Learning
Resources
Getting Started
The first step to learning to fly is to book a Discovery Flight, where you can confirm whether or not you really want to pursue training. The Discovery Flight will give you a glimpse of what training looks like. Next, you will go through the following actions (and we will go through each one with you together):
- Apply for a Medical Certificate
- Apply for a Student Pilot Certificate
- Gear up with books, headset and others
- Ground Training (King Schools)
- Pass the FAA Written Exam
Materials & LEssons
In the spirit of sharing knowledge and contribute to the aviation community, we are making available multiple ground lessons related to flight training on this page. Click on the links below to open each lesson. These presentations were created as part of our “CFI Lessons Plan”, and are free for your own academic use. Note they are not necessarily being kept up to date on this website, they do not substitute the official FAA training publications, published regulations and/or manufacturer documentations. Westflying LLC and/or their members are not responsible for misuse of this material.
Book: Commercial Instrument Pilot
Available at Amazon here
Private and Commercial Lessons
- [I.G] Risk Management
- [II.A] Aeromedical Factors
- [II.B] Runway Incursion Avoidance
- [II.C] Collision Avoidance
- [II.D] Principles of Flight
- [II.E] Airplane Flight Controls
- [II.F] Airplane Weight & Balance
- [II.G] Cross Country Flight Planning
- [II.H] Night Operations
- [II.I] High Altitude Operations
- [II.J] 14 CFR and Publications
- [II.K] National Airspace System
- [II.L] Navigation Systems
- [II.M] Logbook Entries and Endorsements
- [III.A] Certificates and Documents
- [III.B] Weather Information
- [III.C] Operation of Systems
- [III.D] Performance and Limitations
- [III.E] Airworthiness Requirements
- [V.A] Preflight Inspection
- [V.B] Cockpit Management
- [V.C] Engine Start
- [V.D] Taxiing (ASEL)
- [V.G] Before Takeoff Check
- [VI.A] Radio Comms and Light Signals
- [VI.B] Traffic Patterns
- [VI.C] Airport Signs/Markings/Lighting
- [VII.A] Normal & X-Wind Takeoff/Climb
- [VII.B] Short-Field Takeoff/Climb
- [VII.C] Soft-Field Takeoff/Climb
- [VII.F] Normal & X-Wind App/Landing
- [VII.G] Slip to a Landing
- [VII.H] Go-Around, Rejected Landing
- [VII.I] Short-Field Approach and Landing
- [VII.J] Soft-Field Approach and Landing
- [VII.K] Power-Off 180
- [VIII.A] Straight and Level Flight
- [VIII.B] Level Turns
- [VIII.C] Straight Climbs & Climbing Turns
- [VIII.D] Straight Descents & Desc. Turns
- [IX.A] Steep Turns
- [IX.B] Steep Spiral
- [IX.C] Chandelles
- [IX.D] Lazy Eights
- [X.A] Rectangular Course
- [X.B] S-Turns Across a Road
- [X.C] Turns Around a Point
- [X.D] Eights on Pylons
- [XI.A] Slow Flight
- [XI.B] Power-On Stalls
- [XI.C] Power-Off Stalls
- [XI.D] Cross-Controlled Stalls
- [XI.E] Elevator Trim Stalls
- [XI.F] Secondary Stalls
- [XI.G] Spins
- [XI.H] Accelerated Maneuver Stalls
- [XII.A] Straight and Level Flight (I)
- [XII.B] Constant Airspeed Climb (I)
- [XII.C] Constant Airspeed Descent (I)
- [XII.D] Turns to Headings (I)
- [XII.E] Unusual Flight Attitudes (I)
- [XIII.A] Emergency Approach/Landing
- [XIII.B] Systems/Equipment Malfunction
- [XIII.C] Emergency Equipment
- [XIII.D] Emergency Descent
- [XIV.A] Postflight Procedures
Know your Airports
There are multiple airports in our area, and we will train in many of them, both towered and non-towered. There are two special ones that have heavy jet traffic and operations can be a little complex sometimes. We will train a lot on them! Watch the FAA videos below and get to know Paine Field and Boeing Field.
KPAE – Paine Field (Everett)
KBFI – Boeing Field (Seattle)
Student Certificate
When you start your flight training, we will request a Student Pilot Certificate for you. That Certificate is required when it is time for you to fly solo. The video below, from United Flight Systems (a flight school in TX) shows step-by-step how to start the request in the IACRA website (which then will need to be finalized by your CFI).