Private Pilot Ground School
Private Pilot Ground School — Your First Step to Becoming a Pilot
Everything you need to pass Transport Canada’s written exam and walk into flight training prepared — 60+ hours of online ground school taught by an active airline captain and Class 1 flight instructor. Start today, from home, with zero flying experience required.
- Rated 4.9 by 41 verified students
- PSTAR + Radio (ROC-A) courses included
- Letter of Recommendation
- T2202 tuition tax receipt
Already training at a flight school? Enrol through Durham Flight Centre or Calgary Flying Club so your instructors can follow your progress.
Ground school is the knowledge half of your licence, and it has no prerequisites. Most students start here, from home, before or alongside flight training.
You’ll need a Transport Canada medical certificate before you fly solo. You can book it any time — it doesn’t need to come first.
Your flight training happens at a local flight school. We partner with schools like Durham Flight Centre and the Calgary Flying Club — or train anywhere and use our ground school alongside.
Built by Airline Pilots. Designed for Your First Licence.
Ground school is where flying starts to make sense — why the aircraft behaves the way it does, how weather works, what the rules are and why they exist. Learn it well and every flight lesson costs you less, because you arrive prepared instead of paying aircraft rates to cover theory.
This course was developed and is taught by an active Airbus A321 captain who is also a Class 1 flight instructor — the highest instructor rating in Canada. When you have a question, a working professional pilot answers it, usually the same day.
The curriculum follows Transport Canada’s TP 12880 study and reference guide, with 60+ hours of instruction — well beyond the 40-hour minimum — plus preparatory ground instruction for your actual flight lessons. Your PSTAR prep and ROC-A radio certificate course are included, so the two other exams every student pilot needs are covered too.
In-person ground school typically costs $400 or more, one evening at a time, on the school’s schedule. This course starts at $199, includes a 7-day free trial, and runs on yours.
Everything on the Written Exam — and in the Cockpit
Transport Canada’s private pilot written exam (PPAER) covers four mandatory subject areas, and you must score at least 60% in each. This course is organized so you have no weak areas — and so the knowledge sticks past exam day.
Air Law & Procedures
The Canadian Aviation Regulations, airspace, right-of-way, licensing rules, and the procedures every pilot operates by — taught as the “why,” not just the “what.”
Navigation
Charts, flight planning, compass work, and the practical cross-country navigation skills you’ll use on your very first solo trip away from the airport.
Meteorology
How weather works, how to read METARs, TAFs, and GFAs, and how to make the go/no-go decisions that keep new pilots safe.
Aeronautics — General Knowledge
Theory of flight, engines, aircraft systems, flight instruments, and human factors — the foundation everything else in your flying is built on.
Included: PSTAR Prep + ROC-A Radio Course + Flight Lesson Prep
Your enrolment includes our PSTAR exam preparation course, the ROC-A radio operator certificate course, and preparatory ground instruction matched to your flight lessons — three requirements, one enrolment.
Download the full Private Pilot Ground School syllabus (PDF)
Taught by Captain Daniel Gustin
Daniel is an active Airbus A321 captain, an ATPL holder, and a Class 1 flight instructor with a Master of Education. He has taught students from their very first lesson through to the airlines, and appears as an aviation expert for national media and legal consulting.
When you enroll, he and the CFT instructor team are your learning support — real instructors answering real questions, usually the same day.
Rated 4.9 out of 5 by 41 Verified Students
Passed the exam with a 90%. The course was thorough and well organized — I always knew where I stood.Stephen Charlton ✓ Verified purchase
I started this course unsure whether aviation was really for me. The instruction gave me the knowledge and the confidence to commit — I’ve since been accepted into an ATPL program.Francis Bergin ✓ Verified purchase
The online format let me fit ground school around work instead of the other way around. The videos are clear, and questions were answered quickly.Elias Koster ✓ Verified purchase
Every 4 months, or one-time 9- and 12-month enrolments. In-person ground school typically runs $400+ on a fixed classroom schedule.
- 7-day free trial on student enrolment options
- 60+ hours of ground instruction — beyond the 40-hour minimum
- PSTAR Prep and ROC-A radio courses included
- Preparatory ground instruction for your flight lessons
- Video lectures, learning activities, and PPAER-style practice exams
- Letter of Recommendation when you pass our exams
- Official ground school record for Transport Canada
- Instructor support from real flight instructors
- T2202 tuition tax receipt
No prerequisites — start with zero experience. Training with a partner school? Enrol through Durham Flight Centre or Calgary Flying Club.
Private Pilot Ground School — FAQ
Do I need any flying experience to start?
None at all. Ground school has no prerequisites, and starting here is the most common first step toward a pilot licence. Many students complete much of their ground school before their first flight lesson — it makes every hour in the aircraft more productive.
Should I do ground school before or during flight training?
Either works — the course is self-paced so it fits both. Starting before (or early in) flight training is ideal: the theory you learn here directly prepares you for your flight lessons, and this course includes preparatory ground instruction matched to them.
Is there a free trial?
Yes — our student enrolment options include a 7-day free trial, so you can work through real lessons before you’re charged. The trial doesn’t apply to enrolments through our partner flight schools, such as Durham Flight Centre or the Calgary Flying Club — those enrolments connect you directly with your flight school, so your instructors can follow your ground school progress alongside your flight training.
Do I need a medical certificate first?
Not for ground school — you can start today. You’ll need a Transport Canada aviation medical certificate before you fly solo, so it’s smart to book one early in your training, especially if you’re considering a flying career.
What exams will I need to write?
Three: the PSTAR (before your first solo), the ROC-A radio operator exam, and Transport Canada’s PPAER written exam for the licence itself. This course prepares you for all three — PSTAR Prep and the ROC-A course are included with your enrolment.
Is this course approved by Transport Canada?
Transport Canada doesn’t “approve” ground schools — it sets the requirements. This course meets the private pilot ground school requirement of the Canadian Aviation Regulations and follows Transport Canada’s TP 12880 study and reference guide. On completion you receive an official ground school record, and we issue your Letter of Recommendation when you pass our course exams, in accordance with our policies.
How long do I have access to the course?
Choose the enrolment that fits your timeline: pay every 4 months as you go, or enrol once for 9 or 12 months. One-month student extensions are available if you need a little more time.
Can I claim this course on my taxes?
Yes. Canadian Flight Trainers issues T2202 tuition receipts for this course, which you can claim on your Canadian income tax return.
Required & Recommended Materials
The short version: get the Ground School Kit — it bundles the essentials and saves you $80 versus buying items separately. At minimum, you’ll want From the Ground Up, the core textbook for Canadian ground school.
For All Students
From the Ground Up — 30th Edition
Aeronautical Information Manual (TC AIM) — available free online from Transport Canada.
Definitions and Abbreviations (PDF download)
For New Pilots
Great Supplements (Not Mandatory)
Canadian Aviation Weather — 3rd Edition
From the Ground Up Workbook — 4th Edition
Human Factors for Aviation — Basic Handbook — for aspiring commercial pilots.
May Need for Flight Training (Not for the Online Course)
Flight Computer — electronic or manual.
All materials are available in our pilot shop and ship across Canada.
Every Pilot’s Story Starts in Ground School
60+ hours, taught by an airline captain, on your schedule — with a 7-day free trial to see it for yourself.
For All Students:
Aeronautical Information Manual (Available for Free Online)
For new pilots:
Great supplement, but not mandatory
Canadian Aviation Weather 3rd Edition
Human Factors for Aviation Basic Handbook (For Aspiring Commercial Pilots)
May need for flight training, but not for online course:
Flight Computer - Electronic or Manual
