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Hangarside chat with Hal Shevers

October 21, 2013/in Personal stories/by studentpltnews

Standing next to my favorite airplane inspires me to recall a few of my favorite flights. This old, red Aztec has taken my friends, family and me to such far-flung places as Caracas, Newfoundland, Cabo and Kelowna. I now realize it was because of the training I received (and a lot of good luck) that I have been afforded the opportunity to go to those places–and cherish those memories.

4 Tips for Effective Study

October 11, 2013/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnews

There’s no hiding the fact that earning a pilot certificate will most certainly involve some study. While certain topics will come easier for some, we all will face unique challenges and concepts we find difficult. We’ll also encounter regulations, procedures, checklists, and much more, deserving of additional study and effort to master. And we’ll be […]

Hangarside chat with Hal Shevers

October 21, 2013/in Personal stories/by studentpltnews

4 Tips for Effective Study

October 11, 2013/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnews

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Hangarside chat with Hal Shevers

October 21, 2013/in Personal stories/by studentpltnews

Here at Sporty’s, I see all kinds of prospective pilots walk through our door. Some want to be an airline captain, others a bush pilot, and many just want to see the ground from the sky with a buddy or spouse (or someone they hope will be their spouse). But no matter the disparate goals, they have one thing in common. Sometime between that moment when they first walk into our flight school and the time they advance the throttles on that Boeing full of passengers or Skyhawk with a friend, they have to taxi from the ramp to the end of the runway, take off and land an airplane by themselves–they must solo!

The solo is such a powerful accomplishment that in the past couple years, we at Sporty’s Academy have not had anyone–not a single student–drop out of the program between their solo and earning a certificate. And regardless if they are pursuing a Sport, Recreational or Private license, they all need to possess the same knowledge of airmanship to conduct that solo. The main (and really only) difference in requirements is the Recreational and Private candidate must have obtained a medical certificate prior to their solo flight.

This initial, mutual path forms the architecture for Sporty’s award-winning Learn to Fly course. The first lessons concentrate on soloing, the common experience for all pilots. Just as a long cross country is really only a series of short cross countries, only after pilots pass this first waypoint–the solo–are they ready to continue their route to the Sport, Recreational or Private certificate. Flight paths for all three are included in our Learn to Fly course.

In the future it is my hope the FAA will extend to pilots flying simple airplanes recreationally, the same medical requirements necessary for the pilots of balloons, gliders and sport airplanes. This will eliminate what is for some the greatest barrier to my passion–our passion–enabling a new generation of aviators to create memories of their favorite flights. Now that is a proactive flight plan!

Blue skies and right rudder. Fly safely.

Hal Shevers
Founder/Chairman
Sporty’s

4 Tips for Effective Study

October 11, 2013/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnews

Tip #1 – Schedule Study Time

Having trouble finding time to study? Try setting a scheduled, recurring appointment. Committing to specific days and times for your study will increase your likelihood of accomplishing your training on schedule and lessens the opportunity for distraction. Experimenting with various times of day to study can also be a valuable exercise to find your optimum energy level. It will also help you determine the right amount of study that’s right for you per session.

Once you’ve found that optimum time of day, try committing to the same time each study session to help reinforce the habit. Sporty’s video training is divided into small, manageable segments to make it easier to fit your schedule.

Tip #2 – Focus on Manageable Segments of Information

For some, having all of your training material in one convenient location can seem a bit overwhelming. But for others, this same grouping of resources makes it tempting to fit in as much as you can in one sitting.

While everyone is different, it generally helps to space your studying and focus on one topic at a time. Focus on general topics first and then on the fine details. It also helps to take frequent short breaks. This method will allow you to retain more of the information as it will be easier to remember the information that was presented first and last.

Finding the right length of study time for you and then making that study session a daily routine will allow you to still meet your goals in a reasonable time frame. Test yourself to identify deficient knowledge areas and then begin each session with a review of what you’ve previously identified as a weaker area.

Tip #3 – Notes Can Help

Taking good notes can help many students stay organized and provide a clear, succinct method for remembering key topics which can be reviewed.

Notes should be kept in the same location and as obvious as it sounds, kept in the same order as the course. The course is already organized to provide a logical, building-block approach to your learning. Dating each entry will also help with recall and provide additional motivation to stay on task.

While your notes should contain a complete record of general topics, it should not be a record of every word spoken. This will prevent you from truly understanding what is being taught on screen. When you study, your notes should call back to mind the entire sequence of topics presented. In a separate location from within your notes, make room to jot down terms or acronyms you may wish to expand on later or research further.

Also keep in mind that any text presented on screen or topics emphasized by the instructors are important and should be included in your notes. If possible, try to take your notes in some kind of outline form. The organization of ideas is as important as the content of those ideas, especially when it comes to learning the material for the exam.

Finally, you might find it useful to review your notes right away while the information is fresh and have a highlighter available for important ideas.

Tip #4 – Consider a Group Setting

Never underestimate the power of your peers, especially when working through difficult concepts with everyone working toward a common goal. Tapping into the knowledge and insight of your “partners” is an effective way to reduce your workload – and to make sure you understand the material. You might even forge some long-lasting friendships along the way.

Students tend to learn faster working within a group versus working alone. If you were working on your own, there is risk of wasted time puzzling over a specific topic. While working in a group setting, you have the opportunity to explain concepts, review material, exchange ideas, and disagree/reason with one another about why one person’s answer differs from another. You can seek clarification and learn faster working in a group setting while gaining personal skills.

There are always ways to enhance your studying methods/techniques in your study skills. Joining a study group will provide you the opportunity to observe a wide variety of study methods and incorporate them into your study habits. Additionally, studying by yourself can get boring and monotonous. A study group brings a positive social aspect.

Half Sized Blog Element (Single Author Style)

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Hangarside chat with Hal Shevers

4 Tips for Effective Study

Hangarside chat with Hal Shevers

4 Tips for Effective Study

Full Sized Blog Element (Big Preview Pic)

Hangarside chat with Hal Shevers

4 Tips for Effective Study

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