Sporty’s has updated its pilot training courses for 2023, including new platforms, new resources, new videos, and new CFI tools.
A new version of Sporty’s Pilot Training app is now available for Apple computers, allowing pilots to access courses on a Macbook, iMac, or Mac Pro. Designed to work with or without an internet connection, the Mac app automatically saves test prep components for offline use and videos can be downloaded to the Mac’s hard drive.
CarPlay integration also has been added to the iOS version of the Pilot Training app for hands-free studying in CarPlay-equipped vehicles.
“Sporty’s courses are a natural fit for CarPlay,” says Sporty’s Senior Vice President Bret Koebbe. “Our app allows pilots to listen to the audio training segments from any course, perfect for reviewing a segment after you’ve watched the video or for brushing up on today’s flight lesson topic while you drive to the airport.”
A number of new training resources have also been added for 2023. The most noticeable addition is an interactive Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) tool, according to Sporty’s officials.
Sporty’s FAR database is continually updated every time pilots log in, so the course always shows the latest information, they noted. A search box makes it easy to find regulations on specific topics.
Each Sporty’s course includes a training syllabus, now updated with access to suggested study resources like video segments and FAA manuals, Sporty’s officials said. Video sections have also been upgraded, with a Related Content tab that links to resources for pilots who want to dive deeper, including additional videos, websites, and FAA publications.
New videos for 2023 include how to complete a nav log, how to use a plotter with a sectional chart, step-by-step instructions for making calculations with both electronic and manual E6B, preflight weather briefing tips, and an introduction to glass cockpits.
Flight instructors have free access to a suite of tools on Sporty’s Pilot Training platform, including a document library and templates for common endorsements. CFIs can also monitor the progress of their students in Sporty’s courses, including video segments and test prep sessions. Detailed reporting makes it easy to review missed questions during a ground lesson, and CFIs can also watch the entire course to stay in sync on key topics, Sporty’s officials said.
“The Covid-19 pandemic taught many flight students and instructors that remote ground school lessons are now a possibility,” says Koebbe. “Sporty’s 2023 courses are taking this idea to the next level, with support for Apple’s unique SharePlay feature.”
SharePlay, available for devices running iOS 15.1 or later, allows two people to watch the same video while on a FaceTime call together. The app syncs video playback and controls, so both people see the same thing at the same time. Smart volume means a student and instructor can talk while the video is playing, which allows for discussing complicated flight training lessons, company officials noted.
Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course, Instrument Rating Course, and Commercial Pilot Course are priced at $279 each. Free lifetime updates are included with each course.