Pilot Preparation

Complete these before your next session. FAA reading and video assignments for each lesson.

What Should You Study Before Each Private Pilot Lesson?

Each lesson in the Aviator.NYC private pilot program has specific FAA reading assignments from the Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK) and the Airplane Flying Handbook (AFH). Completing these before your simulator session ensures you arrive prepared to practice, not learn the concepts for the first time. Your instructor will quiz you on the material during the ground briefing. Study assignments are organized by lesson number — start with your next upcoming session and work through the FAA chapters, videos, and practice tasks listed below. These resources are the same materials used by student pilots at flight schools across the country, supplemented by Aviator.NYC-specific simulator preparation guides.

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After L1Effects of Controls → Preparing for L2

Review what each control does. Prepare for weather, checklists, and taxi procedures.

FAA Reading

PHAKChapter 6 (6-1 to 6-14) — Flight Controls
AFHChapter 3 (3-1 to 3-10) — Basic Flight Maneuvers
AFHChapter 2 (2-1 to 2-11) — Ground Operations

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 1 #22: Four Fundamentals10:24
Sporty’sChapter 1 #24: Four Fundamentals Pt 212:41
Sporty’sChapter 1 #23: AF: Pitching and Turning2:06
Sporty’sChapter 1 #25: AF: The Proper Attitude2:07

After L2Taxiing → Preparing for L3 (Climbing)

Understand forces in a climb, Vx vs Vy, and engine management during climb.

FAA Reading

PHAKChapter 5 (5-1 to 5-16) — Aerodynamics of Flight (forces, lift, drag)
AFHChapter 3 (3-10 to 3-18) — Basic Flight Maneuvers (climbs, descents)
PHAKChapter 11 (11-1 to 11-8) — Aircraft Performance (climb performance)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 1 #17: Taxi, Run-up, Traffic Pattern11:29
Sporty’sChapter 1 #19: Takeoff3:51
Sporty’sChapter 1 #8: Intro to Airplane Engines5:48
Sporty’sChapter 1 #10: Propeller, Fuel & Electrical8:45

After L3Climbing → Preparing for L4 (Straight & Level)

Four forces in equilibrium, stability, trim, and maintaining altitude/heading.

FAA Reading

PHAKChapter 5 (5-16 to 5-30) — Aerodynamics of Flight (stability, forces in turns)
AFHChapter 4 (4-1 to 4-19) — Energy Management
PHAKChapter 7 (7-1 to 7-16) — Aircraft Systems (engine, fuel, carb ice)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 2 #5: Aerodynamics11:22
Sporty’sChapter 2 #6: CL: Angle of Attack4:58
Sporty’sChapter 1 #11: CL: Carbureted Engines2:49

After L4Straight & Level → Preparing for L5 (Turning)

Forces in turns, adverse yaw, load factor, stall speed in turns, and collision avoidance.

FAA Reading

PHAKChapter 5 (5-30 to 5-42) — Aerodynamics of Flight (load factors, turns, stalls)
AFHChapter 3 (3-18 to 3-25) — Basic Flight Maneuvers (turns)
PHAKChapter 14 (14-1 to 14-10) — Airport Operations (collision avoidance)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 3 #3: Steep Turns and Load Factor10:48
Sporty’sChapter 3 #24: Right of Way Rules7:50
Sporty’sChapter 3 #25: AF: Eye to the Sky2:06

After L5Turning → Preparing for L6 (Descending)

Descent techniques, L/D ratio, glide range, carburetor icing, and approach planning.

FAA Reading

AFHChapter 3 (3-14 to 3-18) — Basic Flight Maneuvers (descents, glides)
PHAKChapter 7 (7-16 to 7-20) — Aircraft Systems (carb icing, induction)
PHAKChapter 11 (11-8 to 11-16) — Aircraft Performance (descent performance)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 2 #3: Engines8:26
Sporty’sChapter 2 #4: AF: Engine Suspicion2:25
Sporty’sChapter 3 #19: Drag5:22

After L6Descending → Preparing for L7 (Slow Flight)

Flight below minimum drag speed, angle of attack, critical angle, and speed instability.

FAA Reading

AFHChapter 5 (5-1 to 5-12) — Upset Prevention (slow flight, maneuvering)
PHAKChapter 5 (5-8 to 5-16) — Aerodynamics (angle of attack, stalls)
PHAKChapter 4 (4-6 to 4-12) — Principles of Flight (airfoils, lift)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 2 #7: Slow Flight9:21
Sporty’sChapter 2 #8: CL: Change of Scenery2:40
Sporty’sChapter 2 #5: Aerodynamics11:22

After L7Slow Flight → Preparing for L8 (Stalling)

Stall mechanics, critical angle of attack, recovery techniques, and factors affecting stall speed.

FAA Reading

AFHChapter 5 (5-12 to 5-22) — Upset Prevention (stalls, recovery, approaches to stalls)
PHAKChapter 5 (5-30 to 5-38) — Aerodynamics (load factors, stall speeds)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 2 #9: Stalls18:15
Sporty’sChapter 2 #10: AF: Stall Rhetoric4:07
Sporty’sChapter 2 #6: CL: Angle of Attack4:58

After L8Stalling → Preparing for L9 (Spin Avoidance)

How spins develop from stalls, autorotation, incipient spin recovery.

FAA Reading

AFHChapter 5 (5-22 to 5-27) — Upset Prevention (spin awareness, phases, recovery)
PHAKChapter 5 (5-38 to 5-42) — Aerodynamics (spins, V-g diagram)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 3 #3: Steep Turns and Load Factor10:48
Sporty’sChapter 3 #5: Emergencies5:33
Sporty’sChapter 3 #6: AF: Emergencies1:32

After L10Spins → Preparing for L11 (Takeoff & Pattern)

Takeoff forces, takeoff performance, traffic pattern procedures, and ATC communications.

FAA Reading

AFHChapter 6 (6-1 to 6-14) — Takeoffs and Departure Climbs
AFHChapter 8 (8-1 to 8-7) — Airport Traffic Patterns
PHAKChapter 14 (14-1 to 14-20) — Airport Operations

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 1 #17: Taxi, Run-up, Traffic Pattern11:29
Sporty’sChapter 1 #19: Takeoff3:51
Sporty’sChapter 1 #21: AF: Takeoff Tips3:06
Sporty’sChapter 3 #15: Airport Signs and Markings13:07
Sporty’sChapter 1 #15: Aviation Communications9:40

After L12Circuit Emergencies → Preparing for L13-14 (Approaches & Landings)

Normal/glide approaches, landings, short-field and soft-field techniques, and go-arounds.

FAA Reading

AFHChapter 9 (9-1 to 9-38) — Approaches and Landings (all approach/landing types)
AFHChapter 18 (18-1 to 18-10) — Emergency Procedures (engine failure)
PHAKChapter 11 (11-16 to 11-24) — Aircraft Performance (landing performance)

Videos

Sporty’sChapter 2 #11: Normal Landings13:25
Sporty’sChapter 2 #12: AF: Down to Earth2:18
Sporty’sChapter 2 #13: Takeoff & Landing Variations15:31
Sporty’sChapter 5 #9: Short and Soft Field T/O & Ldg12:09
Sporty’sChapter 5 #5: Airplane Performance Charts9:44
Sporty’sChapter 5 #6: Calculating T/O & Ldg Distance11:44