Flying Requires Continuous 'License to Learn'

Often, as pilots, we hear that upon earning our Private Pilot License (PPL) we now have a license to “learn.” We are, hopefully, always learning. Every experience teaches us something. There’s an excellent website https://www.boldmethod.com/ which has numerous six question quizzes to test your knowledge on various subjects related to aviation. One idea might be to set a goal to access the website on the first day of every month and get your training hat on. Just like doing “Wordle” everyday can work your brain, these quizzes from Boldmethod are challenging and worth taking a look at. The subjects

constantly change and every subject is thought provoking. Here are the latest topics available:

• Questions To See How Much You Know About Turbulence

• Can You Identify These 6 Common Enroute Chart Symbols?

• The Hardest VFR Quiz You’ll Take This Week

• Can You Answer These 6 V-Speed Questions?

• Do You Know These 6 Common Approach Chart Symbols?

• Questions To See If You’re Ready To Be A Private Pilot

• Questions To See How Much You Know About Airport Operations

• Questions To See If You Can Pass A Multi-Engine Checkride

Another website is Aopa.org. Click on “Training and Safety” then find “Online Learning” and look for “Quizzes.” Topics range from icing to IFR approach plates to flight reviews to density altitude to black holes, thunderstorms, flying rogue and many more. I personally have taken a number of them and found them challenging and very interesting. You can print out a “Certificate of Completion” and often, aviation insurance companies give discounts for continuing education.

AOPA also has on line courses available. The only cost is your membership fee each year. The courses available are too numerous to name in this article so take the time to check it out. Follow the same path but select “online courses” instead of “quizzes” and keep increasing your aviation and pilot knowledge. All it really costs you is time and determination! Get your training on! Give it a try and see how you do!

Finally, remember this quote from William T. Piper: “Once you have learned to fly your plane, it is far less fatiguing to fly than it is to drive a car. You don’t have to watch every second for cats, dogs, children, lights, road signs, ladies with baby carriages and citizens who drive out in the middle of the block against the lights. Nobody who has not been up in the sky on a glorious morning can possibly imagine the way a pilot feels in free heaven.”