Looking at the FAA Knowledge test and the FAA resources, the FAA does a pretty good job of describing the basics of weather theory for pilots. This is the same as it has been for years. Unfortunately, these are only some of the questions on the FAA knowledge test. Some of the other questions about weather services, cover old technology left over from the teletypes used before we had computers. All this decoding of TAF’s and METAR’s is a waste of time, energy and relevant questions that could be put on the knowledge test that would be applicable to technology used today. The FAA has updated their technology but some of the knowledge test questions need to be updated to modern weather resources. The FAA knows these questions need to be updated but as usual, their excuse is time/budget/priorities to update. Even the text winds aloft forecasts: http://aviationweather.gov/products/nws/winds/, which I think are one of the most important FAA resources for flying, especially in the mountains, are now graphic with better understanding of the winds aloft longer longer and shorter time intervals: http://aviationweather.gov/adds/winds/.

On the FAA aviation weather website the TAF and METER now have an option to decode the “FAA precomputer deciphering weather services” by adding translated: http://aviationweather.gov/adds/metars/.

If you really are into decoding, watch “Enigma”, a great movie of decoding during WW2. If you miss a couple of questions on the FAA knowledge test regarding weather decoding services, do not sweat it. I feel these are some of the most worthless and irrelevant questions to waste your time. When I am doing a checkride, I like to see the sport pilot applicant able to use the modern resources rather than being a decoding expert using rote memory, the “lowest level of learning” as defined by the FAA.

As far as understanding weather and correlating modern weather resources, this is where pilots need to focus. Yes the FAA resources in the “Pilots Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge” is a very good start for weather theory. The Weather to Fly system is a step beyond to help understand weather better, predict the weather before you fly and compare your flights to the prediction. After 35 years of flying ultralights and light-sport aircraft, this system was developed which is not a decoding tool, but a practical application of weather for pilots flying light sport aircraft. The weather to fly website at www.WeatherToFly.com is laid out to facilitate the process, and the Weather to Fly DVD provides practical information for all pilots about predicting and utilizing weather: weather to fly for sport pilots.

At least look at the video trailer, we now have the DVD so it can be downloaded. This is the only practical weather DVD developed for pilots flying LSA. The Weather to FLY DVD covers many of the FAA test question weather concepts also.

Weather is one of the most important safety concepts for all pilots which we can always learn more. Use the Weather to Fly website to find the best weather resources for doing your own weather analysis to fly.

It should be understood that “Ground School” has evolved over the years to be “studying to pass the FAA knowledge test”. As far as the commonly advertised “Ground School” goes, nothing is further from the TRUTH. With all the popular “ground schools” from the leading publishers, do not expect a comprehensive ground school to help you get your sport pilot certificate.

Expect to get something that only gets you through the FAA knowledge test. I work and help design knowledge test prep materials called “ground school”, and the objective is to teach you only the information to get you through the knowledge test questions as simply and easily as possible. Let me note here that an instructor is required by law to teach you the aeronautical knowledge to be a pilot, which is above and beyond the FAA knowledge test.

Understanding the important things that keep you safe and flying confidently are the first and most important things you should learn in GROUND SCHOOL. Unfortunately, this most important knowledge is not taught for the classical “knowledge test prep” ground school.

“Ground School ” is actually three specific areas of knowledge:

1. Learning the flight and aircraft operation procedures before getting in the cockpit, the most fun part of ground school.

2. Leaning the aeronautical knowledge (weather, sectionals, cross country, etc.). This is also an interesting part of ground school that is used to become a safe pilot.

3. Learning the answers to the FAA Questions to pass the knowledge test. This is the least interesting and sometimes the scariest. It requires unnecessary time spent and additional memory recall required, and does us the least good.

Yes, some of the information for items 1 and 2 above are in 3, the knowledge test prep, but the knowledge test prep is only 20% of the ground school that you need to learn.

Note that the “knowledge test prep” ground school is required, but it doesn’t necessarily have to be at the beginning of flight training, or the more important ground school. The FAA Knowledge test is simply some measure of the applicants ability to remember some of the concepts, plus the regulations.

It is much more efficient and cost effective, if you can learn the fun and most important stuff first (items 1 and 2 above) on the ground…in “Ground School”, rather than using the cockpit as the classroom. You are paying 3 to 5 times more for learn the knowledge in the cockpit than your would for the same knowledge learned in the classroom. Do not worry, all the fun ground school builds towards the final phase of “3 ground school” to take the FAA Knowledge Test and the Checkride. It is easier to learn the information and then be able to answer the FAA questions, when memorize the questions and answers.

The best resources for ground school are the FAA handbooks “Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge” 8083-25A and the “Airplane Flying Handbook” 8083-3A. These should be your reference books for all your ground schools and preparing for the Checkride also. I have modified/enhanced both these books for sport pilots flying LSA as a downloadable PDF. This allows you to know that to study and what not to study plus add important information. If you want a complete “ground school” covering all three needed topics visit the Hamilton Pilot Training System for more details.