Pilot Exercise Program: A Pilot-Friendly Manual and Digital Copy

Now available in Sporty’s Pilot Training app

Everybody needs exercise. We need physical exercise. We need mental exercise. And, if we’re pilots, we need flying exercise. Yet despite knowing we need it, we don’t do enough of it.

The real enemy to exercise isn’t hassle, money, or time. The real enemy to exercise is … boredom. That’s why the team at PilotWorkshops decided to write this manual.

Features:

• In-flight proficiency exercises for pilots of all levels
• Step-by-step instructions showing exactly what to do
• Detailed illustrations with full-color photos and graphics
• Scoresheets for tracking results and progress
• Safety Net: Ground rules for doing each exercise safely
• Pump-ups: Increased difficulty for advanced training
• Digital manual looks great on an iPad; keep it in your EFB app for quick access
• Bonus videos showing our instructor flying the exercises

15 fun flying exercises that will sharpen your skills

The manual includes flying exercises that help pilots identify and work on weak areas. They’re organized into five chapters: Hone Takeoffs and Landings, Master the Use of Rudder, Maintain Control at the Edges, Sharpen that Airmanship, and Thwart the Emergencies.

These exercises go way beyond slow flight and steep turns, which is how most pilots train. We integrated basic skills into new flying challenges requiring some forethought, divided attention, and precise stick-and-rudder control to create flying workouts that are fun, challenging and repeatable.

Then we added scoring so you can track your progress as you work to master each exercise.

You can do them in any order. To start, we suggest you pick one exercise each month and make a goal of flying it enough to improve your score. The real objective is to experience something new, and then use that experience to improve your overall flying skills.

There are exercises for all levels, so design a program targeted to your needs. Start with the easy ones and gradually increase the difficulty with more exercises and pump-ups. Over time, you’ll feel more comfortable and confident flying your airplane than ever before.

A reason to go flying (with a purpose)

Sometimes pilots run out of reasons to fly, or lose motivation to try something new. They fly less, rust begins to build, they may lose interest, and even stop flying. This manual gives pilots a reason to go flying. It reconnects them with the core skills they might not have practiced in years, and gives them motivation to work towards a higher level of proficiency.

To complete these exercises, you’ll bring a safety pilot or instructor with you (depending on the difficulty). They will watch for traffic, make sure you’re doing things properly (and safely), and record your scores. Practicing with a friend is more fun—you can share goals, offer each other encouragement, and even enjoy some friendly competition since each exercise in the program is scored.

Use this manual to connect with other pilots and go flying more often—with purpose. You can even use an exercise or two as a focus area for your next flight review.

These exercises will challenge you to improve

We’ll warn you now: Scoring high on these exercises isn’t a cakewalk. But as it was once famously said in aerospace, sometimes we do things because they’re hard. A real challenge is motivating, and that’s key to banishing boredom.

We also believe scores are important. They support a relentless pursuit of perfection—everyone wants that coveted high score—which is critical to motivation.

These exercises are purposefully designed to make you a better pilot, just like all the old standards. They’re just a more enjoyable way to get there.

This manual helps pilots of all levels

The Pilot Exercise Manual will help you improve your flying technique, regardless of experience. Whether you’re a new pilot looking to build on the basics, or an experienced pilot who hasn’t learned anything new in a long time, this exercise guide will help you improve.

New pilot

• Continue to refine and improve your flying technique
• Stay sharp and commit to ongoing proficiency
• Identify areas where more training would be beneficial

Experienced pilot

• Brush up on flying skills that may have gotten rusty
• Stay sharp and commit to ongoing proficiency
• Replace bad habits with good technique

Flight instructor

• Use proper technique—don’t teach bad habits
• Fly exercises with your students to build their skills
• Maintain personal standards that meet or exceed the ACS

Watch our instructor fly them

We gave the manual to Ryan Koch (one of our Instructors) and asked him to fly the exercises in the sim. We recorded the flights and captured multiple views along with Ryan’s commentary. These videos are included with the manual.

Topics include:

• Figure 8s on crossing runways
• Dragging the runway
• Fly a perfect pattern
• Rolls on a heading
• Fixed-wing hover
• Shifting the balance
• Triangle of (lost) navigation arts
• Back to back wingovers
• Finding the “numbers”
• Ceiling (un)limited
• Mission: impossible?
• No-panel landing
• Gliding spiral to landing
• Handling rejection
• Aerial triathlon

View a sample pages here:

Easy to access

This manual is available on Sporty’s Pilot Training platform , so you can read the digital version online or on your tablet—alongside all your Sporty’s courses. Powerful reading tools are included, like highlighting, search, and bookmarks. Or download the PDF for easy reading on all your devices, with or without an internet connection.