Free Pilot Institute Resources (2026 Guide)

Did you know that most people who start flight training never finish?

Yep, it’s a startling truth, and according to AOPA’s Flight Training study, the overall dropout rate is roughly 70–80 percent, with cost and confusion leading the reasons people quit.

Now, what if there was a way to help cut those costs? Welcome to Pilot Institute’s free dashboard, with course tiles you can start today, practice quizzes, flashcards, and links to the exact FAA handbooks you’ll use on test day. 

If many of the pro-grade lessons cost $0 to start, what’s really stopping you?

Why This Guide

We genuinely want to see individuals achieve their aviation dreams. This is why we focus so heavily on providing as much content, information, and easy-to-understand lessons as possible for you.

If you’re wondering who we are, Pilot Institute has around 600,000+ enrollments and an average 4.9/5 rating across its classes. The company is led by Greg Reverdiau, a Certified Flight Instructor and former flight-school president who built Pilot Institute to make aviation knowledge easier and more accessible. 

This guide maps every no-cost resource, shows where it fits in your training, and points you to the matching FAA references.

Heads up: Some links in this article are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. This helps support the site so we can keep creating content for readers like you.

Key Takeaways

• Pilot Institute offers 20+ free courses and tools to lower training costs.
• You can start any free class instantly with no credit card.
• Each free resource matches the FAA handbooks you’ll use on test day.
• Pick your training track first to stay focused and avoid overwhelm.

The Core Free Course Library

Below are popular free Pilot Institute classes you can start immediately. We’ve matched each to who it helps and what you’ll take away. You can start by creating a free account and then accessing any of the free courses listed.

Course	Ideal for	Key outcomes
Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pilot	Pre-solo airplane students	Costs, timeline, choosing a flight school, what to do first.
Ultimate Drone Pilot Guide	Aspiring recreational and commercial drone pilots	Learn drone rules, licensing basics, and how to start making money with drones.
Free Private Pilot Ground School Sampler	Airplane students	First 8 hours of the full class. Aerodynamics, airspace, charts, weather, and regulations. Optional endorsement is available in the full course.
Recreational Flying Made Easy	New or casual recreational drone pilots	Understand current recreational rules, airspace, and safe flying habits.
Part 107 Night Training Course	Part 107 remote pilots who want to fly at night	Learn night flying rules, lighting requirements, and safe night operations.
TRUST	Recreational drone flyers	Finish in ~30 minutes, download the required certificate, and keep a copy with you.
Public Safety COA Made Easy	Government and public safety organizations using drones	Get a step-by-step overview for applying for and managing a public safety COA.
Cessna 172 Deep Dive	Pilots renting or checking out a 172	About 1.5 hours. Modern 3-D systems tour that shortens the briefing time at the FBO.
E6B Deep Dive (and CX-3 Deep Dive)	All pilots	About 2 hours each. Quick, clear time-speed-distance practice with walk-throughs you can replay.
Cinematic Drone Footage Playbook	Creators who want better shots	Free class with 10 go-to maneuvers you can practice right away. Pairs well with the DJI Mini 4 Pro Deep Dive.

Spotlight Mini-Guides to Save Money and Time

Let’s dive into deeper details about these courses.

Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pilot

Enroll for Free

This step-by-step overview for becoming a pilot helps you plan your budget and sequence training so you don’t burn cash learning ground material in the airplane. Combine it with WINGS activities as a rated pilot to keep your review current. The FAA endorses WINGS as ongoing proficiency training that many pilots use to stay flight-review-ready.

Private Pilot Sampler 

Enroll for Free

In this free ground school sampler, you’ll see the fundamentals that drive most checkride questions. Topics such as lift and drag, how to read sectionals, the building blocks of weather theory, and how to study efficiently before you fly again. 

When you’re ready for an endorsement to take the written, the full PI course includes a free instructor sign-off after you complete the course and meet the practice-test thresholds.

Free Drone Resources

See Drone Courses

Pilot Institute also has a library of 30+ free drone deep dives, including:

• DJI
  Avata 2, Avata, FPV, Mini 4 Pro, Mini 3 Pro, Mini 2, Mavic Mini, Mavic 2 Pro and Zoom, Mavic 3, Mavic 3 Enterprise/Thermal, Air 3S, Air 3, Air 2S, Matrice 4, Matrice 400, Neo, Flip, Dock 2 and Matrice 3D/3DT
  
  
• Autel
  Evo Max 4T, Evo 2, Evo Lite+, Alpha
  
  
• Parrot and Anzu
  Anafi AI, Anafi Thermal, Anafi USA, Raptor
  
  
• Skydio and other tools
  Skydio 2, Skydio X2, SkyeBrowse, Aloft Air Control

Hidden Gems

Many Pilote Institute courses include flashcards and timed quizzes so you can study between flights. You can also follow Pilot Institute’s YouTube channel for weekly Drone News updates and frequent live Q&A sessions with instructors. Set a reminder and bring your questions.

You can also find a lot of free airplane-related information, case studies, and interviews from our Pilot Institute Airplanes YouTube channel.

Free Pilot Institute Apps

Explore these free mobile tools to study aviation on the go! All of these apps are available on Android and iOS via the Pilot Institute developer page on the Google Play Store and App Store.

Part 107 Study Flashcards

Apple Android

Get fast, portable practice for the FAA Part 107 drone pilot exam with flashcards that cover every area of the official test. These flashcards help you drill key concepts like airspace, regulations, weather basics, and more. These are perfect for studying anywhere, anytime. 

Private Pilot Study Flashcards

Apple Android

Sharpen your knowledge for the FAA Private Pilot written exam with over 200 flashcards across major subject categories. This app simplifies review and helps build recall by letting you shuffle and repeatedly practice cards until you’ve got them down. 

Instrument Rating Flashcards

Apple

Study for your IFR (Instrument Rating) written exam on your phone or tablet with flashcards focused on instrument flying concepts. These cards reinforce things like instrument procedures, navigation regulations, approach plates, and more. These flashcards make tough topics easier to remember.

VOR Simulator Pro

Apple Android

Master radio navigation with this realistic VOR (VHF Omnidirectional Range) simulator. Practice intercepting radials, flying TO/FROM courses, and understanding needle behavior on HSI or CDI displays, all from your device. It’s especially valuable for instrument students or anyone brushing up on VOR navigation skills.

Free AR Checklist Trainer

Launch AR Checklist Trainer

Practice real-world cockpit flows with Pilot Institute’s interactive AR checklist trainer.

Explore a Cessna 172 cockpit directly in your web browser, no app or file download required. Tap individual instruments and controls, and walk through normal procedures step by step. It’s a great way to build familiarity and confidence before you ever step into the airplane.

Free VR Airplane Pilot Training Simulator

Download on Meta

Bring a small piston aircraft to life in virtual reality.This fully immersive VR preflight trainer lets you explore aircraft systems inside the wings, fuselage, and engine. Visualize how components work together, sharpen your preflight knowledge, and arrive at lessons more prepared and confident.

Essential FAA & Study Downloads (All Free)

You’ll never go wrong studying straight from the FAA handbooks. Bookmark these:

Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (PHAK)

Free PDF Book On Amazon

The backbone for PPL, instrument, and beyond.

Airplane Flying Handbook

Free PDF Book On Amazon

Procedures, maneuvers, and practical flying skills.

FAR/AIM

Free FAR PDF Free AIM PDF Book On Amazon

Regulations and the AIM in one reference.

Aviation Weather Handbook

Free PDF Book On Amazon

The best deep dive on weather services and theory.

Pair each handbook with the matching PI playlist or lesson module so you see the same concept explained two ways.

The FAA encourages the use of checklists as an essential flight deck resource for verifying aircraft systems and making sure the right procedures happen, including in emergencies.

Printable Checklists & Templates

Download the Free Study Sheet

Pilot Institute also provides a Private Pilot Study Sheet with key formulas, airspace rules, weather minimums, and quick-reference regs to keep essential info in one place.

Keep a binder or tablet folder with a weight-and-balance sheet, a VFR or IFR nav log, and a cross-country fuel plan. You’ll reach for these on every trip, and your checkride examiner will appreciate organized planning. The handbooks above show examples and expected content; mirror them for consistency. 

Keep on hand these templates:

1. Weight-and-balance sheet.
2. VFR/IFR Nav Log (A4 & Letter).
3. Cross-country fuel plan sheet.

You can download and use our Free Pilot Institute VFR Flight Planning Sheet.

Drone Registration & Compliance Freebies

Get Your Free Sticker

Pilot Institute provides free registration stickers for your drone and has YouTube walkthroughs on Remote ID and labeling. If you fly recreationally, do TRUST and keep that certificate with you. If you operate under Part 107, follow §107.29 for night and §107.65 for your 24-month currency.

Check out our:

• Remote ID label kit and YouTube install demo.
• TRUST certificate auto-storage in a Pilot Institute account.

How to Enroll and Access Content

Go to our course page and click “Start this class” or “Watch the course preview” on any free course. Watch the introduction video, and to watch the additional videos, you will need to create a free account.

You just need to enter your name and email address to join the free course; there’s no credit card form for them. Your progress bar lets you stop on one device and resume on another. Many courses support mobile and offline viewing; flip the Download toggle in the app before a trip so lessons are cached.

Mobile Tips

Most Pilot Institute video courses can be watched in a browser on any device. For offline viewing, download the Pilot Institute app from Google Play or Apple Store.

Trips & Military Deployment

Before an airline trip or deployment, open your highest-priority lessons while you are on Wi-Fi and mark them for offline viewing in the app, then quickly test a couple of videos in airplane mode to confirm they play. That way, your layovers, crew rest, or quiet evenings downrange turn into focused ground school sessions instead of wasted time.

Tracking Progress & Certificates

For airplane students, you’ll eventually need an instructor endorsement to sit for the FAA written. In Pilot Institute’s full Private Pilot course, once you complete 100 percent of the lessons and score 80 percent or higher on practice exams, a CFI on the team issues the endorsement that satisfies §61.35(a)(1), §61.103(d), and §61.105. 

That endorsement, plus your IACRA application, moves you to test day. FAA inspectors and DPEs count instructor recommendations as evidence that you’re prepared and that any weak areas were addressed.

When a course hits 100% in your Pilot Institute dashboard, you’ll see a completion badge or “Certificate of Completion” button on the course home page – click it to open your certificate and download the PDF.

Keep a digital copy in the same folder as your other training records and, if it supports your logbook or employer records (like TRUST or recurrent training), print a hard copy and tuck it in with your endorsements and WINGS/online-course certificates, just as you would with other FAA completion certificates. 

FAA knowledge tests require an instructor endorsement or graduation certificate before you sit the exam.

Know Your Goal First

Most readers land in one of three groups:

1. You want an airplane license under Part 61.
2. You want to earn with drones under Part 107 or you fly purely for fun with TRUST.
3. You already hold a certificate and want to stay sharp or add a rating.

Try your best to just pick one track before you click around. It prevents “course-collector” overload and keeps every study session intentional.

What Each Track Requires

Airplane (Part 61)

You’ll need a medical that matches your goal and training, documented in §61.23. Many pilots qualify under BasicMed for certain operations; you’ll still use FAA MedXPress during the process with your AME. You’ll also prepare for a knowledge test and a practical checkride that follows the FAA Airman Certification Standards (ACS).

Not seeing Part 141? That’s on purpose. Part 141 is a flight-school program with an FAA-approved syllabus, so the exact steps depend on the school you enroll in. This guide focuses on the tracks you can plan and prep for on your own, so we list Part 61 here. If you’re training under Part 141, your school will give you the specific curriculum and requirements.

Drones (Part 107)

To fly commercially, you must pass the Part 107 knowledge test, then remain current by completing FAA recurrent training every 24 calendar months as spelled out in §107.65. 

Starting in 2021, night operations no longer require a waiver, but the remote pilot must complete the updated test or FAA recurrent training that covers night ops per §107.29. Pilot Institute’s Free Part 107 Night Training course helps you learn the procedures, but the legal currency comes from the FAA course on FAASafety.gov.

TRUST (Recreational Drones)

Recreational flyers must complete the free FAA TRUST. Pilot Institute is an FAA-approved TRUST administrator, and you can finish in about 30 minutes and download your certificate. Note that neither PI nor the FAA can re-issue the certificate later, so save it.

Building a Study Plan

30-Day New Private Pilot Roadmap

• Week 1: Watch the Ultimate Guide to Becoming a Pilot and skim PHAK Chapters 1–4.
• Week 2: Work through the free Private Pilot sampler. Chair-fly the flows you learn.
• Week 3: Drill E6B or CX-3 practice. Add the Cessna 172 Deep Dive if you’ll rent a 172.
• Week 4: Take a Pilot Institute practice quiz. Book a discovery flight and bring questions from your study.

“Part 107 in Two Weeks” Sprint

• Days 1–10: Study 45–60 minutes a day using preview lessons or the full Part 107 course.
• Days 11–13: Take full practice exams until you consistently score in the 90s.
• Day 14: Sit the PSI exam while the material is fresh; plan your FAA recurrent training reminder for 24 months out.

Continual Proficiency for Rated Pilots

• Do a short sim or chair-flying session monthly.
• Grab a WINGS webinar quarterly; it can count toward your flight review requirements when combined properly.
• Each winter, refresh your calculator skills with the E6B Deep Dive or CX-3 Deep Dive.

Beyond Pilot Institute: Complimentary Add-Ons

FAA Safety Team & WINGS

Create your FAASafety.gov account and claim WINGS credit for eligible activities. The program exists to keep pilots current with continuing education.

Aviation Scholarships

Watch the annual awards from AOPA, EAA, and NGPA. Many offer multi-thousand-dollar aviation scholarship funding that offsets training gaps.

Community

Subscribe to PI’s YouTube channel for weekly Drone News updates and live Q&A with instructors.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Will I be upsold later? 

Free means free. If you need an official endorsement or want specialty training, the paid course unlocks those pieces. You can preview a lot before you ever spend a dollar.

• TRUST vs. Part 107? Do I need both? 

TRUST is only for recreational flying. If you do anything commercial, you need Part 107. Many pilots do both: TRUST to fly for fun and Part 107 for paid work.

• What hardware or internet do I need? 

Any modern browser works. PI’s courses support mobile viewing and offline downloads so you can study on trips or with spotty service.

• How do WINGS credits help with my flight review? 

WINGS activities can satisfy the flight review requirement when you complete the right combination of knowledge and flight tasks. The program exists to keep pilots proficient throughout the year, not just every 24 months.

• Does the Pilot Institute LMS support offline downloads?

Yes, all lessons via Apple or Android app.

• Is there an official Pilot Institute app, or should users access offline mode through mobile browser only? 

Yes. You can download the Pilot Institute app from the Apple Store for iPhone/iPad users or Google Play for Android.

• How should students download lessons on mobile? 

Go to app, class, click View Chapters, click the download icon next to the lessons you want to download.

• Is there any storage limit or recommended file size guidance for students? 

Nope! You’re only limited by your device.

• Should I pre-load content before trips and deployments? 

Yes, you need to download the videos you want to watch to your device before your trip.

Realistic Next Steps

1. Pick your track.
2. Start one free class and bookmark the matching FAA handbook.
3. Put two study blocks on your calendar this week.

Cost and complexity derail most aviation dreams. The free PI resources above remove both hurdles and keep you anchored to FAA-primary sources.

Create your free account, choose your track, and download your first FAA handbook tonight. Your first lesson can start before dinner. Knowledge shouldn’t be grounded.

A simple path for future commercial drone pilots starts with Part 107 Made Easy: Free Preview & Practice to sample Greg’s teaching style. You can try a short practice quiz, then upgrade to the full Part 107 Made Easy course with its structured 2-week challenge, quizzes, and practice exams to get ready for the PSI test. 

After you earn your remote pilot certificate, move into Drone Business Made Easy and Pilot Institute’s drone business articles, where you’ll find step-by-step planning resources, templates, and checklists that help you choose a niche, set pricing, and map out your first paying clients. 

Conclusion

Cost and confusion push most people out of training long before they ever get to a checkride or first paid drone job, but you don’t have to be in that group. 

Pilot Institute’s free dashboard, FAA-linked downloads, and study tools strip away the guesswork so your money goes into smart, focused flying instead of scattered, expensive ground time.

Create your free account, choose the track that matches your next goal, and download your first FAA handbook tonight. Put two short study blocks on your calendar this week and press play on a single lesson. Your first lesson can start before dinner – your knowledge should never be grounded.