for any disruptions. In “cruise,” he details the constant hum of operations—maintenance calls, last-minute squawks, and people management for nearly 50 employees. He describes leadership as both rewarding and exhausting: motivating staff, resolving conflicts, and maintaining the culture of “UFS to the 5th Power”—Safety, Students, Staff, School, and Self.As the day “lands,” Bobby focuses on reflection and preparation. End-of-day check-ins, milestone tracking, and student-record verification ensure accountability and celebration of progress. He underscores his commitment to safety, continuous improvement, and recognizing both instructor and student achievements. Despite the administrative load, Bobby remains deeply engaged—flying when possible, mentoring, and cherishing the impact his school makes on aviation careers.The episode closes on gratitude and perspective: Bobby and Wally celebrate 500,000 downloads of Behind the Prop, expressing pride that their conversations help pilots become safer and more informed. It's a heartfelt, behind-the-scenes portrait of dedication, discipline, and passion that defines life as a flight-school owner and aviation advocate.

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 2. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Instrument Flying Handbook (IFH) Chapter 1. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 18. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 17. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 16. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 15. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast takes our free podcast to a whole new level by providing students with every single lesson included in the Part Time Pilot Private Pilot & IFR Ground Schools without a single Ad! On top of that, VIP podcast students get BONUS episodes like Mock Checkrides, Checkride Prep, Expert Interviews and more!   The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.   You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.   This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.   Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.     BONUS: We continue our series of a day in the life with a guest that has a LOT of unique experience in the aviation world and someone who can answer questions about how to become a pilot with help from the Military. Ricky Skinner, from Positive Rate Aviation, is a podcast host, Air Force member, CFI and future Airline Pilot. Ricky was nice enough to join me and answer a ton of helpful questions about how students can do what he did and become a pilot through the military.    Links mentioned in the episode: Positive Rate Aviation Podcast Instagram: @positive.rate.aviation   Private Pilot Online Ground School: PPL Ground School - Part Time Pilot Checkride Prep: PPL Checkride Prep - Part Time Pilot IFR Online Ground School: IFR Ground School – Part Time Pilot   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/   Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/   

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 14. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 13. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 12. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 11. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

This month is packed with major milestones for both students and CFIs. From course launches to FAA rule changes, here's what you need to know: SmartStudy Pro for Private Pilot Is LIVE The full 11-hour audio/video course with 45 tasks, ACS-aligned, and packed with companion PDFs. Get ready for your checkride or flight review—available now at 50% off for early access users. IFR ACS SmartStudy Pro in Progress 20 full tasks covering all ACS knowledge, risk, and skills. Built to listen while you drive, fly, or prep on the go. Launch expected late October. AC 61-65K Finalizes Oct 22 New endorsements are coming for night, retractable gear, variable pitch prop, and more. Sport Pilot proficiency check changes are confirmed—no more 2-CFI method for airplanes and helicopters. Why There's Still No ACS for Sport Pilot It's still a Practical Test Standard (PTS)—and here's why that matters for your test prep and training approach. ProTips for CFIs and Future Instructors Use ChatGPT to generate custom quizzes from POHs Treat the throttle like a flight control Why getting your Advanced Ground Instructor (AGI) certificate early is a smart, strategic move Links and Resources → Get SmartStudy Pro: https://cfibootcamp.kartra.com/page/Private-pilot-smart-study-pro → FAA Draft AC 61-65K: https://www.faa.gov/aircraft/draft_docs/afs_ac/AC_61-65K_Coord_Copy.pdf → Join the CFI Study Group: facebook.com/groups/CFIStudyGroup

What happens when a tech executive with a passion for flying gets the chance to combine both worlds? In this episode of Behind the Prop, hosts Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn welcome Barry Knuttila, President and CEO of King Schools, to explore that exact story.Barry recounts his early flying background, how a corporate collapse unexpectedly redirected his career, and the fateful moment he reached out to John and Martha King. That outreach led to a role as CTO during King Schools' transition to the internet era, eventually growing into leadership of the company itself. Along the way, Barry earned advanced ratings, flew Falcons with John and Martha, and became a familiar on-camera instructor.The discussion highlights King Schools' unique ethos—authenticity, humility, and an unwavering focus on student success. Barry explains how listening to customer feedback and treating students like friends has guided the company from the days of shipping VHS tapes to today's mobile-friendly apps, flashcards, and integrated flight school tools.Listeners will hear about how the flight training industry has shifted from primarily self-paced, individual learning to ab initio, career-focused programs. Barry shares how King Schools has responded by expanding its B2B offerings for universities and flight schools while continuing to serve individual learners. The conversation also covers innovations in course design, the importance of breaking training into smaller, more consumable segments, and King Schools' efforts to reduce checkride anxiety through immersive preparation courses.From personal reflections on flying helicopters and biplanes for fun to insights on the future of aviation training, Barry's perspective underscores both the timeless values and forward-looking vision that continue to shape King Schools. Whether you're a student pilot, CFI, or aviation enthusiast, this episode offers inspiration and practical wisdom for every stage of the journey.

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 10. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast takes our free podcast to a whole new level by providing students with every single lesson included in the Part Time Pilot Private Pilot & IFR Ground Schools without a single Ad! On top of that, VIP podcast students get BONUS episodes like Mock Checkrides, Checkride Prep, Expert Interviews and more!   The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.   You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.   This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.   Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.     BONUS: In this BONUS episode we play the audio of our Free Webinar that talked about the Biggest Mistakes Student Pilots are Making and How to Avoid Them. Information that I believe can make or break your ability to become a pilot!   Links mentioned in the episode: VIP Waitlist sign-up: https://parttimepilot.com/vip-waitlist-sign-up/  Private Pilot Online Ground School: PPL Ground School - Part Time Pilot Checkride Prep: PPL Checkride Prep - Part Time Pilot IFR Online Ground School: IFR Ground School – Part Time Pilot   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/   Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/   

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 9. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 8. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 7. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 6. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 5. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast takes our free podcast to a whole new level by providing students with every single lesson included in the Part Time Pilot Private Pilot & IFR Ground Schools without a single Ad! On top of that, VIP podcast students get BONUS episodes like Mock Checkrides, Checkride Prep, Expert Interviews and more!   The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.   You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.   This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.   Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.     IFR Section 5 Lesson 8: In this FREE IFR Online Ground School lesson we are simply going to do some more practice of the most commonly missed IFR FAA Written Exam questions.... VOR and HSI questions.    Links mentioned in the episode:   VIP Ground School Waitlist: https://parttimepilot.com/vip-waitlist-sign-up/  Free Webinar on 9/25: https://parttimepilot.com/free-live-lesson-sign-up/    Private Pilot Online Ground School: PPL Ground School - Part Time Pilot Checkride Prep: PPL Checkride Prep - Part Time Pilot IFR Online Ground School: IFR Ground School – Part Time Pilot   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/   Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 4. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 3. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 2. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast releases a 2 new episodes every week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Every Monday, we release an episode that is the next lesson of our IFR Online Ground School. Every Wednesday, we release an episode that is the next lesson of our Private Pilot Online Ground School.    We are working our way through both Online Ground Schools for students to listen to ground school for FREE! If you don't want to wait for new podcasts or you don't want to hear ads or course updates, you can join us in our VIP podcast. In order to join the VIP podcast, you must purchase our Online Ground School. When you do, you'll get sent an email invite to the VIP podcast to download and listen on your favorite podcast app, plus all the amazing lifetime features inside our Online Ground Schools (lessons, videos, audio, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, test prep PDFs, grade tracking, digital notes, trained AI instructor chat, 7-day a week email support, online study group, scholarships and more).    The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.    You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.    This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.    Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.    Private Pilot - Section 5 - Lesson #9: In this FREE Private Pilot Online Ground School lesson we talk specifically about the concept of weather and how the atmosphere effects our altimeter readings. We talk about things like the atmosphere, how the altimeter works, altitude errors and altimeter settings.    Links mentioned in the episode:   VIP Ground School Waitlist: https://parttimepilot.com/vip-waitlist-sign-up/  Free Webinar on 9/25: https://parttimepilot.com/free-live-lesson-sign-up/  Temperature & Pressure Effects on Altimeter Video: https://youtu.be/ICnsMdqh_CE    Online Ground School: https://parttimepilot.com/private-pilot-online-ground-school/?utm_source=podcast Free How to Become a Private Pilot course: https://parttimepilot.com/free-how-to-become-a-pilot/   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/  Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH) Chapter 1. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Mastering energy management is one of the cornerstones of becoming a safe and confident pilot. In this episode of Behind the Prop, Bobby Doss and Wally Mulhearn unpack the topic in detail, showing how altitude, airspeed, and power all work together as “energy assets” that must be carefully managed throughout every phase of flight—especially on approach and landing.Drawing from countless check rides, Wally describes how many applicants fall into the trap of treating every descent as a power-off glide, when in reality, a controlled descent with power and speed can be safer and more effective. Bobby shares his own learning curve, including stories of fast landings and bounced touchdowns, underscoring why setting up a stabilized approach is non-negotiable. Together, they walk through rules of thumb for descent planning, techniques for recognizing if you're high or low on base, and how instrument training can help sharpen a pilot's “sight picture” of a standard glide path.Listeners will hear practical guidance on the classic “pitch for airspeed, power for altitude” debate, and how those principles apply differently in cruise versus the landing phase. The duo also highlight the dangers of over-correction and porpoising, explaining why patience and small, measured inputs make all the difference. Wally's mantra—“eyes moving fast, hands moving slow”—is a powerful takeaway for anyone working toward smoother, more confident landings.The episode wraps with recommended resources like the Airplane Flying Handbook, FAA Risk Management Handbook, and the AIM, plus encouragement to practice energy management on challenging days with an instructor. Whether you're a new student preparing for a checkride or an experienced pilot refining your technique, this discussion offers the tools to better understand and master the flow of energy in your aircraft.

A reading of Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) Chapter 17. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast takes our free podcast to a whole new level by providing students with every single lesson included in the Part Time Pilot Private Pilot & IFR Ground Schools without a single Ad! On top of that, VIP podcast students get BONUS episodes like Mock Checkrides, Checkride Prep, Expert Interviews and more!   The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.   You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.   This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.   Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.     IFR Section 5 Lesson 7: In this FREE Online Ground School lesson for IFR we talk about the communication frequencies found on chart supplements and IFR enroute charts, where you can find them and how you will use them.    Links mentioned in the episode:   Private Pilot Online Ground School: PPL Ground School - Part Time Pilot Checkride Prep: PPL Checkride Prep - Part Time Pilot IFR Online Ground School: IFR Ground School – Part Time Pilot   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/   Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) Chapter 16. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) Chapter 15. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) Chapter 14. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Welcome to the Part Time Pilot Audio Ground School Podcast! This podcast releases a 2 new episodes every week on Mondays and Wednesdays. Every Monday, we release an episode that is the next lesson of our IFR Online Ground School. Every Wednesday, we release an episode that is the next lesson of our Private Pilot Online Ground School.    We are working our way through both Online Ground Schools for students to listen to ground school for FREE! If you don't want to wait for new podcasts or you don't want to hear ads or course updates, you can join us in our VIP podcast. In order to join the VIP podcast, you must purchase our Online Ground School. When you do, you'll get sent an email invite to the VIP podcast to download and listen on your favorite podcast app, plus all the amazing lifetime features inside our Online Ground Schools (lessons, videos, audio, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, test prep PDFs, grade tracking, digital notes, trained AI instructor chat, 7-day a week email support, online study group, scholarships and more).    The #1 reason student pilots never end up becoming a private pilot is NOT due to money. The real reason is actually deeper than that. Yes, flight training is expensive. But every student pilot knows this and budgets for it when they decide to do it.   The actual #1 reason a student pilot fails is because they do not have a good, fundamental understanding of the private pilot knowledge they are meant to learn in ground school.    You see when a student does not have a good grasp of this knowledge they get to a point in their flight training where their mind just can't keep up. They start making mistakes and having to redo lessons. And THAT is when it starts getting too expensive.    This audio ground school is meant for the modern day student pilot... aka the part time student pilot. Let's face it, the majority of us have full time responsibilities on top of flight training. Whether it is a job, kids, family, school, etc. we all keep ourselves busy with the things that are important to us. And with today's economy we have to maintain that job just to pay for the training. The modern day student pilot is busy, on the go and always trying to find time throughout his or her day to stay up on their studies. The audio ground school allows them to consume high quality content while walking, running, working out, sitting in traffic, traveling, or even just a break from the boring FAR/AIM or ground school lecture.    Did I meant high quality content? The audio ground school is taken straight out of the 5-star rated Part Time Pilot Online Ground School that has had over 2000 students take and pass their Private Pilot & IFR exams with only 2 total students failing the written. That's a 99.9% success rate! And the 2 that failed? We refunded their cost of ground school and helped them pass on their second attempt. We do this by keeping ground school engaging, fun, light and consumable. We have written lessons, videos, audio lessons, live video lessons, community chats, quizzes, practice tests, flash cards, study guides, eBooks and much more.   Part Time Pilot was created to be a breath of fresh air for student pilots. To be that flight training provider that looks out for them and their needs. So that is just what we are doing with this podcast.    Private Pilot - Section 5 - Lesson #8: In this FREE Private Pilot Online Ground School lesson we talk about everything a student pilot needs to know about Clouds. The FAA is not necessarily interested in you memorizing or being able to point out and recognize clouds but more so interested in the types of weather and hazardous weather associated with each cloud type so that you can use clouds to understand the weather and hazards around you.    Links mentioned in the episode: Online Ground School: https://parttimepilot.com/private-pilot-online-ground-school/?utm_source=podcast Free How to Become a Private Pilot course: https://parttimepilot.com/free-how-to-become-a-pilot/   PPL study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilot  IFR study group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/parttimepilotifr/  Recommended Products & Discounts:  https://parttimepilot.com/recommended-products-for-student-pilots/ 

A reading of Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) Chapter 13. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

A reading of Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) Chapter 12. Checkout: www.wifiCFI.com for more audiobook readings and:STUDY COURSES (click any to try free!)Private Pilot >Instrument Rating >Commercial Pilot >CFI Study Course > CFII Study Course > Multi Engine Add-On > CHECKRIDE LESSON PLANS (click any to try free!)CFI Lesson Plans >CFII Lesson Plans > MEI Add-On Lesson Plans >TEACHING COURSES (click any to try free!)Teach Private Pilot >Teach Instrument Rating >Teach Commercial Pilot >Teach CFI Initial >Teach CFII Add-On >Support the show

Aviation Career Foundation & PhilosophyDarren Pleasance's aviation journey began serendipitously at age 13 in Livermore, California, sparked by witnessing model airplane flying in a local park (02:32)Boy Scouts aviation merit badge provided first airplane flight experience with troop leader who was also a flight instructorAirport proximity advantage allowed daily after-school bicycle rides to Livermore Airport for hands-on learningMentorship network development through open hangar visits led to free flight instruction from CFI named DougAccelerated certification timeline: solo at 16, private at 17, commercial instrument flight instructor at 18College funding strategy utilized flight instruction income to pay for education expensesLife decision framework established early: "When faced with difficult decision, choose one that makes for better story" (07:03)McKinsey departure decision after 14 years applied this principle to join Google despite financial spreadsheet analysisAlaska bush pilot choice over completing engineering master's degree exemplified same philosophyCareer diversification approach created multiple aviation experiences: corporate jets, glider towing, competition aerobatics, bush flyingMedical Certification Challenges & AdaptationsColor vision deficiency discovery at age 16 during first medical examination created major career obstacle (09:16)Initial medical restriction: "not valid for night flight or color signals" threatened professional pilot aspirationsDemonstrated ability waiver process required FAA flight examination demonstrating ability to distinguish aviation-relevant colorsTesting requirements included: identifying plowed vs. unplowed fields, recognizing taxiway centerline lights, runway edge lights, beacon colorsAirline career impact: even with eventual first-class medical clearance, airlines wouldn't hire pilots with any medical history complicationsBlessing in disguise outcome: forced exploration of diverse aviation opportunities including John Travolta corporate pilot work, competition aerobatics, P-51 flyingCorporate Experience IntegrationMcKinsey consulting foundation provided comprehensive business function exposure across marketing, sales, finance, organizational strategy (05:58)High-tech specialization and sales/marketing focus opened door to Google global team leadership opportunity14-year tenure built expertise in helping management teams improve business performance worldwideDiverse client experience across multiple industries and business functions created versatile skill setGoogle and Cisco leadership roles combined with continuous aviation involvement maintained dual expertise (12:51)Weekend flying commitment included teaching aerobatics at Bedford Airport's Executive Flyers AviationCompetition aerobatics involvement led to EAA board connections and industry networkingP-51 flying experience enhanced aviation credibility and public profileAOPA Leadership Vision & QualificationsUnique qualification combination merged deep aviation passion with Fortune 500 business leadership experience (12:51)200+ employee organization requires substantial business management capabilitiesPublic speaking requirements for member events, donor relations, political advocacy, airport community relationsAviation credibility essential for representing pilot community interests and understanding operational challengesAdvocacy experience needed for communicating aviation value to non-pilot stakeholdersCurrent aircraft ownership maintains grassroots GA connection through Sea Ray amphibious aircraft and RV-6 ownership (15:11)Recent flying examples: Priest Lake, Idaho seaplane fly-in participation, formation flying with friendsBackcountry flying engagement demonstrates continued hands-on small aircraft experienceCost-conscious operations understanding through Rotax-powered aircraft ownershipComprehensive Member Service PortfolioBase membership value proposition at $89 annually provides extensive pilot support services (20:40)Pilot Information Center staffing includes deep maintenance experts available for technical problem-solvingInternational flight planning assistance covers Canada, Bahamas, and worldwide destinations with step-by-step guidanceAircraft purchasing support through aviation finance group connections and escrow service coordinationDocumentation and process guidance for complex aviation procedures and regulatory compliancePilot Protective Services enhancement for additional $85 annually adds critical legal and medical advocacy (21:43)Medical packet review service ensures special issuance applications meet FAA requirements before submissionLegal representation availability for FAA enforcement actions, violations, or incident responsesSpecialized expertise access for navigating complex regulatory interactions and protecting pilot certificatesRisk mitigation approach prevents multi-month delays from incomplete FAA submissionsMedical Certification Support & Modern ChallengesGrowing mental health certification complexity requires specialized AOPA medical services guidance (30:28)Young pilot medication history increasingly common for anxiety, depression, ADHD treatments during teenage yearsHistorical automatic disqualification being replaced with thoughtful case-by-case evaluation by FAADocumentation requirements becoming more complex but achievable with proper preparation and advocacyDr. Susan Northrup leadership as Federal Air Surgeon working to reduce special issuance backlogsProcessing timeline improvements under current FAA medical leadership showing measurable progress (30:28)Six-month to one-year timelines still common for special issuance cases with complex medical historiesBacklog reduction efforts ongoing but substantial volumes still creating extended wait timesProfessional pilot impact demonstrated through airline pilot medical deferral experiences requiring months of career uncertaintyLegislative Advocacy & Infrastructure ProtectionAirport infrastructure comparison highlights US aviation system advantages over international counterparts (35:56)5,000 public use airports in US with only 500 having control towers enables widespread GA access3,500 airports with instrument approaches create weather-independent national transportation networkGermany comparison: only towered airports permitted instrument approaches, severely limiting utility aviationEuropean model limitations restrict general aviation to VFR-only operations at uncontrolled airportsATC privatization opposition based on international precedent analysis and stakeholder influence concerns (33:32)User fee implementation in privatized systems creates barriers to flight training, safety practices, and airport utilizationAirline influence concentration through deeper financial resources shapes privatized ATC board decisionsAirspace allocation shifts favor commercial operations over general aviation access and utilitySafety degradation risks from reduced flight training frequency due to per-operation fee structuresEducational Programs & Future Pilot DevelopmentHigh school aviation program expansion reaching 30,000 students across 1,500 schools nationwide (23:49)Four-year curriculum structure provided free to participating schools regardless of economic constraintsTeacher training programs enable non-pilot educators to deliver aviation content effectivelyCareer pathway diversification beyond traditional airline pilot focus to include corporate, firefighting, medevac, bush flying opportunitiesProfessional development support helps students understand aviation industry breadth and alternative career pathsPilot shortage solution approach emphasizes local flight school importance over centralized training facilities (38:19)Military pilot percentage decline requires civilian-trained pilot pipeline expansion for airline recruitmentLocal flight school network at thousands of airports provides distributed training capacityAirport closure threat directly impacts airline pilot production capability and national transportation infrastructureMember Engagement & Growth StrategyFlight instructor advocacy role critical for membership growth and student pilot introduction to AOPA services (45:41)Historical membership introduction pattern: CFIs recommended AOPA alongside essential equipment and educational materialsCurrent engagement decline among flight instructors requires renewed education about AOPA value propositionStudent pilot free membership for six months provides risk-free introduction to organization benefitsCareer-long value proposition extends beyond private pilot training through professional aviation transitionsPublic advocacy responsibility for aviation community members to educate non-pilot population about airport importance (47:55)Medical evacuation services utilizing local airports for emergency patient transportFirefighting operations depend on airport infrastructure for aerial suppression activitiesEconomic development impact through business aviation supporting local employment and commercePilot training pipeline at local airports directly feeds airline industry personnel requirements