Sporty’s Upgrades Its Learn To Fly Course

The pilot outfitter's Learn To Fly course 2025 is an immersive experience that uses video lessons and integrated real-world flight simulation to prepare students for knowledge tests, check rides, or attain the skills they will use in the sky, said Bret Koebee, Sporty's senior vice president.

"The Sporty's course is focused on training qualified pilots through our online courseware," Koebee said. "So many products are test prep only, and the students lose track of the fundamental question [of] 'Why am I here?' Our course is designed to train  safe, competent pilots, whether their goal is to fly with family or go on to the airlines. They must be the trained pilot, not the best trained test taker."

The course features 3D graphics and flight simulation from Infinite Flight for the flight maneuvers, such as steep turns. The student can fly the lesson online, be virtually critiqued, and then repeat the process in an airplane with their instructor.

The course uses scenario-based training on not only the aircraft and rules and regulations that are part of flying but also how to build decision-making skills, situational awareness, and flight proficiency. The new course has an expanded section on aviation and aircraft performance, two areas required for safe flight. This course makes their review easy.

The course can be viewed on any device and includes around 300 digital flashcards for quick review.

The latest version of this interactive program allows a customized experience using AI—which Sporty's calls "aviation intelligence"—to do a virtual practice mock check ride with a computer-generated designated pilot examiner (DPE).

When engaged, ChatDPE supplies questions to the student, drawing material from one of the  categories in the Airman Certification Standards (ACS) that the applicant will be tested on.

"ChatDPE asks interactive questions, and the applicant responds as if talking to the DPE," Koebbe said. "The course was a year in the making, [and] the software development was key in making it accurate. The course has the federal aviation regulations [(FAR—that the applicant will be tested on] and the AI will break it down into four points and apply it to a scenario."

The course critiques answers, advises if it is incorrect or incomplete, then offers feedback on improving their answers.

Another new feature is the ChatFAR tool that explains the FAR. This feature has also been added to Sporty's instrument rating and commercial pilot courses.

This is also the first version of the Learn To Fly course that features subtitles in Spanish.

Sporty's said it works closely with the FAA to ensure test prep questions cover the areas of emphasis, updating them as needed. Koebbe said that this course gives the user the skills and knowledge to understand what is being asked and how to answer it correctly and comprehensively.

"Once they buy it, they keep it forever on all their platforms. anywhere they have a device," Koebbe said. 

In addition, once the learner completes the ground school and passes two practice tests, they will receive the instructor endorsement required to take the knowledge test at an FAA-approved testing center.