Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course isn’t just for independent studying; a comprehensive CFI portal connects instructors with their students’ at-home study sessions, making the flight training process more organized and efficient. This suite of tools includes lesson plans, a flight instructor refresher course, a complete FAA library, special CFI offers, and access to Sporty’s award-winning pilot training courses. Best of all, every feature is available free to any active flight instructor.

Progress tracking

After signing up, flight instructors can monitor the progress of their students in Sporty’s pilot training courses, including video segments and test prep sessions. Detailed reporting makes it easy to review missed questions during a ground lesson, and CFIs can also watch the entire course to stay in sync on key topics.

When it’s time to meet in person, Sporty’s lesson plan guides provide detailed outlines that will save CFIs hours of time. The lesson-by-lesson syllabus offers a structured plan for training, while ground lesson guides and maneuver guides make each lesson more productive. Also included is Sporty’s guide to FAA endorsements, with templates for the most common endorsements, from first solo to checkrides to proficiency endorsements.

Watch video lessons together

The Covid-19 pandemic taught many flight students and instructors that remote ground school lessons are now a possibility—using nothing more than a smartphone and common apps like FaceTime or Zoom. From reviewing the basics of aerodynamics to studying for the FAA written test, you no longer have to be at the airport together to learn.

Sporty’s 2023 Pilot Training Courses are taking this idea to the next level, with support for Apple’s unique SharePlay feature. Available for devices running iOS 15.1 or later, this allows two people to watch the same video while on a FaceTime call together. The app syncs video playback and controls, so both people see the same thing at the same time. Smart volume means you can talk while the video is playing—perfect for discussing complicated flight training lessons.

To use SharePlay, simply open Sporty’s Pilot Training app and choose a video. Tap the up arrow to select SharePlay, then enter the contact you want to share the video with. Once you’re connected to your instructor, tap Start to begin the video.

Flight Instructor Refresher Course

Sporty’s CFI Portal also includes a complete Flight Instructor Refresher Course (eFIRC) that satisfies the requirements to renew a CFI and offers practical tips for improving teaching skills. Delivered in a convenient online format, it’s universally accessible for PC, Mac, and mobile devices. This comprehensive course contains 17 lessons broken down into learning modules for ease of study, and like everything else it’s completely free.

Flight instructors can also access the latest editions of essential FAA books, including the Airplane Flying Handbook, Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge, Aeronautical Information Manual, and much more. Each document is indexed and includes powerful search and annotation options to make teaching more meaningful. Instructors can even upload their own documents, like standard operating procedures or checklists, making for a complete resource library.

Flight school tools

Sporty’s courses are in use at a growing number of flight schools, from single-instructor clubs to large aviation universities. To support these customers, Sporty’s has built powerful management tools, including the ability to create classrooms, bulk invite students, and export a roster to a .csv file. The course also integrates with Flight Schedule Pro, a popular management tool, with each lesson in FSP linked directly to the relevant video segments in Sporty’s course.

Students can even connect their training progress in AOPA Flight Training Advantage and Sporty’s course for a seamless training experience, both inside and outside the airplane. AFTA is a web portal- and iPad-based training application that helps make the process of flight training more effective for the student, the CFI and the flight school.

Sporty’s CFI Portal is completely free for active flight instructors. To sign up, visit Sportys.com/CFI.

One of the best investments you can make as a student pilot (or a rusty pilot) is a good home study course. While your flight lessons will form the core of your training, there’s a lot of work to be done in between trips to the airport. Sure, you’ll need something to help you prepare for the FAA knowledge test, but the benefits of a course go far beyond that. It will also help you save a significant amount of time and money by preparing for each lesson at home. Most importantly, you’ll be a safer, more confident pilot after you earn your certificate.

Sporty’s Pilot Training Courses are used by tens of thousands of pilots every year and represent a complete flight training companion. Each includes over 15 hours of HD video, comprehensive test prep tools, and a complete FAA document library. Sporty’s courses are famous for a relentless pace of innovation; every year, we add new content, new training tools, and new platforms. This year is no exception, with a number of significant upgrades that make training more engaging and more efficient. Here’s a look at some highlights.

New platforms

Train anywhere, anytime—that’s always been Sporty’s promise. A single purchase includes lifetime access to the Learn to Fly Course on a huge variety of platforms, including web browser, iOS devices, Android devices, and smart TVs like Roku. Progress is automatically synced between devices, so it’s easy to switch back and forth as your study sessions move.

The latest enhancement brings an all-new version of Sporty’s Pilot Training app to Apple computers, allowing pilots to access courses natively on a Macbook, iMac or Mac Pro. Many video segments are produced in 4K resolution, so they look great on the big screen of an iMac. The Mac app was designed to work offline too, making it a great companion when traveling on the airlines or when an internet connection isn’t available. The test prep components are automatically saved for offline use when downloading the app, and you can then download videos to your Mac’s hard drive.

When you leave your desktop computer behind, you can now use Sporty’s course in CarPlay-equipped vehicles. This feature allows iPhone users to access a few select iOS communication and media apps on touch-capable infotainment screens in compatible cars. Sporty’s Pilot Training app is a natural fit for CarPlay, allowing pilots to listen to the audio training segments. This is great for reviewing a segment after you’ve watched the video or for brushing up on today’s flight lesson topic while you drive to the airport.

The online version of Sporty’s course remains one of the most popular formats, and it’s also updated for 2023. The new layout is faster, easier to navigate, and works flawlessly on phones and tablets. There is no software to install—just log in and start learning, no matter what device you’re using.

New resources

Once you’ve logged into the course, there are a number of new training resources that complement the award-winning video segments. Perhaps the most noticeable addition is an interactive Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) tool. This includes all the rules you’ll need to know as a student and private pilot, from certificate requirements to weather minimums. Sporty’s FAR database is continually updated every time you log in, so you’ll always have the latest information. Navigating through the sections is lightning fast and a search box makes it easy to find regulations on specific topics.

The companion to the FARs, the Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM), is also included and can be found in the FAA Handbooks section of the course. Like many other reference documents in this section, the AIM is presented in full color, including all tables and graphics. You can search, bookmark, and highlight sections for further study.

Another valuable resource is the Training Course Outline, the same lesson-by-lesson syllabus used in Sporty’s flight school. Each page includes the lesson objective, content, and completion standards. Now the bottom of the page includes required study links for quick access to relevant video sections and FAA manuals.

Finally, many video sections now feature a Related Content tab. This suggests resources for pilots who want to dive deeper, including additional videos, websites, and FAA publications.

New videos

The heart of Sporty’s course has always been the dynamic video segments. From first flight all the way through checkride, you’ll see what to expect and learn how to master complicated maneuvers. The team at Sporty’s is continuously updating and expanding these videos to keep up with both changing technology and the latest training techniques.

New for 2023 are major updates to the cross-country planning segments. Detailed lessons include: how to complete a nav log, how to use a plotter with a sectional chart, step-by-step instructions for making calculations with both electronic and manual E6B, preflight weather briefing tips, and an introduction to glass cockpits. Throughout the videos, the focus is on practical skills, not rote memorization.

Customer favorites

All of these upgrades join an already impressive list of features, including powerful FAA knowledge test prep tools. Sporty’s course includes a proprietary database of over 1,000 FAA test questions, customizable study modes, and unlimited practice tests. You can even earn an automatic flight instructor endorsement to take the test when you’re done.

Best of all, you never have to worry about out-of-date materials or missing features with Sporty’s free lifetime updates. Simply buy the course once and you own it forever—no subscriptions and no upgrade fees required. Every time you log in to the online training portal or open up the Pilot Training app, you’ll have access to the latest video segments, test question updates, and training features. It’s an incredible value: for the price of one flight lesson, you’ll save thousands of dollars over your flying career.

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