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Education Department

Evergreen Youth Ground School

Learn to fly at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum with the Evergreen Youth Ground School!

Ground School Application (PDF)

This 13-week course will prepare students to take the written examination for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) private pilot certificate.

We have an FAA Certified Ground Instructor on staff who is here to help you conquer ground school and become a pilot.

Classes will be held in the Museum's state-of-the-art Education Center led by Museum educators using Jeppesen® course materials and our own hands-on applications of lesson objectives that will prepare you for the FAA’s Private Pilot Knowledge Test.

The classes are designed for a minimum of 5 students and a maximum of 12.

What is a ground school?

Ground school is a class that helps people to acquire the knowledge they need to become safe and competent pilots, while also preparing them to take the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Knowledge Test required for a Private Pilot certificate.

Ground school provides a structured learning environment as well as personal interaction with qualified instructors, and therefore is preferable over home-study courses.

Program Eligibility

In order to enroll in this program, you must be a young man or woman between the ages of 15 and 21 years old with an interest in aviation. Everyone is encouraged to apply, especially young women, as the field of aviation is a slightly unbalanced one. This will be a very challenging and rewarding course that is distinctly different from the traditional classroom environment.

Program Costs

There is a class fee of $75 per student. We have minimized this fee as much as possible because we want to make this available to as many young men and women as possible. At another institution, the cost would be a minimum of $300 and an average of $2,275. This is because the industry standard for the instruction you will receive ranges between $40 and $70 per hour.

What does it take to become a Private Pilot? To become a Private Pilot, one must:
•	Be at least 17 years old
•	Be able to read, write and speak the English language (English is the universal language of aviation)
•	Obtain a Third Class FAA Medical Certificate
•	Log at least 40 hours of flight time that satisfies FAA requirements, including a prescribed amount of dual flight (with an instructor) and solo flight (student is sole occupant of aircraft)
•	Pass the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test, and
•	Pass the FAA Practical Test (an oral exam and check-ride in an airplane).

Class Schedule
There will be three class sessions each week; students will need to attend two of them. Classes will be offered on Tuesday or Thursday evenings from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. and Saturdays from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The next session begins December 2nd.
Week 1	Discovering Aviation/Airplane systems
Week 2	Aerodynamic Principles
Week 3	The Flight Environment (Safety, Airports, aeronautical charts, airspace)
Week 4	Communication and Flight Information
Week 5	Meteorology for Pilots
Week 6	Interpreting Weather Data
Week 7	Airplane Performance
Week 8	Navigation
Week 9	Applying Human Factors Principles
Week 10	Flying Cross-Country
Week 11	FAA Practice Exams
Week 12	FAA Practice Exams

Is the Museum's course certified by the FAA?

The museum's course is not part of an FAA flight school. It does, however, provide all the information and documentation necessary to take the FAA Private Pilot Knowledge Test. The FAA Certified Instructors on our staff can log instruction given to students and, upon completion of the course, certify them as being eligible to take the test.

Will I be able to fly upon completion of the course?

Yes, but you do not need to wait until the end of the course. You may arrange for your own flight instruction at any time. It is advisable to fly during the course, at least a few times, so you can begin to apply the knowledge from ground school.

What equipment or books do I need?

No additional equipment is required to participate in the Evergreen Youth Groundschool; we will provide the materials for use in the classroom.

Why ground school at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum?

Presented by our exceptional Education Department, our course goes beyond the curriculum of a traditional ground school.

The extensive resources of the Evergreen Aviation Museum add a unique dimension to this learning experience with guest lecturers and interactive applications of classroom material. Our staff includes FAA Certified Instructors, educators with undergraduate and graduate degrees in Education, and credentialed teachers — all of whom provide a well-rounded and comprehensive approach to learning the essentials of flight.

The quality of this course will be complimented by a fun, hands-on environment in which the resources of the Evergreen Aviation Museum and the McMinnville airport will be utilized. Additionally, high school or college credit can be earned through this course. Specifically, it can be applied toward the career related learning credits that are required for high school graduation. This program will open up tremendous doors of opportunity to each student.

For more information, please call: 503.434.4005 or email:
Kaela Harnett: kaela.harnett@sprucegoose.org
Tyson Smith: tyson.smith@sprucegoose.org

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