After more than 40 years spent evolving pilot courses from in-person delivery, to VHS tapes, to computer installations, King Schools has said goodbye to discs and is delivering 100% of its pilot courses online.
“It means you can study on any device and your courses are always up-to-date,” said Co-Chairman Martha King.
“We have followed two rules that have kept us relevant: We have always solicited customer feedback and been very responsive to it and we have kept up-to-date with technology,” added John King. “When we started King Schools 44 years ago, our ‘content delivery system’ was Martha and me speaking to an audience in person. We would fly to a local airport, teach a few dozen people for a couple of days, and then fly to our next destination and do it all over again.”
“Our first implementation of ‘disruptive technology’ was with VHS tapes,” Martha noted. “When we put our in-person classes on videotape, many thousands of pilots suddenly found aviation more accessible and started learning from our courses in the comfort of their homes. Then when we became the first aviation training company to display full-screen video on computers, learning pilots were able get the benefit of taking quizzes paired with each video lesson, test themselves with sample FAA exams and question databases, and track their progress throughout the course.”
“Now the Internet provides instant access,” said Barry Knuttila, King’s CEO. “The free KING Companion App lets you download and take lessons offline and when back online, your progress is automatically sync’d with King Schools’ servers and immediately visible from all other devices. Our customers made it clear that they prefer the advantages of online courses, so it was an easy decision to discontinue the computer-installed, disc option. Online is not the end though. New formats, augmented and virtual reality and unforeseen technological changes will no doubt provide opportunities to deliver even more effective training in our next 40 years.”
King just rolled out a new Online Aviation Library that puts more than 85 aviation books, cards, manuals, reference materials, and much more into one online package. The library provides lifetime access with no subscription charges and is continuously updated, officials said.
King Schools will continue to expand the library’s resources and customers will automatically receive each update. Included materials cover a spectrum of aviation knowledge from Private through Professional Pilot. Materials are downloadable and printable and are available from any device. The KING Online Aviation Library retails for $79.
The Online Aviation Library also replaces the hard-copy books in all KING Get It All Kits (15 versions) making them 100% digital and not subject to shipping charges or sales tax, officials said.
Customers can also add a set of pilot gear to their courses with new King Schools Private Pilot and Instrument Rating Equipment Kits. These kits include items chosen by John and Martha King to fit the needs of learning pilots. The kits contain products such as IFR training glasses, knee board/clipboard combos, information cards, and more. The kits retail for $49 each.
Lastly, an updated KING Pilot Communications Course provides optional, easy-to-read subtitles in English or Chinese. This course will help Chinese pilots understand cockpit communications from Alpha to Zulu and retails for $49, company officials concluded.
Have been with King since early 70’s. Passed all Private, Commercial, Instrument courses first time. All scores in Hi 70s to Hi 80s. Had a lot of medical problems as well as other issues. I am ready to start again with King for all my test again. Thanks Martha and John. Gilbert McBroom. N8354E WITH MERV.
In experiencing the King method of ground school in years past, I believe John and Martha King have provided an invaluable service not only to student pilots, but to those of us with years of experience.
Their method of presentation is not only informative, complete and educational, but also humorous which helps in communicating those less than interesting areas of the FAA curriculum.
While I respect FBO ground school facilities and academies, I prefer the King courses because they are always available at one’s fingertips online any time of the day and the student can learn at his/her own pace. In consideration of these advantages, the King courses are also reasonably priced.
Kudos and thank you to John and Martha King!!! Your contribution to the effective communication of aviation knowledge (and with it, safety as a side benefit) have been and continue to be exemplary.