Ground School Background

The Flight Simulator ground school provides a foundation for each of the pilot courses in the Pilot Training section of Help. Your Flight Simulator instructor assumes you're familiar with this information when you begin the flight lessons.

Pilot Certificates

In the Canada, The Ministry of Transportation (MOT)issues six types of pilot certificates:

1. Student pilot
2. Recreational pilot
3. Private piloy
4. Commercial pilot
5. Certified Flight Instructor
6. Airline Transport Pilot

Ratings

Ratings specify the types of aircraft a pilot is allowed to fly, the acceptable minimum weather for that pilot, and other privileges and limitations on a pilot certificate. Ratings such as "airplane single-engine land," "instrument," and "airplane multi-engine land," are the most common. A type rating is required to act as pilot in command of any aircraft with a maximum gross takeoff weight of 12,500 pounds, or any aircraft that is powered by a turbojet engine.Instruction and TestsTo earn a pilot certificate, a pilot must complete ground and flight instruction and then pass a written and practical test. Adding ratings to a pilot certificate requires additional ground and flight instruction and a practical test. The instrument rating also requires a written test.

Aeronautical Knowledge:

Canadian Air Regulations (CAR's) specifies the subjects that a student must master to earn each pilot certificate or rating. Instructors must certify that they have given students ground and flight instruction in those areas and that the student meets the standards for a particular pilot certificate or rating. Students must score 60% in ALL subject areas to pass a written examination for a rating or licence.

Pilot Privileges and Limitations

The CARs also spell out the privileges and limitations of each pilot certificate and rating. For example, student pilots can't carry passengers. Private pilots can't operate a charter service or accept compensation for flights. A pilot must have an instrument rating to fly in clouds or when the ceiling or visibility do not meet the minimums established for flight under Visual Flight Rules (VFR).

Core Subjects

In general, the ground school for each pilot certificate must cover the following core subjects:

1. Aerodynamics
2. Navigation
3. Flight operations and aircraft performance
4. Airspace
5. Weather
6. Human factors
7. Aviation Regulations

More advanced certificates and ratings require a correspondingly more thorough understanding of each topic.

For example, a private pilot must understand the basics of lift, weight, thrust, and drag. A pilot pursuing an airline transport pilot certificate must understand Mach wave modeling and acceleration/deceleration curves.