Southern Utah University

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Southern Utah University
Southern Utah University
Spring Semester 2026

CFI Ground School - RW (Face-to-Face)

AVTN 2340-01

Course: AVTN 2340-01
Credits: 3
Term: Spring Semester 2026
Department: AVTN
CRN: 13533

Course Description

This course covers the study of flight instruction fundamentals as required by FAA regulations for students pursuing a Certified Flight Instructor rating. Topics covered include learning theory and styles, the teaching process, communication, instructional techniques, lesson plans, performance evaluation, aeronautical decision making, flight safety and regulations.  Prerequisite(s): AVTN 2100 or PILT 2105 or instructor permission or department permission.

Required Texts

Helicopter Instructor’s Handbook (FAA-H-8083-4), Federal Aviation Administration, 2012 https://www.faa.gov/sites/faa.gov/files/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/FAA-H-8083-4.pdf
Links to an external site. 


Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Federal Aviation Administration, 2023

Learning Outcomes

This course provides students with the knowledge and instructional proficiency required for the Rotorcraft Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) and Certified Flight Instructor–Instrument (CFII) ground training components. Students will engage in written assessments, in-class activities, and applied learning with their flight instructors to demonstrate mastery of course material.

Students will complete two written Stage Examinations and a comprehensive Final Stage Examination. Successful completion of the Stage 1 Examination will demonstrate sufficient understanding of the material necessary to prepare for and pass the FAA Fundamentals of Instruction (FOI) Knowledge Exam. Successful completion of the Stage 2 Examination will demonstrate adequate knowledge to prepare for and pass the FAA Flight Instructor Knowledge Exam.

In addition, students will demonstrate competence in instructional methods and teaching effectiveness through the presentation of an oral lesson taught to the course instructor as part of the Final Exam process.



Course Requirements

Students will be required to take all exams, the final, and have 100% attendance in order to receive a passing grade.  

Course Outline

SCHEDULE OF ASSIGNMENTS AND ACTIVITIES: This course consists of reading and study homework, module quizzes covering reading assignments and FAA written exam questions, two written Stage Exams, one written End-of-course Exam, oral presentations and class participation.


Course Sequence:

  1. Module 1 - Human Behavior and The Learning Process
  2. Module 2 - Effective Communication and The Teaching Process
  3. Module 3 - Assessment and Planning Instructional Activity
  4. Module 4 - Aviation Instructor Responsibilities and Professionalism and Techniques of Flight Instruction
  5. Module 5 - Teaching Practical Risk Management During Flight Instruction and Risk Management/Single-Pilot Resource Management
  6. Stage 1 Exam - Modules 1-5 and Prepware FOI Questions
  7. Module 6 - Introduction to Flight Training and Introduction to the Helicopter
  8. Module 7 - Aerodynamics of Flight
  9. Module 8 - Helicopter Flight Controls and Helicopter Components/Sections/Systems
  10. Module 9 - Rotorcraft Flight Manual
  11. Module 10 - Weight and Balance and Helicopter Performance
  12. Module 11 - Basic Flight Maneuvers
  13. Module 12 - Advanced Flight Maneuvers
  14. Module 12 - Helicopter Emergencies
  15. Module 13 - Helicopter Operations
  16. Module 14 - Practical Examination and Flight Reviews
  17. Module 15 - CFI Rotorcraft ACS
  18. Module 16 - Ground Lessons
  19. Stage 2 Exam - Modules 6-16 and Prepare FRH
  20. End of Course Exam - All Modules, Prepware FOI and FRH Questions

Learning Outcomes:
                                                                                                                       | EOCExam | Stage Exams | Oral Quizzing & Participation
                                                                                                                                                   1 | 2
Demonstrate knowledge of ground training concepts                                               X                 X | X                                 X
Demonstrate adequate knowledge to receive an endorsement to take the 
Fundamentals of Instruction Knowledge Exam                                                                            X   
Demonstrate adequate knowledge to receive an endorsement to take the 
Flight Instructor Knowledge Exam                                                                           X                                                         X

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

Late Assignments
Late submission of assignments is strongly discouraged. Acceptance of late work is at the discretion of the instructor and is not guaranteed. Late assignments will be accepted for up to two weeks after the original due date or until the last day of classes—whichever occurs first. Late submissions may incur a deduction of up to 50% of the total assignment grade.

Makeup Work
Makeup work will be considered late work and will be subject to the stipulations of the Late Assignments section.

Attendance Policy

In accordance with FAA requirements, 100% attendance is mandatory for this course.  Any absence, regardless of reason, will be documented in the system and must be made up with a certified flight instructor at the airport in order to meet regulatory training standards.

Because FAA-mandated curriculum hours must be completed in full, students cannot receive a passing grade without achieving 100% attendance. It is the student’s responsibility to coordinate all makeup sessions promptly to ensure compliance with course and FAA requirements.

Makeup sessions will be recorded only after the instructor receives an email from the student’s flight instructor confirming that the required material has been fully covered.

Course Fees

Students are assessed aviation program fees with each credit hour of aviation courses registered. The current course fee schedule is available through the following link: 
There is a fee for each of the Knowledge Exams required for Flight Instructor ratings (typically 2-4 exams). The last known cost for each exam was $185.00.

Grades

Grades will be calculated according to the following:


Attendance                                          10% of final grade

Daily Quiz                                            10% of final grade

Stage Exams (2)                                  20% of final grade     

End-of-course Exam                           30% of final grade

Final Lesson Teaching                       30% of final grade

                                                                  100%


Letter grades will be calculated as follows:

93.5% and above=A   82.5-86.5%=B             72.5-76.5%=C      60-66.5%=D

89.5-93.5%=A-           79.5-82.5%=B-           69.5-72.5%=C-      below 60%=F

86.5-89.5%=B+          76.5-79.5%=C+          66.5-69.5%=D+

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.