Not to sound like a fuddy-duddy, but if I had had some of the training tools available to today’s student pilots, I can’t help but think I would have finished up a bit sooner than I did. Case in point: Flight Training Apps’ Private Pilot Course.
If an app can be both lean and content rich at the same time, the Private Pilot Course is that. Its focus is on the flight portion of the Private Pilot Practical Test Standards (an app for the oral portion is planned). The app specifically deals with areas of operation four through 10. There’s a copy of the Airplane Flying Handbook, a copy of the latest PTS, a 37-question interactive quiz, and video lessons to support each task. With such a simple structure, navigation is a breeze.
Video content is where this app hits high points. Shot in HD, each maneuver—from taxi to emergency operations—is neatly broken down into its components. Pertinent language from the PTS is highlighted. Camera work is good, with multiple viewpoints (inside and outside the cockpit and in some instances from the tail of the Cessna 172 used for demonstration purposes) provided. Graphic elements are combined with video sequences, bringing even more clarity to each demonstration.
A savvy consumer would purchase this app not only to prep for a practical test, but also to reinforce what’s taught in flight lessons. The cockpit is a lousy classroom, but the opportunity to go back and refly some of those maneuvers from the comfort of your home is a boon.
Price: $59.95
Platform: iOS (also available for PC and Mac in DVD format)
Contact: www.flighttrainingapps.com
Cheers: Easy to navigate; high-definition video chapters illustrate maneuvers well.
Quibbles: No landscape mode on an iPad; HD video takes up 1.2 gigabytes of space on your device.
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