I Smiled at a student pilot’s query regarding the legality of taking his ground training at other than a formal flight school or academy. With limited financial means and a passion to get going on his aviation career, he wondered if it was a good idea to take the aeronautical knowledge test first, before beginning any flight lessons.
I assured him that he could definitely study for his computer exam using any of the online or home study courses available. When he was ready to take his exam he would need an instructor signoff. The instructor signoff is required but can be obtained by demonstrating you’ve studied and know the material needed to pass the exam.
Should you complete your bookwork before you begin your flight lessons? I advise students to complete the knowledge exam early, but not to take it so far in advance of their flight training that the results (good for 24 calendar months) expire before they take the checkride.
Many of our accelerated students had never flown an airplane when they attended my written exam prep class. These students were rapid learners with no preconceived notions of how it really was when flying the airplane. I always emphasized that what you needed to know to safely fly the airplane was far in excess of what was needed to pass that written test. Another benefit to completing your exam study early is that it’s also a good way to prepare for your flight training. Visualizing the various skills you’ll encounter, be it weather interpretation, weight and balance, the regulations, or flight planning gives you a realistic idea of how many different skills must be blended together to accomplish a safe flight.
Regardless of how or when you choose to complete your aeronautical knowledge training, you’ll still receive the same piece of FAA-issued paperwork when you pass your checkride. No one will ever ask you how you studied for your exams or when you took them. Instead they’ll scrutinize carefully your flying hours and ask you to recall some memorable events and good decisions that went into surviving those situations.
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