What do I need to buy to study?
When I was starting my private pilot training and studying with AV8 Prep's Private Pilot ground school, I asked my CFI, Bob, what he recommends before starting lessons and this was the quick start guide he sent me!
Bob is the reason we use the phrase "Let's Go," in our marketing, whenever we ask if he wants to fly it's always his response. His love of flying is contagious.
Let’s Start Flying!
Get a Logbook - You will need one. You can get one from anywhere. The choice is paper or electronic. Bring this to every flight or ground lesson, you need an instructor to endorse every training session.
IACRA.faa.gov
• Register and get a login. You will need to fill out an applicant form to get your Student Pilot certificate before you solo. You will also use this site to complete the form prior to your checkride. Make sure you write down your FTN number and login information in your logbook so you don’t forget it. You’ll need to log in to IACRA repeatedly to apply for certificates, ratings, and update any information that changes. Getting used to IACRA is one of the benefits of earning a Part 107 certificate for novice learners, in addition to learning a good amount of the private pilot level aeronautical knowledge.
Medxpress.faa.gov
• Register and get a login. You will need a physical from an Aviation Medical Examiner or AME. Prior to your appointment, you will need to fill out the application and take the confirmation number with you. This exam is required to earn your private pilot certificate. Once you’ve held an aviation medical you can fly under BasicMed in many cases.
Ground School
• We recommend you study with AV8 Prep with our online ground school. The interactive nature of our course really helps students retain the material. We also include our Tower Talk course, Private Practice Exams, and Private Pilot Diary docuseries so you can see another student pilot’s entire flight training experience, which is a very valuable training opportunity. Like back seating 43 hours for free. You can also choose to “old school” the material and sit down with an instructor and go through all the material before that instructor gives you the endorsement to take the test, and if money is no object and you have a lot of time to wait for your ground training, this is an option. If you do this, having the online course will reinforce what you learn from your instructor.
FAA.psiexams.com
• Register, schedule and take your exam. Exam sites are listed on the site. We will endorse you for the exam upon completion of the course. You can not sit for the private pilot knowledge exam without an endorsement.
iPad
• Unless you plan on using paper charts which are not widely available anymore, you will need one at some point before your solo and cross country flights. My instructor has the iPad mini with cellular ability and the most memory you can get, you’ll want the ability to use the device away from wi-fi so the cellular capability is necessary.
APP
• Foreflight, Fly Q, Garmin Pilot and others have trial subscriptions. Your iPad is useless without one! Find one you like and subscribe once you've found the right one.
Headset
• Is there a headset in each plane where you train? You shouldn’t buy one right away. Early in your flying, I suggest trying different headsets to see which one suits you best. Most instructors and flight schools will have a headset that you can use until you decide which one to get. This can be a big expense, but keep in mind you’ll be using it for a significant amount of time. Especially if you intend on pursuing a flying career.
Flightbag
• You can use a backpack with no shame, or buy very nice flight bags from several sources. It’s smart to keep everything you need together in one bag, and will live out of it while training.
FAAsafety.gov
• Optional, but recommended to create an account here. This site is a huge resource for flying information. You earn points for completing online courses. Seminars/meetings/presentations are also available to earn points. Earning enough points will help you with your biannual flight review after you get your license.
Recommended Books:
FAR/AIM Available free online as two sets of downloads, or you can buy a physical copy.https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/faa_regulationshttps://www.faa.gov/Air_traffic/publications/atpubs/aim_html/index.html
Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, PHAK, you can choose to buy or download these books for free. If you are comfortable with ebooks, all FAA publications are public domain and are available for free download from their website. https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/phak
Airplane Flying Handbook
https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/airplane_handbook
Medical Exam, Ground School, Headset, iPad, Log Book, & Flight Bag.
Learn more about AV8 PREP
Take Flight with AV8 Prep
At AV8 Prep, we’re committed to helping you achieve your aviation dreams. Whether you’re earning your first certification or adding a new rating, we’ve got you covered.
Our ground school courses are built by a team of expert instructors with over 50,000 combined flight hours. From Private Pilot to Instrument Rating, Commercial Pilot, and Fundamentals of Instructing, our comprehensive online courses are designed to save you time and money during flight training.
Why Choose AV8 Prep?
Expert Instruction: Learn from the best, with video-based courses taught by accomplished pilot instructors.Proven Results: Drew, our founder, had his wife complete her Private Pilot Certificate in just 43 flight hours using AV8 Prep—far below the average 75–90 hours.Interactive Learning: Access tools like our “Private Pilot Diary,” a 26-episode docuseries that follows Jordan’s journey from discovery flight to checkride prep, reinforcing your learning with real-world insights.
Flight training is expensive, but our courses pay for themselves by ensuring you arrive at every lesson fully prepared. With AV8 Prep, you’ll pass your knowledge exam before you even step into the cockpit, saving time and avoiding costly setbacks.
Join the Aviation Community
We’re more than an online ground school—we’re building a supportive community of pilots who share a passion for aviation. With our new books and engaging video courses, we provide everything you need to succeed and inspire others to pursue their dreams of flight.
Why Wait? Aviation is within your reach. Join the quarter of one percent of the world who can fly and discover the unmatched freedom and joy of aviation. If you’re going to aviate, prep first—with AV8 Prep.
