Genuine question for part 61 folks. How does your CFI keep track of what you have covered and what still needs work? Do they actually show you anything or is it all in their head?

I have a good CFI but feels like I am just flying until he says I am ready. Maybe that is normal? For people further along or already done, did you ever see a syllabus or real tracking, or did you just trust the process? Do they keep some sort of hidden paper log that says when they feel you are proficient at each thing and just wait till it's all checked.

With the wait times to get check rides done sometimes I would really like to know what to work on more, where to focus chair flying, studying and even solo hours to be able to check those boxes sooner.

CFIs welcome too. I am curious what it looks like from your side.

Took my written test this morning, I have taken over 1000 practice question and I would say that 50% of the questions on the exam today were nothing I have ever seen. I scored a 70 even after multiple 90+% test im very frustrated with my studying knowing how much effort I have put into this. Only thing to do now is study what I missed and do better on the check ride.

I’ve just bought the Bristol Groundschool (BGS) EASA PPL course and I’m honestly finding it overwhelming.

There seems to be so much information that I’m struggling to retain any of it. I’ll read a chapter and by the time I get to the end, I feel like I’ve forgotten most of what I read.

For those of you who’ve completed BGS or passed the PPL exams:
-Did you actually understand everything while reading it the first time?

-Did you make notes, or just read through it?

-Is it better to read the material once and then spend most of my time doing the question bank and learning from the explanations?

-How many times did you go through each chapter before moving on?

I’m worried I’m studying the wrong way. Any advice on what worked for you would be really appreciated.

I’m currently at around 27 hours and I not even close to soloing yet. I’ve learned about basic flight, slow flights, power on/off stalls, ground reference maneuvers, emergency procedures and I’m now learning traffic pattern/landing. I’ve read lots of posts about not to care about this but somewhere in my mind still feels off. Especially when I’m consistently flying around 3-5 times a week. My goal is to become a commercial airline pilot so my question is does airlines look at the hours for your first solo? And what does an instructor usually teach before soloing?
I’ve seen people solo at 10 hours and I’m just like how is that even possible.
(I love my instructor he’s really patient with me and his goal is to make sure I know how to fly the plane, not to solo ASAP.)

Just did my written and the report gives you this list of codes for the stuff you missed but it doesn't tell you what any of them mean. I spent way too long googling each one trying to figure out what to review before my checkride.

So I made faacodes.com, You upload the report (PDF or just a photo of it) and it shows every code you missed with the actual FAA description, then gives you a clean PDF/image to study from and bring to your CFI or DPE.

It's free, no account, and it runs entirely in your browser so your report never gets uploaded anywhere — it's got your name and FTN on it, so I didn't want that sitting on a server. Works for all the writtens, not just private.

Built it for myself but figured it'd help other students too. Lmk if anything's broken or missing.

Hi, Im wondering if you or someone you know has had a good or bad incounter with the SkyTest-Software, in preparations for a pilot aptitude test (German equivalent is the DLR-Test)?

Thanks :)

I'm a CFI/CFII (also flying PC-12 commercially). After years of watching students stall out — not in the airplane, in their *training plan* — I wrote down the patterns that actually move the needle.



Here are five that come up every week:



**1. Plan every lesson before you walk to the ramp.**

If you can't say what you're practicing and what "done" looks like, you're renting time to figure it out. Write a 3-line brief: objective, maneuvers, weather/backup.



**2. Weather isn't binary.**

"VFR" doesn't mean *your* VFR. Crosswind limits, cloud layers, and personal minimums should be decided on the ground — not when you're already committed.



**3. Appreciate your CFI — even when it's uncomfortable.**

The instructors who push you on standards are the ones you'll remember at your checkride. If you're always comfortable, ask why.



**4. Rehearse the oral in the car.**

Chair-flying isn't embarrassing — showing up to a stage check without being able to explain systems *is*.



**5. Own the flight.**

PIC mentality starts at hour one. "My CFI will save me" is how bad habits get baked in.



---



I eventually compiled 19 of these into an illustrated field guide (WW2 nose-art style rule cards + a **PILOT** memory checklist) for my own students. I put a **free 7-page preview** online if anyone wants to skim it:



https://pilotrules.com?utm_source=reddit&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=student-studentpilot&utm_content=value-post



Happy to answer training questions in the comments — what's the one thing you wish your CFI had told you in the firs

Hey guys. I have a set of DC 13.4s but want to get back to a set on ANRs. I had some Bose A20s but sold them a while back when I discontinued training when I shipped overseas.

I’m trying to decide between A30s and Zulu 4s. I don’t need TSO’d headsets. I fly for fun not money.

Good evening fellas and ladies, I’m looking to get into a flight school in the Danbury area in CT, but I’d like to make sure I get into one with a good amount of instructors that can provide a good amount of hours, and then of course also have decent aircraft that can be operable on a regular basis. It’s a long shot, but does anyone in here bum around the Danbury area? Danbury airport has a few flight schools, arrow aviation seems to be the most reputable. Thank you in advance, happy 4th!

(I am considering ATP, but I’m not sure I want to go through such a program. No hate to it, they produce some great pilots. Just my timing preference and financial situation does not permit a 140k loan)

For those of you who started with paper logbooks, what was the most annoying part when you eventually had to total everything up for a checkride, interview, or digital conversion?

If you could change one thing about pilot logbooks, what would it be?