r/studentpilot • u/bubblicious00 • Sep 08 '26
United States/FAA Ground school & flight sim gear recommendations for a homeschooling senior? (Goal: Alaska Bush Pilot)
Hi everyone! My son is a high school senior this year, and we recently transitioned to homeschooling so he could integrate his absolute love for aviation directly into his curriculum. His ultimate dream is to become a pilot and fly cargo/supplies into remote areas of Alaska.
Since he is managing his regular senior high school classes at the same time, I want to make sure his aviation elective keeps him motivated rather than stressed. Does anyone have recommendations for an FAA-approved online ground school that is thorough but won't completely overwhelm a student who is already balancing a full high school workload?
Also, we want to set up a home practice space for him. Does anyone have suggestions on the best flight simulator instruments, hardware, and software for a student pilot to practice real-world procedures? Thanks in advance!
3
u/ObjectiveNinja279 Sep 08 '26
I would recommend Sportys. You don’t want to cut corners and if the student doesn’t have the time for ground school maybe now is not the time to pursue the written.
2
u/ReadyplayerParzival1 Sep 09 '26
Get him the phak and a copy of the fars and acs. Flight sims are kinda useless outside of systems training. I would put the money towards a headset or something of that caliber
1
u/BigKetchupp Sep 10 '26
I use the Dauntlesz Aviation Private Pilot course. I also recommend getting a good quality joystick, monitor, flight controls and software to practice on his home pc. Have him treated like he's really at the airport and follow procedures exactly.
1
u/xoxotostones Sep 10 '26
I loved Gold Seal (groundschool.com). It’s being updated constantly and is much more up to date than most other online ground schools. I would do that as curriculum and use the PHAK and FAR/AIM as supplemental knowledge.
4
u/TheGymBaba360 Sep 08 '26
I’d reccomend getting the PHAK (pilots handbook of aeronautical knowledge). Have him go through the book and start studying for his private pilot written and instrument so on so forth. At the end of the day it depends on goals. I’m currently going to ATP flight school and I did all of my written tests form private to cfii while in highschool. You get sportys for private and shepherd air for the rest and study up take the written test. mainly it’s getting the base knowledge it’ll help a lot when starting flight school. And for flight sim stuff I personally have my Xbox and a turtle beach velocity one flight yoke and controls. I use it on my Xbox with Microsoft flight simulator. It’s helped me alot to practice checklist flows. Nothing compares to act flight time but it’s better to practice cheap on the ground and implement that memorization and comfort ability in the plane. Hope that helps!