While we don't verify specific claims because reviewers' opinions are their own, we may label reviews as "Verified" when we can confirm a business interaction took place. Read more

To protect platform integrity, every review on our platform—verified or not—is screened by our 24/7 automated software. This technology is designed to identify and remove content that breaches our guidelines, including reviews that are not based on a genuine experience. We recognise we may not catch everything, and you can flag anything you think we may have missed. Read more

Review summary

Based on reviews, created with AI

Reviewers overwhelmingly had a great experience with this company. Customers appreciate the user-friendly design of the platform, highlighting how it simplifies complex concepts. People find the material easy to follow, and they value the variety of resources available, such as videos, audio, and written content. Consumers mention that the staff is knowledgeable and caring, which enhances their learning experience. The quality of the product is consistently praised, with reviewers noting the depth and thoroughness of the lessons. Many reviewers appreciate the flexibility to learn at their own pace, fitting studies into busy schedules. Customers also value the website's organization, which makes it easy to access needed information and stay focused on their goals.

Based on these reviews

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

While there are many programs to go through a PPL ground school, Part Time Pilot's is worth every penny. After using another recommend course I still didn't feel I was understanding all of the enorm... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

By far the best ground school I found. I tried my flight schools ground training but comprehension was poor and lacked detail. Nick breaks down complex concepts in easy to understand terms. With the o... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Amazing Experience! I love Part Time Pilot. The best thing about it, if you think something needs to be changed or improved, you can reach out to Nick (the owner) DIRECTLY! I don't kno... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot is a masterfully built course. I have not yet taken my exam but I feel so much more confident moving forward with flight lessons and beyond. As someone who builds training courses and... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Best Online Ground School After extensive research on online ground schools, I stumbled upon Nick Smith's Part Time Pilot. Immediately, it was clear how much Nick cares about his students and... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part-time pilot makes becoming a private pilot so much easier! The lessons are detailed and engaging, there are plenty of resources for all areas you are learning and Mr. Nick is so fast to respond to... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot has been an incredible help to my learning. As a middle aged adult having different ways to listen, watch, or read helps my learning process. The material is presented in a well thou... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

All ground schools have pros and cons. When compared to all other courses, Part Time Pilot has all PROS. They have all the bells and whistles of other schools, and SO MUCH BONUS material outside of th... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part time pilot has been more than I could have asked for. There are many options out there, but I am very happy to have enrolled with Part Time Pilot. I love the programs, teaching style, and ease... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I passed my written first try with a 95% all thanks to Part Time Pilot! I started Nick’s program with zero aviation knowledge and felt super confident by the time I finished. All of the material is ve... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

PartTimePilot was perfect for me to go through the ground school work at my own pace while working full time. This program breaks down all of the knowledge you need to know to pass the written test. V... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I can’t say enough great things about Part time Pilot they are the best not only their ground school but their Facebook community and Nick with always reaching out and answering your questions. This... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I really enjoy Part Time Pilot as I learn best when I can consume material in more ways than just reading. Part Time Pilot has video, podcast, and text that go over each of the concepts and by the tim... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I chose Part Time Pilot for its transparency and “realness.” PTP recognizes that the path to becoming a pilot isn’t a straight line. Life is complicated, people are busy, and time is our most precious... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Loved all of the ways available you can learn the content! Audio, video, written, live sessions, app content! These were the most important things to me as I am not a mono-mode learner. Having the abi... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

My schedule can be sporadic but Part Time Pilot allows me to work at my own pace. It seemed to be the most cost effective but still a quality ground school. The concepts are explained well and I enjoy... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Best ground school HANDS DOWN! If you're looking to get your PPL, start right here. The coursework is so easy to navigate, and there's also videos for just about everything in the course! Also, if... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I love the breakdown of lessons and the variety of ways I can consume the content - podcast, video, reading - bonus material galore! I'm a busy mom looking at a career change and I don't think I could... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I love how Part Time Pilot is very affordable and allows me to work at my own pace with a busy family schedule and full time job. I also really appreciate all of the extra learning styles included wit... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When I first came across Part time pilot, I was already using Sportys. To be honest, I wasn’t understanding a single thing. My tests were averaging 50% at best. But I decided to take the leap and purc... See more

Company replied

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I have begun my initial phase in aviation with PTP taking the Private Pilot Ground School. So far it has been a good experience. I am concentrating on this as full time as I possibly can since I am... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

This school has been very repsonive in answering any question that I've had. They will help explain anything you don't understand and have so many test prep options to help study. I have loved my exp... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I have had a great experience with parttimepilot. I agree that their product is thorough and I appreciate the multiple ways there are to learn. When I have time I used the lectures on computer and... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

HAVING A PASSION I have followed your development of Part Time Pilot since your beginning. When you started posting I was able to listen to your videos and then listen to episodes on Spotify... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

hands down the best ground school! The material is easy to understand and has audio, video, and reading. it has everything you need to pass the FAA written! Thank you to part time pilot for giving me... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I’ve been extremely impressed with Part Time Pilot. The course is thoughtfully designed with audio, video, and text-based lessons, plus mobile access—perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle or... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Nick, I just want to say thank you. You’re amazing. I took your Part-Time Pilot ground school online and went through the entire course. I absolutely loved the way you designed it — e... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I cannot tell you how much Part Time Pilot has changed the game for flight training and my ground school experience. My CFI kind of threw me into the deep end with a Jeppesen book and I found all... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

When looking for an online ground school option, I happened to run into Part Time Pilot, and I'm so glad I did. The structure of online lessons, with the combination of figures, visuals, videos, text,... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very pleased with choosing Part Time Pilot as my online ground school. The course is very informative and the quizzes are very helpful in making sure the information taught was well understood.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I really appreciated having the same material available in multiple formats. The video made it easy to follow along visually, the audio was perfect for listening on the go, and the text allowed me to... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot gives you all the tools you need to succeed in whatever form works best for you as a pilot. If you are more of a visual learner, group, self paced, or even a combo they make it easy fo... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot is an excellent source of information for the FAA written exams. They provide various lesson formats to help all types of learners including hands on plotting examples, written lessons... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot has been a great way for me to do the ground school portion of private pilot training. The courses are clear and concise. Nick is very responsive with answers to questions.

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The ground school lessons are easily accessible and the practice tests are helpful as well. There’s a plethora of information provided as well as a welcoming community

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

As a beginner student, I've spent countless hours researching the best online PPL ground school. I finally enrolled in one and had a difficult time retaining the lessons and the program was confusing... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Nick's explanation methods make it easy to understand material. Having multiple avenues to receive training make comprehension so much better. I take a lesson at night, then listen to the podcast in t... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed having the different version of the same information very accessible to me. The video explanation, the audio for when I want to listen in the car and the text when I need to see the detaile... See more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I chose this ground school mainly because of its affordability compared to other programs I researched. However, what really impressed me was the quality of the course and the many positive review... See more

Company replied

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot's ground school training, combined with their podcasts and live Q&A webinars are the perfect tools for a student pilot working on their ground school training.

Company replied


Company details

  1. Aviation Training Institute

Written by the company

Part Time Pilot offers online private pilot training and endorsements for the modern day pilot


Contact info

4.9

Excellent

TrustScore 5 out of 5

424 reviews

5-star
4-star
3-star
2-star
1-star

How this company uses Trustpilot

See how their reviews and ratings are sourced, scored, and moderated.

Companies on Trustpilot aren't allowed to offer incentives or pay to hide reviews. Reviews are the opinions of individual users and not of Trustpilot. Read more

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot over any other ground program!

I cannot tell you how much Part Time Pilot has changed the game for flight training and my ground school experience.
My CFI kind of threw me into the deep end with a Jeppesen book and I found all of the theory and rules and regulations to be so overwhelming, I really didn't think I could go through with getting my PPL.
That's when I found Part Time Pilot - its' so detailed and there are so many resources (Youtube is my favorite, but I also really appreciate the podcast so I can listen while driving). The material and lessons allow me to TRULY understand the concepts.
Not only that but if I had any issues or questions, they got back to me right away and made sure I was on the on the right track.
And most importantly, they are up to date on the changes in the FAA exams and they adjust their course and resources accordingly so I feel like I have the inside scoop and now I am extra prepared for my written!

December 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Nick

Nick, I just want to say thank you. You’re amazing.

I took your Part-Time Pilot ground school online and went through the entire course. I absolutely loved the way you designed it — everything was clear, logical, and very well explained.

My primary language is Portuguese, and I had no problem understanding your English or following your explanations. The way you break down each topic made everything flow naturally and easy to digest.

After finishing the course, I received my endorsement and about five or six days later I took the FAA written exam and scored 82%. I’m really proud of that result. The few questions I missed felt more like random or oddly worded questions rather than gaps in understanding. The core knowledge from your course was solid.

Honestly, the value of this ground school is incredible. It exceeded my expectations by far. I truly believe this course could cost as much as a college class — not a few hundred dollars. That’s how good it is.

I strongly recommend your online ground school to anyone pursuing their pilot license. Congratulations on building something this well done, and thank you again for the work you put into it.

— Fabio Andrade

December 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

I have begun my initial phase in…

I have begun my initial phase in aviation with PTP taking the Private Pilot Ground School. So far it has been a good experience. I am concentrating on this as full time as I possibly can since I am in a time crunch before attending a Part 141 school. In seven days, I have completed over 60% of the ground. The reading and audios are good but there are some discrepancies at time. However, if you listen to the audio while reading you can eliminate any informational errors. I have been informed the audios are in the process of updates so that should eliminate any errors of information. From what I have read from other reviews with other students attending other schools, the information and experience here at PTP is better than the others. The first hand experiences from Nick and others will help future students/pilots from what not to do or what to look out for. Nick gives information on some not so great experiences he personally had along the way and what you can do to avoid a bad situation. Situational experiences are great whether good or bad. We are always learning no matter our age or experience. Thank you for your assistance in presenting all the necessary information in the ground school so we can become better informed pilots. Once the audios are updated I would give this school a 5.

December 6, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Best ground school HANDS DOWN

Best ground school HANDS DOWN!

If you're looking to get your PPL, start right here. The coursework is so easy to navigate, and there's also videos for just about everything in the course! Also, if you're military or a veteran, take advantage of the awesome discount!

December 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very knowledgeable instructor which…

Very knowledgeable instructor which helped a lot to deepen the true necessary information and science regarding the aviation. It helped me greatly to overcome the obstacles I was facing to understand the materials of the course.

November 23, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Easy to follow Multiple formats.

I really appreciated having the same material available in multiple formats. The video made it easy to follow along visually, the audio was perfect for listening on the go, and the text allowed me to review the details carefully at my own pace.

August 21, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I enjoyed having the different version…

I enjoyed having the different version of the same information very accessible to me. The video explanation, the audio for when I want to listen in the car and the text when I need to see the detailed explanation at my own pace.

August 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Awesome Ground School Experience

When looking for an online ground school option, I happened to run into Part Time Pilot, and I'm so glad I did. The structure of online lessons, with the combination of figures, visuals, videos, text, and audio lessons helped make comprehension of difficult subjects easier. I appreciated being able to see my progress throughout the course as a percentage, which helped me stay focused on my goal! The additional resources provided in the online course, including the AI ATC practice tool are an awesome bonus as well. I would recommend Part Time Pilot for any aspiring aviator who needs an easy to use, self-paced, and comprehensive ground school.

July 30, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

By far the best ground school I found

By far the best ground school I found. I tried my flight schools ground training but comprehension was poor and lacked detail. Nick breaks down complex concepts in easy to understand terms. With the option to listen to audio, it's easy to get in study time while also commuting or doing other things. When a concept is more complex or needs a visual, you can simply look up that section and get the additional references you need. Passed the written exam the first time with a 92%. Highly recommend!

May 18, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

The Best Online Ground School

The Best Online Ground School
After extensive research on online ground schools, I stumbled upon Nick Smith's Part Time Pilot. Immediately, it was clear how much Nick cares about his students and his product.
I bought his private pilot online ground school and could not have been more satisfied with the course. It is affordable, and the fact that you get lifetime access is very valuable.

If you're unsure which online ground school to choose, I highly recommend Nick's courses at Part Time Pilot.

May 19, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Part Time Pilot is a masterfully built…

Part Time Pilot is a masterfully built course. I have not yet taken my exam but I feel so much more confident moving forward with flight lessons and beyond. As someone who builds training courses and material on various topics, I know how difficult it can be to balance the pragmatic vs getting to the meat and potatoes on topics. Nick does both. You get the concept(s) but also are given the tools and resources to go deeper. To be fair, I have no experience with any other ground schools, but I am thankful for this one. There’s definitely not an overabundance of choices for ground schools, and I hope this one is here to stay.

May 16, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Best online ground school!

I passed my written first try with a 95% all thanks to Part Time Pilot! I started Nick’s program with zero aviation knowledge and felt super confident by the time I finished. All of the material is very easy to understand while still being in depth — my CFI was really impressed with how much I knew my first lesson! There are plenty of resources available if you have trouble understanding a topic. I especially loved the Facebook group. Nick always replies to questions personally, which is something you won’t find at many other online ground schools! I refer back to this course a lot to reference what I’m learning in the plane. Thank you Nick for creating such a great program and for giving me a solid foundation to continue my training!!

March 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

10/10 Would Recommend!

I’ve been extremely impressed with Part Time Pilot. The course is thoughtfully designed with audio, video, and text-based lessons, plus mobile access—perfect for anyone with a busy lifestyle or who prefers learning on the go. It caters to all learning styles and makes the material clear and engaging.

The support is truly top-notch. Anytime I've had a question, I've received a response within hours, often even minutes. That kind of responsiveness makes a huge difference when you’re working through challenging material.

What really sets Part Time Pilot apart is the depth and quality of its content. The flashcards, ATC practice, quizzes, and comprehensive lessons go far beyond what’s needed to feel confident when preparing for your FAA written —they help build real understanding and confidence.

Whether you’re aiming for a career in aviation or just pursuing flying as a hobby, I highly recommend this program. It’s an incredible value and one of the best tools out there for student pilots!

May 5, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Absolutely Amazing Experience!

Absolutely Amazing Experience!

I love Part Time Pilot. The best thing about it, if you think something needs to be changed or improved, you can reach out to Nick (the owner) DIRECTLY! I don't know of any other ground school you can easily do this. I sent Nick an email one day and he responded within only a couple hours.

He is always looking to improve his ground school every day and is always taking feedback.

May 1, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

PartTimePilot was perfect for me to go…

PartTimePilot was perfect for me to go through the ground school work at my own pace while working full time. This program breaks down all of the knowledge you need to know to pass the written test. Video, audio, and written text is in almost every lesson so you are sure to gain the knowledge!

April 4, 2025
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great ground school

I have had a great experience with parttimepilot. I agree that their product is thorough and I appreciate the multiple ways there are to learn. When I have time I used the lectures on computer and YouTube.

I travel a lot and have the option to download and use podcasts was very useful to my schedule. If I go further with my training to try for IFR I will definitely use this website.

October 6, 2024
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

HAVING A PASSION

HAVING A PASSION
I have followed your development of Part Time Pilot since your beginning. When you started posting I was able to listen to your videos and then listen to episodes on Spotify.
I had already been working with Sportys, which I thought their training videos were good to follow while I was currently flying with my instructor.

What I was missing and wanting was more of the break down of instruction of such a ground school. I decided to purchase your ground school after a delay of my flight training because of taking a coaching job in a neighboring town an hour away. Now that is over an flight training can continue. I needed a ground school. I really enjoy listening to the lessons, then I can watch the video take the quizzes. Next I mark it off my sheet. I like the ability to go back and review the notes and videos. Also having an explanation of answers in the quizzes.

If I had a request, it would be to be able to copy and paste notes, have explanation on all questions not just the questions missed and to bank all of the quiz questions for review in subject order after completing each topic.
Overall I have really enjoyed your ground school which with my busy life and wanting this for 30 years now has kept me excited and more confident with my knowledge.
So THANK YOU and keep of the GREAT work and HAVING A PASSION! Darin Dunnagan

November 26, 2024
Unprompted review
Part Time Pilot logo

Reply from Part Time Pilot

Darin! Thanks so much for the review and your feedback. Just a couple notes on the feedback:
- We used to allow for copying and pasting but have had people create their own books and products to sell with our content. So we stopped. We do however, have the digital notes feature on every lesson so that you can add notes throughout the course and then save and print it as a pdf.
- I agree that we want to have explanations on the questions you get right as well. We use a Learning Management System for our courses and quizzes and they currently dont have that capability for some reason but we are working to get them to change that. We DO however, have an explanation on every question on our flash cards. So you can do as many flash card sessions as possible to get as many practice test scenarios as you want with our over 1500 practice questions and each one has an answer explanation.

Thanks again!

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

AN AMAZING ONLINE GROUND SCHOOL

I recently had the opportunity to sign up for a part-time pilot school ✈️, and I can confidently say it was an incredible experience that exceeded all my expectations 🌟. The program is designed with flexibility in mind, allowing students to balance their studies with work and personal commitments 🗓️, making it an ideal choice for those looking to pursue their passion for aviation without sacrificing their current responsibilities.

From the very first day, the instructor Nick demonstrated a profound depth of knowledge 📚 and a genuine passion for teaching ❤️. His hands-on approach and ability to explain complex concepts in an easily digestible manner made learning not only effective but also enjoyable 😊. The amazing costumer service and the fast response in his social media fostered a supportive environment where everyone feels comfortable asking questions and engaging in discussions 🤝.
Thank you so much

September 4, 2024
Unprompted review
Part Time Pilot logo

Reply from Part Time Pilot

Thank you so much for the review!

The Trustpilot Experience

Anyone can write a Trustpilot review. People who write reviews have ownership to edit or delete them at any time, and they’ll be displayed as long as an account is active.

Companies can ask for reviews via automatic invitations. Labeled Verified, they’re about genuine experiences.

Learn more about other kinds of reviews.

We use dedicated people and clever technology to safeguard our platform. Find out how we combat fake reviews.

Learn about Trustpilot’s review process.

Here are 8 tips for writing great reviews.

Verification can help ensure real people are writing the reviews you read on Trustpilot.

Offering incentives for reviews or asking for them selectively can bias the TrustScore, which goes against our guidelines.

Take a closer look