Programs · Ground School

Ground School & FAA Knowledge Test Prep

The first certificate you earn is in your head. Ground school builds the aeronautical knowledge required for the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test — and every test that follows. SUFS-eligible. Part of the full MAA pathway at X39.

Start This Saturday → Talk to Admissions →
730+
FAA credentials issued by MAA graduates
60
Questions on the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test
$8,000
SUFS value per student per cycle — covers ground school
1,380+
Students flown at Tampa North Aero Park (X39)
The Pathway

From Zero to Certificate

Ground school is the knowledge foundation for every certificate in aviation. At MAA, it's integrated into the full pathway — from your first Saturday visit to your Private Pilot Certificate and beyond.

1
Saturday Open House Free
Meet the team, tour the facility at X39, and take a discovery flight. No experience needed. Ages 13+.
2
Ground School & Knowledge Test Prep You Are Here
FAA-required aeronautical knowledge: regulations, weather, navigation, aerodynamics, aircraft systems, airport operations. Covers the 60-question Private Pilot Knowledge Test and prepares students for Instrument, Commercial, and beyond.
3
Discovery Flight
Hands-on time in the cockpit of N7480X, our 1960 Cessna 172B at Tampa North Aero Park. First flight credit applied toward your training.
4
Student Pilot Certificate
FAA medical, solo flight requirements, and first solo. The moment the runway becomes yours.
5
Private Pilot Certificate & Beyond
Instrument Rating, Commercial Certificate, CFI, ATP — the full stack. MAA tracks every credential earned.
Curriculum

What Ground School Covers

The FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test draws from these subject areas. MAA ground school builds a working understanding of each — not just test answers, but real aeronautical knowledge you'll carry in the cockpit.

📋
Federal Aviation Regulations
FARs governing private pilot operations, airspace, right-of-way, and currency requirements.
🌤
Weather & Meteorology
METARs, TAFs, AIRMETs, SIGMETs, fronts, thunderstorms, icing, and pilot weather decisions.
🗺
Navigation
Sectional charts, VOR, GPS, dead reckoning, pilotage, and cross-country flight planning.
✈️
Aerodynamics
Lift, drag, thrust, weight, stalls, spins, performance, weight and balance calculations.
⚙️
Aircraft Systems
Powerplant, fuel, electrical, pitot-static, flight instruments, and emergency procedures.
🏁
Airport & Airspace
Class A–G airspace, NOTAMs, airport signs, lighting, traffic patterns, and radio procedures.
🧠
Human Factors & Physiology
Hypoxia, spatial disorientation, fatigue, aeronautical decision-making (ADM), and CRM.
🔢
Performance & E6B
Takeoff/landing distances, density altitude, fuel planning, and flight computer calculations.
💰

SUFS Scholarship Covers Ground School

Florida's Student Upgrade to Professional Services (SUFS) scholarship funds up to $8,000 per student per cycle — covering ground school tuition, materials, and flight hours toward your certificate. MAA enrolls eligible students in SUFS as part of the pathway. Learn more about scholarships →

Ready to start ground school?

Every Saturday at Tampa North Aero Park (X39) · 4639 Birdsong Blvd, Lutz FL 33559
admissions@missionaviationacademy.org · (813) 445-8889

RSVP for Saturday → Talk to Admissions →