Private Pilot Syllabus

Based on the Sporty's Private Pilot Training Syllabus.

Stage I

Lesson #	Type	Ground	Flight	Lessons	Elements
1	Flight	1.2			Discovery flight, introduction to controls
2	Ground	1.2		Preflight Assessment Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear FAA Medicals	Airplane introduction, preflight inspection and walk-around. FAA 3rd class medical requirements and AMEs.
3	Flight	0.2	1.5	Engine Starting Before Takeoff Check Basic Attitude Flying Straight and Level Flight Level Turns After Landing, Parking, and Securing	Engine start, runup, normal takeoff Basic attitude flying, shallow turns, trim, normal landing Focus on power, speed, and altitude instrument only, 90% visual
4	Ground	1.5		Ground Operations: Airport Markings and Lighting Airport Operations / Traffic Patterns
5	Ground	2.0		Principles of Flight: Lift, Drag, Airfoils
6	Ground	2.0		Principles of Flight: Forces in Flight
7	Flight	0.2	1.5	Slow Flight Power-Off Stalls Power-On Stalls Spin Awareness
8	Ground	2.0		Principles of Flight: Stability, Controllability
9	Ground	2.0		Principles of Flight: Load Factor, Vortices
10	Flight	0.2	1.2	Stability Demonstration Trim Demonstration Constant Airspeed Climbs Constant Airspeed Descents	Demonstrate how airplane is stable in yaw, roll, and pitch. Demonstrate how trim holds airspeed, regardless of power setting. Introduce constant airspeed climbs/descents.
11	Ground	1.0		Weight and Balance	Aircraft takeoff performance, headwind/crosswind
12	Ground	1.5		Performance Planning	Aircraft takeoff and cruise performance, headwind/crosswinds
13	Flight	0.2	1.2	Steep Turns	Power-On Stalls, power-off stalls, steep turns
14	Ground	1.2		Weather Theory
15	Flight	0.2	1.2	Constant-rate Climbs Constant-rate Descents
16	Ground	1.2		Weather Services	Weather services
17	Flight	0.2	1.2	Ground Reference Maneuvers S-turns Across A Road Turns Around A Point Rectangular Course
18	Ground	1.2		Weather Service in ForeFlight	Weather service available in ForeFlight
19	Flight	0.2	1.2		Ground reference maneuvers review, slow flight, stalls
20	Ground	1.2		Collision Avoidance	Also POH emergency procedures
21	Flight	0.2	1.2	Normal Landings
22	Flight	0.2	1.2	Go-Arounds Equipment Malfunctions Emergency Approach And Landing
23	Ground	1.2		14 CFR and Publications
24	Ground	1.2		Endorsements and Logbook Entries Pilot Qualifications	Personal minimums, proficiency vs currency, ADM
25	Flight	0.2	1.2	Slip To A Landing Crosswind Landing
26	Ground	1.2		Aircraft Systems: Electrical, Hydraulic, Environmental
27	Ground	1.2		Aircraft Systems: Flight Controls
28	Flight	0.2	1.2		Review of slow flight, stalls, normal/crosswind landing
29	Ground	1.2		Aircraft Systems: Powerplants/Propellers
30	Flight	0.2	1.2		Takeoff and landing review
31	Ground	1.2		Aircraft Systems: Flight Instruments and Avionics
32	Ground	1.2		Airworthiness Requirements
33	Ground	2			Pre-solo written exam and review with student
34	Flight	0.2	1.2		Pre-stage check flight: attitude flight, malfunctions, steep turns, slow flight, stalls, landings
35	Ground	0.75		Airspace: Definitions	Class airspace system, boundaries, sectional charts
36	Ground	0.75		Airspace: Airspace Entry	Class airspace entry requirements
37	Stage Check	1.5	1.5		Solo stage check
38	Ground	0.75		Airspace: Airspace Minimums	VFR weather minimums, speed limits
39	Ground	0.75		Airspace: Special Airspace	VFR weather minimums, speed limits
40	Flight	0.2	1.2		Review of takeoffs and landings
41	Ground	1.2		Human Factors
42	Flight	0.2	1.2		Review of takeoffs and landings
43	Flight & Solo	1.6	1.2		Dual then solo flight, after proper endorsements

Stage I Check

Stage Lesson Review

• Oral
  • Operation of Systems
  • Certificates & Documents
  • Aircraft Logbooks
  • Use of Checklists
  • Preflight Inspection
  • Airplane Servicing
  • Weather Information
  • Performance & Limitations
• Flight
  • Normal Takeoff & Climb
  • Crosswind Takeoff & Climb
  • Traffic Pattern Operations
  • Collision Avoidance Precautions
  • Maneuvering during Slow Flight
  • Power-Off Stalls
  • Power-On Stalls
  • Normal Approach & Landing
  • Crosswind Approach & Landing
  • Emergency Approach & Landing
  • Go-Around / Rejected Landing
  • Systems & Equipment Malfunctions
  • Practice Area Operations
  • Aeronautical Decision Making & Judgment
  • After Landing Checks
  • Parking, Securing, & Proper Tie Down
  • Recovery Procedures

Stage II

Lesson	Type	Ground	Flight	Lessons	Elements
44	Ground	1.2		Navigation Systems and Radar Services
45	Flight	0.2	1.2	Short Field Takeoff and Climb Short Field Approach and Landing Soft Field Takeoff and Climb Soft Field Approach and Landing
46	Ground	1.2			VFR terminal area charts, flight computer, MEL
47	Flight	0.2	1.2		Review of short/soft takeoffs and landings
48	Ground	1.2		Cross-Country Flight Planning
49	Solo Flight		1		Practice maneuvers
50	Ground	1.2		Cross-Country Flight Planning continued	Flight planning continued, wind correction
51	Flight	0.2	1.5		Dual XC to airport >25nm away, pilotage, route selection
52	Ground	1.2		Cross-Country Flight Planning continued	Flight planning continued: diversion and lost procedures
53	Flight	0.2	1.5	Emergency Descent	Dual XC to airport >25nm away, pilotage, emergency descent, alternates
54	Ground	1.2		Ground Operations: Taxi Operations Ground Operations: Runway Incursion Avoidance	Towered airport operations
55	Solo Flight		1.5		Solo flight to airport within 25nm
56	Ground	1.2			Navigation systems continued: GPS and VOR
57	Flight	0.2	1.2		Review of short/soft takeoffs and landings
58	Stage Check	1.5	1.2		Stage II check

Stage II Check

Stage Lesson Review

• Oral
  • Preflight Preparation
  • Pilot Qualifications
  • Airworthiness Requirements
  • Weather Information
  • National Airspace System
  • Performance & Limitations
  • Operation of Systems
  • Human Factors
  • Airport, Runway, and Taxiway Signs,
  • Markings, & Lighting
• Flight
  • Preflight Procedures
  • Preflight Inspection
  • Flight Deck Management
  • Engine Starting
  • Taxiing
  • Before Takeoff Check
  • Airport Operations
  • Radio Communications
  • Traffic Patterns
  • Airport, Runway, and Taxiway Signs, Markings, & Lighting
  • Takeoffs, Landings, and Go-Arounds
  • Normal Takeoff & Climb
  • Normal Approach & Landing
  • Soft-Field Takeoff & Climb
  • Soft-Field Approach & Landing
  • Short-Field Takeoff & Maximum
  • Performance Climb
  • Short-Field Approach & Landing
  • Forward Slip to a Landing
  • Go-Around / Rejected Landing

Stage III

Lesson	Type	Ground	Flight	Lessons	Elements
59	Ground	1.2		Basic Instrument Maneuvers Recovery From Unusual Attitudes
60	Ground	1.2			Cross-country flight planning exercise
61	Flight	0.2	1.5		Cross-country flight, VOR navigation, basic instrument, dead reckoning
62	Flight	0.2	1.5		Cross-country flight, GPS navigation, dead reckoning, basic instrument
63	Solo Flight		2		Solo XC flight in excess of 150nm
64	Ground	1.2		Night Operations
65	Flight	0.2	1		Night flights, 5 takeoffs and landings
66	Flight	0.2	2		Cross-country night flight: Pilotage, navigation, basic instrument
67	Flight	0.2	1.5		Flight maneuver review for practical test
68	Ground	1.2			Private pilot knowledge written test
69	Flight	0.2	1.2		Flight maneuver review for practical test
70	Stage Check	1.5	1.2		Stage III check, private pilot checkride preparation

Stage III Check

Stage Lesson Review

• Preflight Preparation
  • Pilot Qualifications
  • Airworthiness Requirements
  • Weather Information
  • Cross-Country Flight Planning
  • National Airspace System
  • Performance & Limitations
  • Operation of Systems
  • Human Factors
• Night Operations
  • Night Preparation
• Preflight Procedures
  • Preflight Inspection
  • Flight Deck Management
  • Engine Starting
  • Taxiing
  • Before Takeoff Check
• Airport Operations
  • Communications & Light Signals
  • Traffic Patterns
• Takeoffs, Landings & Go-Arounds
  • Normal Takeoff & Climb
  • Normal Approach & Landing
  • Soft-Field Takeoff & Climb
  • Soft-Field Approach & Landing
  • Short-Field Takeoff & Maximum
  • Performance Climb
  • Short-Field Approach & Landing
  • Forward Slip to a Landing
  • Go-Around / Rejected Landing
• Performance & Ground Reference Maneuvers
  • Steep Turns
  • Rectangular Course
  • S-Turns
  • Turns around a Point
• Slow Flight & Stalls
  • Maneuvering during Slow Flight
  • Power-Off Stalls
  • Power-On Stalls
  • Spin Awareness
• Basic Instrument Maneuvers
  • Straight & Level Flight
  • Constant Airspeed Climbs
  • Constant Airspeed Descents
  • Turns to Headings
  • Recovery from Unusual Flight Attitudes
  • Radio Communications, Navigation
  • Systems/Facilities, & Radar Services
• Emergency Operations
  • Emergency Descents
  • Emergency Approach & Landing
  • Systems & Equipment Malfunctions
  • Emergency Equipment & Survival Gear
• Navigation
  • Pilotage & Dead Reckoning
  • Navigation Systems & Radar Services
  • Diversion
  • Lost Procedures
• Postflight Procedures
  • After Landing, Parking, & Securing

Lesson Sequence

Ground Lessons

• Ground Operations: Airport Markings and Lighting
• Airport Operations / Traffic Patterns
• Principles of Flight: Lift, Drag, Airfoils
• Principles of Flight: Forces in Flight
• Principles of Flight: Stability, Controllability
• Principles of Flight: Load Factor, Vortices
• Performance Planning
• Weight and Balance
• Weather Theory
• Weather Services
• Weather Services
• Collision Avoidance
• 14 CFR and Publications
• Endorsements and Logbook Entries
• Pilot Qualifications
• Aircraft Systems: Flight Controls
• Aircraft Systems: Electrical, Hydraulic, Environmental
• Aircraft Systems: Powerplants/Propellers
• Aircraft Systems: Flight Instruments and Avionics
• Airworthiness Requirements
• Airspace: Definitions
• Airspace: Airspace Entry
• Airspace: Airspace Minimums
• Airspace: Special Airspace
• Human Factors
• Navigation Systems and Radar Services
• Cross-Country Flight Planning
• Ground Operations: Taxi Operations
• Ground Operations: Runway Incursion Avoidance
• Night Operations

Maneuver Lessons

• Preflight assessment
• Emergency Equipment and Survival Gear
• Traffic Pattern Operations
• Engine Starting
• Before Takeoff Check
• After Landing, Parking, and Securing
• Slow Flight
• Power-Off Stalls
• Power-On Stalls
• Spin Awareness
• Constant Airspeed Climbs
• Constant Airspeed Descents
• Steep Turns
• Constant Rate Climbs
• Constant Rate Descents
• Ground Reference Maneuvers
• S Turns Across A Road
• Turns Around A Point
• Rectangular Course
• Go-Arounds
• Equipment malfunctions
• Emergency approach and landing
• Slip To A Landing
• Crosswind Landing
• Short Field Takeoff and Climb
• Short Field Approach and Landing
• Soft Field Takeoff and Climb
• Soft Field Approach and Landing
• Emergency Descent
• Basic Instrument Maneuvers
• Recovery From Unusual Attitudes