Southern Utah University

Course Syllabus

Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Fall Semester 2025

Private Pilot Ground School-RW (Face-to-Face)

AVTN 1100-02

Course: AVTN 1100-02
Credits: 4
Term: Fall Semester 2025
Department: AVTN
CRN: 31854

Course Description

This course covers the study of aviation fundamentals as required by FAA regulations for students pursuing a Private Pilot certificate. Topics covered include aerodynamics; aircraft components and systems; the study of weather, concepts of weather, weather hazards, meteorological flight planning, aviation weather equipment, and considerations of weather conditions as they impact aircraft and flight performance; navigation systems and procedures, communication systems and procedures, human physiology and FAA regulations. Topics covered are listed in the Rotor Wing syllabus available in the canvas files page for this course.

Required Texts

Required Texts
  • Private Pilot Ground Syllabus
  • Pilot’s Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge
  • Helicopter Flying Handbook
  • Aviation Weather Handbook
  • 2024 FAR/AIM
  • Pilot’s Operating Handbook
Required Materials
  • Private Pilot Prepware
  • CX3 Flight Computer
  • Sectional Plotter
  • Las Vegas Sectional
  • Southwest Chart Supplement
  • Method of Note Taking

Learning Outcomes

Students will gain adequate knowledge of ground training concepts for the Private Pilot certificate. Students will demonstrate this knowledge in part through oral quizzing in class and with their flight instructors at the airport. They will also demonstrate this knowledge through periodic homework assignments and three written Stage Exams. The students will demonstrate, through an End-of-course Exam, adequate knowledge to receive an endorsement to take the Private Pilot Knowledge Exam.

Course Requirements

Grades

Grades will be calculated according to the following:

  • Final Exam — 20% of Final Grade
  • Stage Exams (3) — 20% of Final Grade
  • Attendance — 20% of Final Grade
Exams and Topics

The Stage Exam and Final Exams are based solely off of the ASA Private Pilot Prepware. The exam topics will be as follows:

  • Stage 1 = Chapters 1, 2, 3, 6 (Basic Aerodynamics, Aircraft Systems, Flight Instruments, Airspace and Airport Operations)
  • Stage 2 = Chapter 5, 8, 9 (Regulations, Weather, Weather Service)
  • Stage 3 = Chapters 4, 7, 10 (Aircraft Performance, Enroute Flight and Navigation, Human Factors)
  • Final = All Chapters 1-10

Note: If a student chooses to take their FAA Written before the in class final they can submit that score to Kristen as their Final Exam score. However, that score will only be taken as the Final Exam grade, Stage 1, 2, and 3 must be taken in class.

Disclaimer: The Ground Training Syllabi at SUU requires that each student pass each stage exam by 70% or better. If a student scores less than 70% they must retake the exam until they get 70% in order to pass the class. The original score will reflect their grade, the retake score is required to pass the class.

Letter Grades
  • A 94 to 100%
  • A- 90 to < 94%
  • B+ 87 to < 90%
  • B 84 to < 87%
  • B- 80 to < 84%
  • C+ 77 to < 80%
  • C 74 to < 77%
  • C- 70 to < 74%
  • D+ 67 to < 70%
  • D 64 to < 67%
  • D- 61 to < 64%
  • F 0 to 61%

Course Outline

Class Sequence
  1. Ground Lesson 1
  2. Ground Lesson 2
  3. Ground Lesson 3
  4. Ground Lesson 4
  5. Ground Lesson 5
  6. Ground Lesson 6
  7. Ground Lesson 7 – Stage I Exam
  8. Ground Lesson 8
  9. Ground Lesson 9
  10. Ground Lesson 10
  11. Ground Lesson 11 - Stage II Exam
  12. Ground Lesson 12
  13. Ground Lesson 13
  14. Ground Lesson 14
  15. Ground Lesson 15 – Stage III Exam
  16. Ground Lesson 16 – End of Course Exam

Details of each ground lesson are outlined in the current Southern Utah University Private Pilot Ground Syllabus, as referenced above.

Instructor's policies on late assignments and/or makeup work

Extra Credit will be available periodically as noted by the Instructor.

Attendance Policy

You are expected to attend every scheduled class. Any absences will affect the attendance portion of your grade. Per FAA requirements you are required to receive all of the ground lessons in this course. If you are absent from a given ground lesson, you will not receive credit for that lesson until you make up the subject material missed with your individual flight instructor at the airport. Making up the ground lesson will not change your attendance grade for participation points. Attendance will be recorded in the first five minutes of class. Students arriving more than five minutes late will be marked late on the attendance record.

Making Up a Missed Class

To do this you must meet with a CFI/CFII from SUU and make the lesson up with them in a separate ground. IT IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY to track what lessons you miss. Once that is done it is the responsibility of the instructor you made it up with to reach out to me to let me know it has been covered. Making up the ground lesson is required to pass the class but will not change your attendance grade.

Note: You will not be allowed to progress in the course until the missed class is made up (i.e., you cannot take the Stage I test until you have completed all Stage I Lessons.).

Course Fees

There is an FAA Knowledge Exam fee that will be paid by you if you decide to do it this semester. It will be paid for during your Private certification semester and included in your Private Cert Lab Fees but if you elect to take it early you will NOT be reimbursed during that semester. Taking the FAA knowledge exam is not required for completion of this course, but it is highly recommended that you take it as soon as you can after completing this course.

Recommended Texts

References

See Required Texts.

Additional information can be obtained on the FAA Aviation Handbooks and Manuals Page:

ADA Statement

Students with medical, psychological, learning, or other disabilities desiring academic adjustments, accommodations, or auxiliary aids will need to contact the Disability Resource Center, located in Room 206F of the Sharwan Smith Center or by phone at (435) 865-8042. The Disability Resource Center determines eligibility for and authorizes the provision of services.

If your instructor requires attendance, you may need to seek an ADA accommodation to request an exception to this attendance policy. Please contact the Disability Resource Center to determine what, if any, ADA accommodations are reasonable and appropriate.

Academic Credit

According to the federal definition of a Carnegie credit hour: A credit hour of work is the equivalent of approximately 60 minutes of class time or independent study work. A minimum of 45 hours of work by each student is required for each unit of credit. Credit is earned only when course requirements are met. One (1) credit hour is equivalent to 15 contact hours of lecture, discussion, testing, evaluation, or seminar, as well as 30 hours of student homework. An equivalent amount of work is expected for laboratory work, internships, practica, studio, and other academic work leading to the awarding of credit hours. Credit granted for individual courses, labs, or studio classes ranges from 0.5 to 15 credit hours per semester.

Academic Freedom

SUU is operated for the common good of the greater community it serves. The common good depends upon the free search for truth and its free exposition. Academic Freedom is the right of faculty to study, discuss, investigate, teach, and publish. Academic Freedom is essential to these purposes and applies to both teaching and research.

Academic Freedom in the realm of teaching is fundamental for the protection of the rights of the faculty member and of you, the student, with respect to the free pursuit of learning and discovery. Faculty members possess the right to full freedom in the classroom in discussing their subjects. They may present any controversial material relevant to their courses and their intended learning outcomes, but they shall take care not to introduce into their teaching controversial materials which have no relation to the subject being taught or the intended learning outcomes for the course.

As such, students enrolled in any course at SUU may encounter topics, perspectives, and ideas that are unfamiliar or controversial, with the educational intent of providing a meaningful learning environment that fosters your growth and development. These parameters related to Academic Freedom are included in SUU Policy 6.6.

Academic Misconduct

Scholastic honesty is expected of all students. Dishonesty will not be tolerated and will be prosecuted to the fullest extent (see SUU Policy 6.33). You are expected to have read and understood the current SUU student conduct code (SUU Policy 11.2) regarding student responsibilities and rights, the intellectual property policy (SUU Policy 5.52), information about procedures, and what constitutes acceptable behavior.

Please Note: The use of websites or services that sell essays is a violation of these policies; likewise, the use of websites or services that provide answers to assignments, quizzes, or tests is also a violation of these policies. Regarding the use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI), you should check with your individual course instructor.

Emergency Management Statement

In case of an emergency, the University's Emergency Notification System (ENS) will be activated. Students are encouraged to maintain updated contact information using the link on the homepage of the mySUU portal. In addition, students are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the Emergency Response Protocols posted in each classroom. Detailed information about the University's emergency management plan can be found at https://www.suu.edu/emergency.

HEOA Compliance Statement

For a full set of Higher Education Opportunity Act (HEOA) compliance statements, please visit https://www.suu.edu/heoa. The sharing of copyrighted material through peer-to-peer (P2P) file sharing, except as provided under U.S. copyright law, is prohibited by law; additional information can be found at https://my.suu.edu/help/article/1096/heoa-compliance-plan.

You are also expected to comply with policies regarding intellectual property (SUU Policy 5.52) and copyright (SUU Policy 5.54).

Mandatory Reporting

University policy (SUU Policy 5.60) requires instructors to report disclosures received from students that indicate they have been subjected to sexual misconduct/harassment. The University defines sexual harassment consistent with Federal Regulations (34 C.F.R. Part 106, Subpart D) to include quid pro quo, hostile environment harassment, sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking. When students communicate this information to an instructor in-person, by email, or within writing assignments, the instructor will report that to the Title IX Coordinator to ensure students receive support from the Title IX Office. A reporting form is available at https://cm.maxient.com/reportingform.php?SouthernUtahUniv

Non-Discrimination Statement

SUU is committed to fostering an inclusive community of lifelong learners and believes our university's encompassing of different views, beliefs, and identities makes us stronger, more innovative, and better prepared for the global society.

SUU does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex (including sex discrimination and sexual harassment), sexual orientation, gender identity, age, ancestry, disability status, pregnancy, pregnancy-related conditions, genetic information, military status, veteran status, or other bases protected by applicable law in employment, treatment, admission, access to educational programs and activities, or other University benefits or services.

SUU strives to cultivate a campus environment that encourages freedom of expression from diverse viewpoints. We encourage all to dialogue within a spirit of respect, civility, and decency.

For additional information on non-discrimination, please see SUU Policy 5.27 and/or visit https://www.suu.edu/nondiscrimination.

Pregnancy

Students who are or become pregnant during this course may receive reasonable modifications to facilitate continued access and participation in the course. Pregnancy and related conditions are broadly defined to include pregnancy, childbirth, termination of pregnancy, lactation, related medical conditions, and recovery. To obtain reasonable modifications, please make a request to title9@suu.edu. To learn more visit: https://www.suu.edu/titleix/pregnancy.html.

Disclaimer Statement

Information contained in this syllabus, other than the grading, late assignments, makeup work, and attendance policies, may be subject to change with advance notice, as deemed appropriate by the instructor.