Ground school books for pilot training?

[GH85Carrera]

I am in a fortunate position. The business I own half of, is an aerial photography and mapping company. I am up in our Cessna 182T or 172 regularly. My business partner is a pilot, but he is often away flying another clients project. I end up hiring a pilot to fly me around. He is a certified pilot instructor. Since I am paying him already, and the airplane expenses are paid for by our customer, I can learn to fly for essentially no cost.

The pilot instructor I hire now likes the Jeppsen brand of books. I am likely going to buy them, BUT I figured I would ask the brain trust. I know many of you are pilots. Some do it for a living, some as a hobby.

Right now we are flying 5 to 6 hours a week but 10 hour weeks are not unheard of. The instructor does all the flying, and he is good at it. I just figure, why not learn how to do it. I don't want to put the instructor out of a gig, but I do want to be able to safely operate the aircraft if necessary.

So the question: What set of ground school books do you recommend, and why?

https://jeppdirect.jeppesen.com/product_details.jsp?id=prod912

[abisel]

Go for it!

Jeppesen is noted for providing instrument flying charts and procedures for decades. To both the private and commercial markets. No reason why Jeppesen would not be a creditable source for pilot training material.

Besides the book you in your link, look at the Jeppesen 2018 catalog link in the left column and get a copy of the FAR/AIM, Aviation Weather, and the Instrument/Commercial Text Book. It may be a bit of an information overload, but you will not regret it.

Also, look at Sporty's Pilot Shop
https://www.sportys.com/pilotshop/

You may also want to consider owner's manuals for the 172 and 182 for aircraft familiarization.

Good luck.

[Seahawk]

Very cool.

I let my PPL lapse and may get one again since my partner has a Lancair.

Lots and lots of online resources:

Welcome to the free online private pilot ground school

https://ww1.jeppesen.com/personal-solutions/aviation/online-training.jsp

https://www.longislandflying.com/aa/01_07_student_pilot_books.htm

[flipper35]

Sporty's is what the Young Eagles uses so I support them.

[Tim Hancock]

Gleim test prep books are what I used for both my private pilot and later my AP tests. I got high 90's to 100% on every FAA test I have ever taken with only using these test "prep" books the week before taking each test. Every question possible on the FAA tests are in these books and they make it easy peasy. I do not think I "bought" any other books for my Private.

Gleim Private Pilot FAA Knowledge Test Guide - MyPilotStore.com

I got my Private in about 2 months total time in 1994 for $2500 total cost by flying as often as possible in the cheapest plane the local airport had to rent (a Cessna 150). No need to pay for "ground school" so long as the instructor spends a bit of time "teaching" on the ground pre or post flights. I think I had 47 hours of total time logged to get my private. The more frequently you fly, the fewer hours you will require training. The minimum required is 20 hrs dual + 20 hrs solo = 40 hrs total. People who drag it out over a year or two usually require many more hours of expensive plane rental and instruction fees.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Tim Hancock

I got my Private in about 2 months total time in 1994 for $2500 total cost by flying as often as possible in the cheapest plane the local airport had to rent (a Cessna 150).

I think I had 47 hours of total time logged to get my private. The more frequently you fly, the fewer hours you will require training. The minimum required is 20 hrs dual + 20 hrs solo = 40 hrs total. People who drag it out over a year or two usually require many more hours of expensive plane rental and instruction fees.

Once you start, fly as much as possible, as often as possible. The Navy has time based requals for a lot of pilot quals even for high time pilots.

Aviation skills are perishable.

That said, I think Glen wants to get comfortable in the aircraft as a co-pilot. I think you should get your PPL, Glenn. Your Dad would be proud!

[Dantilla]

I bought the Cessna kit from the local FBO.

But I cheated. Grew up around airplanes (thanks, dad). According to my logbook, I soloed after five hours. No telling how many hours dad let me have the controls while growing up. Dad wasn't an instructor, but he taught me well.
When I began official lessons, it was a bunch of "Been there, done that".

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, mostly I want to understand exactly what is happening, and how to even do a basic things like taxi over to the gas pumps and fill up the aircraft while the commercial pilot is busy.

I would need a commercial license to ever go shoot a real customer's project. That might happen as well, but not a priority right now.

At a former job we had a wall of airplane photos that pilots would come in and admire. One guy said he was super lucky in WW2. He said he got into the service just as the war was winding down. VE day was over, and VJ day was close, of course he did not know that. He said he was stationed in San Diego and they pointed to a P51 Mustang and told him to go get as much seat time as he wanted. Imagine getting to fly a super cool toy like that, with free gas and maintenance. He was still very young and immature. He said his favorite thing was to fly along the coast and look for sail boats. He would drop down low, and then pull up hard, and blow the boat over dumping the folks in the water. He was gone long before they could see any identifying marks. He said he felt guilty about it many years later but not at the time.

[carreradpt]

I had access to the King videos and books. Worked beautifully for me. Though I also had an aviation connection prior as well.

[Rinty]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

...So the question: What set of ground school books do you recommend, and why?...

Glen:

Your instructor likes Jepp, and will be familiar with their materials, so I would just go with Jepp.

I think probably every pilot would recommend whatever they learned with.

Hell of an arrangement you've made there; good luck, and have fun.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Yea, mostly I want to understand exactly what is happening, and how to even do a basic things like taxi over to the gas pumps and fill up the aircraft while the commercial pilot is busy.

I would need a commercial license to ever go shoot a real customer's project. That might happen as well, but not a priority right now.

Tourist

I will tell you the simplest thing that most people really goon is radio comms. It is an art, frankly.

Instant Free Access to the Aircraft Radio Simulator!

If you buy a manual of any kind I am driving (irony alert) to OKC and taking your lovely wife out to dinner and we will speak poorly of you

[GH85Carrera]

Yea, when we go off to the east from Sundance airport where we have our 172 and 182, we have to fly across the controlled airspace and talk to center. Those guys on the ground can talk FAST. It is hard to keep up with the instruction to set the squawk code, and the other instructions. I just sit there and listen and watch the pilot do his job. If we fly off to the west, we may not talk to anyone.

We flew one project that was a few miles off of the center line of the main runway of Will Rogers. We had to listen to center for the entire flight and to hear him call our tail number and to respond and pick out those instructions from the other talk was crazy. We even flew the main FAA campus. Flying around right over the FAA itself was a trip.

[flipper35]

Paul, get on the ball so you can take the Lancair!

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by GH85Carrera

Flying around right over the FAA itself was a trip.

We have met, Glenn...so you know that if I can do it, I think you can manage it

Honestly, you are in the best position imaginable to get proficient very quickly.

Two turns in the pattern after every flight, you at the sticks (yoke), on the mike, for a few weeks. Then take-off and transit to the photo site, same/same for a few weeks.

Glen Yeager, baby.

[flipper35]

Blasphemy! Hoover was the better pilot there Paul.

I kid, those guys were all awesome pilots. Even had a good sense of humor. I remember when Scott Crossfield landed with no brakes and hit the hanger. Chuck said he (meaning Chuck) went through the sonic wall and Scott went through the hanger wall.

On a side note I see your old company is working on a digital co-pilot.

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by flipper35

Paul, get on the ball so you can take the Lancair!

Truth.

We flew two week ago together. Holy smokes what a fine aircraft.

My partner is a former F-14 RIO, so, Goose at the sticks!!!!

[Dmitry at Pelican Parts]

I had no idea that we had so many pilots on the forum! My best friend is a CFI at Santa Monica Airport (KSMO) - he flies Pipers and now Cirrus' as well.

[brainz01]

Which Lancair? Love those planes...


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[Sebscst]

Two months in getting my ppl on a Cessna 172 I also used the gleim groundbooks.

[rattlsnak]

I used Jepp and the King video series many moons ago....

and then because of this:





I got to do this today! (1:45 delay.. Was number 23 in sequence.. ugh..